Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Pointing has registered two consecutive wins at the right time but also wants his experienced players to step up in their last league encounter against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday (May 21) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
If the Capitals win, they will be the fourth team to qualify for the IPL 2022 playoffs.
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Speaking about the do-or-die clash, the Australian legend said, “I have got full confidence in the players that they will have a really good game on Saturday. We strung back-to-back wins together for the first time (after Delhi Capitals’ previous match against Punjab Kings) in the season.”
Ponting acknowledged that the Delhi team had been inconsistent throughout the season, but that there would be no room for error on Saturday.
“It’s been an up and down season for us, but we’ve played some good cricket. I always talk about playing our best cricket at the business end of the tournament and peaking at the right time. I’ve got a feeling that the boys are about to do that.”
The Capitals have been an inconsistent lot this season, with seven wins and six defeats in their 13 games. There will be no margin for error, though, at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
The former cricketer-turned-coach added that the experienced players will have to step up for the team in the crucial match against the Rohit Sharma-led franchise.
“Davey (Warner) has done a really good job at the top of the order. We have also seen how destructive Mitchell Marsh can be at the number three slot. And among the bowlers, Kuldeep has been exceptional and Axar has been bowling economically as well.” he said.
“Shardul has shown good form in the recent matches. There are some good signs as far as our senior players are concerned and going into big games, you need your more experienced players to step up,” he stated.
In the last few weeks, the environment within the Delhi camp has been a ‘little different’, according to the 47-year-old.
“I have just got the sense that the environment within the group has been a little different in the last couple of weeks and players need to take full credit for that. As a coaching group, we’ll look to get the players well prepared for their next challenge and it’s certainly a challenge that we are looking forward to.”
“I am very excited about what Saturday holds for us and hopefully, we’ve got another week of cricket to play after that.”
With a win over the Indians, Rishabh Pant's team would advance to 16 points and become the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs based on a higher net run rate than RCB. However, if the Delhi team loses, the Bangalore-based franchise will progress to the playoffs.
(PTI INPUTS)
