IPL 2019: Delhi Capitals and the great turnaround in fortunes
IPL SCHEDULE | IPL POINTS TABLE[2][3]
In the 11 seasons of the IPL that have been played before this, the Delhi franchise has finished in the top 4 of the points table thrice. Though they have topped the points table twice (2009 and 2012), in the last six seasons (2013 - 2018), they have consistently finished outside the top four after the league stage.
Besides what happens on the field, one of the strongest indicators of a team not doing well is when fans stop expecting too much. With the Delhi franchise, many fans stopped expecting anything special, some even changed their allegiance to other teams, thanks to disappointing performances by Delhi season after season.
But one of the best sports scripts that can be written is the story of an underdog turning things around. And Delhi have managed to do that in IPL 2019[4], scripting a mouthwatering story that has to be told. The tag of also-rans has been most definitely shed for this season and the future looks promising.
Before the current season began, the franchise changed its name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals[5]. And their fortunes seem to have changed too. The road-map to try and change the team's fortunes and turn it into a side that can win consistently was drawn up in 2018. The behind the scenes changes included JSW Sports acquiring 50% stake in the Delhi franchise from the GMR group for Rs 550 Crore. The immediate aim was to make changes wherever necessary to try and turn the team into a competitive unit. Parth Jindal who took over as Chairman was quoted as saying that the aim was to win at least 9 out of the 14 league matches and qualify for the play-offs. With eight wins in their first twelve matches in IPL 2019, that target (of entering the play-offs) has been achieved.
Seasoned sports administrator and former IPL Tournament Director Dhiraj Malhotra was appointed CEO before the current season began and the brief he was given was clear. Malhotra told TimesofIndia.com, "The mandate was to build a family and a strong fan base. The aim was always to reach the play offs, but more importantly, (it) was to ensure that we have a well balanced team with great camaraderie. We have built that on and off the field and hope that the fans now support us and become our 12th man and we would also like to thank them for not losing faith in us. We still have a long way to go before the season ends but it truly has been a satisfying one so far."
Changes were also made to the support staff. Only Head coach Ricky Ponting[6], fast bowling coach and former Australian all-rounder James Hopes and Praveen Amre, who is now heading the talent scout department of the team were retained. Sourav Ganguly[7] was appointed advisor, Mohammad Kaif was brought on board as assistant coach and West Indies cricketer Samuel Badree, who has taken 56 wickets in 52 T20 internationals and has IPL playing experience was appointed spin bowling coach.
But just these changes alone were not gong to be enough. This had to be translated into positive results on the field.
Ricky Ponting, videos of whom talking to the team in the dressing room after big games have been doing the rounds on social media told TimesofIndia.com how challenging it was to remain confident and determined that the team could turn things around this season, after finishing at the bottom of the points table last year.
Ponting said, "Well, it was a fresh slate for all of us in so many ways – starting with a new name, and these new team colours, new management. And that helps in some sense to do away with everything that is old and of the past. It does make you feel more hopeful as well. That’s what I told the boys too. If I look around the squad now, the one thing that really strikes me is that everyone is really happy and are enjoying themselves."
One thing that seems to have worked very well for Delhi this season is the fact that they don't have to depend on foreign talent as much as some of the other teams. Out of a squad of 24, they have 6 foreigners. The fact that their Indian player base is what they depend on most is particularly true in the batting department.
When the team learnt that Shikhar Dhawan is looking to move out of Hyderabad, they managed to bring him back to the Delhi fold, trading as many as three players (Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhishek Sharma) with the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The arrival of the southpaw added to their Indian batting strength, with the likes of Rishabh Pant[8], Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw already on their rosters. Dhawan would also be an on and off field mentor for the youngsters. After Delhi's win vs RCB on Sunday, Dhawan was in third place on the run-getters' list for IPL 2019, with five fifties, a top score of 97 not out and an average of 41.
But that is just one of the reasons that Delhi have managed to put up a strong show this season.
