IPL 2014: Murali Vijay defends Delhi Daredevils' bowlers after poor show

Murali Vijay defended his team’s bowlers after Delhi Daredevils failed to defend 178 at Kotla

Despite posting a huge total of 178 runs against Chennai Super Kings on Monday, Delhi Daredevils could not manage to defend the runs on board. However, DD’s opening batsman, Murali Vijay extended support for his team’s bowlers for the way they fought back in the end.

“Look, 178 is a very good score. There are always ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in a T20 game. But to be honest with you, we really fought back well in the end. They were cruising with Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith batting in the 10th over, so to fightback from there we got to give credit to the bowlers,” Vijay said in the post-match press conference.

Many believed that Shami’s 18th over was what turned the game in CSK’s favour as it leaked 17 runs. However, Vijay refused to blame Shami. “Shami is giving his effort and that’s what counts. We are players and all we can do is plan and execute that plan, but sometimes it just doesn’t work. It was a very hard-fought game and Chennai are a top team and they played like one by pulling off this game. So, hopefully we can do better in the next match,” he said.

On being asked about the influence of drizzle in the run chase, he said, “The drizzle did not matter. Though I was not communicating with the bowlers at that point but I personally thought that we should go on with the game. Even Kevin Pietersen was of the same opinion because the momentum was with us, so one wicket at that moment and anything could have happened.”

The former CSK batsman also admitted that he could have contributed more. “See in T20 cricket, it’s the batsmen who throw their wicket than good balls getting them. Very few times that happens. The game is such that you have to avoid taking added risk. I tried hard as Quinton de Kock was batting brilliantly and later Dinesh (Karthik) played well. So my role was to stick in there and when they got out I had to take the initiative. So that was my plan but it did not come out my way.”