Mitchell Marsh, Australia and Delhi Capitals (DC) all-rounder, said that it was a "shame" that the Rishabh Pant-led franchise failed to make it to the IPL 2022 finals.
Delhi Capitals (DC) failed to qualify for the IPL 2022 playoffs after they suffered a heartbreaking five-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the very crucial match, which enabled Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to make it into the top four.
However, the RCB also eventually failed to make it to the final, as the runner-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) crushed their hopes of playing in the summit clash by defeating them in the eliminator by 7 wickets.
Marsh said in Sri Lanka ahead of their T20I series: “It was a shame we couldn't get into the (IPL) finals.”
The Australian all-rounder was hit by an injury and then Covid-19 in the first half of the IPL 15, but he made a strong comeback in the second half, scoring 251 runs at a strike-rate of 132.80 while batting at number three.
Recalling how DC head coach Ricky Ponting cares for his players, Marsh said: “Everyone speaks about him (Ricky Ponting) so much and what he's achieved in the game. But I got a real sense of how much he cares for his players - I guess that's probably what he was like as a captain and a leader of a team.”
The all-rounder added, “I got the real sense for how he (head coach Ricky Ponting) cares for his players and that was probably how he was as a captain and a leader of a team -- it's the way he makes you feel. He made me feel like a really important player for Delhi.”
On his recovery from Covid-19, Marsh said: “After my first couple of weeks, there I thought that I was cursed in India. I got through my initial injury - which was very minor – but then to play one game and get COVID, it was a bit of a shaky start but once I got going it was nice to put a few consistent performances on the board. I absolutely loved my time there.”
The Aussie has expressed his desire to continue batting at No 3 in the T20 cricket. He added, “I have loved batting at number three, and I've been there a bit over 12 months now. I certainly feel like that's my best positioning in T20 cricket, and I've loved batting in the power play, I've batted a lot with David Warner and had some great partnerships with him - it's been really enjoyable.”
Marsh signed off by saying, “Hopefully, I can keep being as consistent as I possibly can at number three and stay up there. International cricket is really hard, but you've got to believe that you belong here and I think over the last 12 months. I have really gained the belief that my best can match up with anyone in the world.”
(With PTI Inputs)
