IPL 2017: Next 9 days crucial for Delhi Daredevils, says Zaheer Khan
IPL 2017: Next 9 days crucial for Delhi Daredevils, says Zaheer Khan
Delhi Daredevils (DD) who are tottering on No. 7 in IPL 2017 points table, will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 32. DD have to win all five games on trot if they wish to stay alive in IPL 10. Skipper Zaheer Khan mentioned that DD will have to look at the remaining games as one bunch and start kicking if they wish to resurrect their IPL 10 campaign. DD are entering the next set of matches after 6-day break. They had hat-trick of defeat with the latest one being against Mumbai Indians (MI) in low-scoring affair. Their match against KKR will be a defining match for DD. Full Cricket Scorecard: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Gujarat Lions (GL) IPL 2017, Match 31 at Bengaluru
Speaking to reporters ahead of the KKR clash on Friday, Zaheer stressed on importance of the next five games, “We need a winning momentum. We are playing five matches in the next nine days. It’s an important phase for our campaign in this IPL. If we can achieve a winning momentum, many things will fall in place by May 6. It’s not about looking at this game, but it’s about looking at the five games together. As a group we are going to look at next nine days rather than just one. The next nine days will be defining and I’m confident this group will deliver when it matters.”
Marlon Samuels has been called as replacement for injured Quinton de Kock. Talking about Samuels, Zaheer said that he will be joining the DD camp on April 29. DD can earn their place in the playoffs by possessing healthy net run-rate, “There have been many close games but we are not able to finish them. If you see the points table, we have a very good net run-rate. It happens only if a team does well. Everyone knows it.”
In the previous game against KKR, Manish Pandey had sealed the game with a boundary off Zaheer, “We have understood the areas we should be looking at and the kind of approach we should have for a particular situation. I’m very confident of coming games.”