Delhi Daredevils had an underwhelming campaign in the just concluded Indian Premier League. They managed to fetch only 5 wins out of the 14 matches and finished the league stage as the bottom-placed team.
Amidst the disastrous season, there were a few players in the Daredevils team who impressed one and all with their spectacular showing. The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was certainly the best performer for Delhi with 684 runs from 14 innings while Vijay Shankar had a decent season with the bat. The all-rounder scored 212 runs in 13 matches, with 54 being his highest score despite batting in the lower middle-order on most occasions.
Reflecting on his IPL 2018 campaign, Shankar said he was initially not happy with his performances but Delhi coach Ricky Ponting’s motivating words did wonders for him in the later half of the cash-rich event.
“Right after my second game I went up to Ricky and told him how frustrated I was. I was harsh on myself. But his message was simple as he stressed on the importance of backing my technique at all times and preparing to the best of my ability,” Shankar quoted as saying by Delhi Daredevils’ official Twitter page.
.@vijayshankar260 talks about how Ricky Ponting motivated him after the first few games of the season, and it did wonders for the all-rounder! ????????#DilDilli #Dhadkega pic.twitter.com/vqeAwcaaaq
— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) May 30, 2018
Shankar, who made his international debut during the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka earlier this year, has played 5 T20Is for India thus far. While Vijay Shankar has got only one innings to show his batting talent, scoring 7 runs in it, he has claimed 3 wickets in 5 T20Is.