Team captain Shreyas Iyer told TimesofIndia.com, "I think it’s tough to pinpoint it to one reason. Given everything around us that is new, I guess it’s put in us a sense of belief as well, that we can do better than previous seasons. We’ve also had our key players in all matches. Last year there were more injuries as well among the bowlers, this year unfortunately we have lost Harshal to an injury, but the rest of us have been fit and raring to go. But the job is far from done."
Shreyas's journey with the team is particularly interesting, considering he was asked to step up and take on captaincy responsibilities, 6 matches into the 2018 season, after Gautam Gambhir stepped down as captain. For IPL 2019, the team decided to back Shreyas, in what is his first season as full-time Delhi captain.
Shreyas told TimesofIndia.com, "Last year, I wasn’t exactly prepared for it, but even though the role came to me all of a sudden, I did my best and I think I didn’t do too badly. This year, I am honoured that the management considered me for the role for the full season. It helped me prepare mentally. The captaincy stints for Mumbai and India A have definitely helped me to a large extent."
Delhi's first match of the season was a clash vs three time champions Mumbai Indians. Delhi, batting first made 213/6 and then bowled out Mumbai for 176 to wrap up a 37 run win. In many ways this was a sign of things to come. In their next 11 games, they have won 7 and lost 4.
Almost everything in T20 cricket can and almost always is rather fluid. Just like on-field match situations, the challenge for the support staff is to gauge which way the momentum is shifting as the season unfolds - In favour of the team or against it, and draw up future plans and strategies accordingly.
Ponting told TimesofIndia.com, "The area of focus really varies depending on how you’re playing and what position you are in at the given moment. But overall what’s been very pleasing and satisfying for me is that we’ve managed to be in a position in all our games, where we’ve fought till the end, the opposition hasn’t managed to outplay us. Barring the Punjab game of course, we’ve always been there in the match each time and I’m proud of the way the boys have fought so far."
One of the big talking points for Delhi this season has been the appointment of former India captain Sourav Ganguly as advisor. Widely regarded to have one of the sharpest cricketing brains, Ganguly's wealth of experience seems to have really benefited the team. Interestingly, Ponting and Ganguly, who were at one time fierce on-field rivals, came together to try and help Delhi turn their fortunes around.
Ponting told TimesofIndia.com,"It’s absolutely fantastic to have him (Sourav Ganguly) on board, and he has been terrific so far, extremely passionate. You can see that on TV, how he is during the matches sitting in the dugout, absolutely wearing his heart on his sleeve. His knowledge of the venues and the local talent is tremendous and that certainly helps."
The management clearly is very happy with the way things are going for Delhi this season. After all they have managed to achieve something (qualify for play-offs) which they couldn't for six straight seasons before this.
Dhiraj Malhotra said, "We are very happy with the way the team has shaped up. We have a great bunch of players, the
coaching staff are among the best brains in the cricketing world and we have complete support from the owners. We are very satisfied with the love and support we have received from the fans. Winning and losing is part of the game but the teams bond and attitude hasn’t changed with a win or defeat. We are extremely proud of the team and the way they gel and it really is one big happy Delhi Capitals family."
Fan support and loyalty are key to and great indicators of the success and overall growth of any team. Teams like Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders have some of the most die-hard fans in the country. They are all teams which have done consistently well over the seasons and won multiple titles. This season, Delhi fans are slowly beginning to find their voice again, as they cheer for their team, which could well be table toppers this season after the league stage, having finished as wooden spoon holders last year.
The turnaround has been a good one for the Delhi franchise. While the ultimate target will of course be to win their maiden IPL title, the management, support staff, players and other stake holders seem to have all come together to achieve what some might say is more important - making their fans believe again.
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References
- ^ IPL (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ IPL SCHEDULE (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ IPL POINTS TABLE (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ IPL 2019 (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Delhi Capitals (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Ricky Ponting (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Sourav Ganguly (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- ^ Rishabh Pant (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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