South Africa, Arsenal, and the Delhi Daredevils. Just when you think nothing can be more painful than your last session with the dentist, these three teams are ready to prove you wrong.
What do the three have in mutual? A large fan following, which, much like a heartbroken lover, is still hoping against hope for a happy ending.
Two-time wooden spooners of the Indian Premier League, the Delhi Daredevils have not had many reasons to celebrate in the dressing room. Apart from the first two editions of the star-studded tournament, the team has remained the perpetual under-achievers. Over the years, the franchise has become synonymous with defeat.
New players, new captains, new staff management, the team has altered itself each year to escape the annual predicament. Even India’s World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten tried his luck.
But nothing has gone in favor of the Daredevils.
New edition, new story
Most of the fan fraternity was prepared to be cheesed off once again, courtesy the opening match of this season between Kolkata and Delhi. Daredevils succumbed to a humiliating defeat by the two-time champions at the Eden Gardens, which seemed like a long story cut short at its very start.
But what followed the opening loss was a surprise, a surprise the fans had given up on. Delhi first got the better of the Kings from Punjab to seal their first point of the season. Next, they overwhelmed an imposing 192 by the Royal challengers with five balls to spare.
The winning streak continued against the defending champions Mumbai Indians in which the hosts won by 10 runs. Against the Gujarat Lions, Delhi lost by 1 run despite the daredevilry shown by Chris Morris, giving a champion-like fight till the end. The (rank) tables have certainly turned around this time.
But amidst these long-awaited, admirable victories, there is an interesting question doing the rounds. What is the oomph factor for the team this year? No prizes for guessing this one correct!
He is none other than the mentor of the team, Rahul Dravid. While the boys are performing well on the field, their mentor is doing some serious hard work and strategic planning behind the scenes.
Dravid’s Daredevils
The Dravid of his pre-retirement days needs no introduction, not in India at least. After bidding farewell to cricket, he has played the role of a commentator, an analyst, and more recently, the coach of the under 19 Indian Cricket Team.
He took Rajasthan Royals to the playoffs, the under-19 team to the finals and now looking firm to coxswain Delhi from an unsuccessful past.
After his retirement from international cricket, the former Indian captain maneuvered a firm devotion towards shaping the youngsters and polishing their skills. Both during his tenure at Rajasthan Royals and Under-19 team, Dravid dealt with younger players, an experience which is turning out to be the key to the turnaround of the Daredevils.
Much like every year, the Delhi franchise has placed faith in a new set of youngsters this time too. Dravid and youngsters, it’s a perfect fit. The mentor himself said “One of the reasons I took up the job is that they (Daredevils) have a youthful team. It was the same route we had taken in Royals, and we were successful”.
His association with coach Paddy Upton dates back to the royal days of Rajasthan cricket. Once again, the mentor-coach duo have come together to help resurrect the fortunes of a fast-forgotten team, being quite successful till now.
Also read: Why India should appoint Rahul Dravid as the next full-time coach
Despite few stellar performances each year, the Delhi team was a pack of mismanagement. With its new expert mentor, the team is seen gelling well together and the potential of the players is finding results. The fresh team has been thoroughly sculpted by their mentor and the results are visible.
What the players, coaches, mentors, and even prayers could not do in eight years is being done by the gentleman in one season. The cricketing contingent on Twitter credited the comeback of DD to Rahul Dravid, with various tweets acknowledging his leadership skills.
Cuts, bruises, stitches, everything is endurable. But seeing The Wall on the losing side….Ouch!
Here’s hoping for many more wins for Dravid and Delhi.
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