Delhi Capitals assistant coach Mohammad Kaif said most of the players, including skipper Rishabh Pant, have been playing ample amounts of cricket and are in good rhythm going into the IPL.
Delhi Capitals is one of the three sides with no IPL trophies in their cabinet. In the last two seasons, they have barely missed the opportunity to claim the title.
In IPL 2019, they were knocked out by three-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Qualifier 2 while in IPL 2020 they did all the hard work but were unable to break the shackles as they were beaten by Mumbai Indians (MI) in the final.
However, with the likes of Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Steve Smith, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje, who have played some cricket in the last few months, DC will be hoping to go one step better compared to last time and win their maiden title.
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In a recent video upload by Delhi Capitals on their website, their assistant coach Mohammad Kaif said that they want to go one step further this year and win the title. He added that most players including skipper Rishabh Pant have been playing ample amounts of cricket and are in good rhythm going into the IPL.
"We want to go one step further this year and that's the Delhi Capitals team goal. We have the players to win the title. We were very close last year and the plus point for this season is that most of the players such as Rishabh Pant have been playing a lot of cricket. They have been in touch with the game and therefore they are in good rhythm going into the IPL,” Mohammad Kaif told DC release.
Mohammad Kaif, who attended his first practice session with the team at the Cricket Club of India on Saturday, said that team focussed on taking catches under lights during their practice session. He added that he had good chat with both veterans as well as youngsters of the team.
“The players have been carrying out batting and bowling drills in the last few days. As a coaching group, we decided to focus on fielding skills in today's practice session.
"The players took some catches under lights. It was a great session. I got to meet many young players in the team and the experienced ones as well. I had a good chat with R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane,” he said.
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Kaif said that he is looking forward to meeting Ricky Ponting, who will be attending his first training session after completing his quarantine period.
"I am looking forward to meeting Ricky in person. I have been in touch with him on the phone. We will chalk out a training plan with Ponting for the upcoming days once he joins the team on the field," he concluded.
DC will start their campaign on 10th April against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Rishabh Pant will lead the side after regular skipper Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to a shoulder injury which he picked up during the ODI series against England.
(PTI inputs)
