NEWS
Follow UsDelhi Capitals had a returning Rishabh Pant for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season but were constantly muddled with several injuries. Harry Brook and Lungi Ngidi had to give the tournament a miss, which hampered their overall plans.
That, alongside the numerous injuries during the season, which even saw their stalwart opener David Warner sit out, proved to be quite a tricky season for the 2020 IPL finalists. However, despite the constant woes, the franchise managed to keep their momentum in the second half of the season to finish on 14 points.
DC’s assistant coach, Pravin Amre, insisted that the team had done very well with its limited resources. Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, and Tristan Stubbs were crucial additions throughout the season.
“There are many positives this season. Stubbs (Tristan), Jake (Fraser-McGurk), and Porel (Abishek) are players we have found this season. Even Rashikh (Salam), bowling at the death, is quite special; he backed himself very well. All our Indian bowlers have done a great job in the last few years. The way Khaleel, Mukesh, Ishant, and Rasikh bowled is quite impressive,” Amre said in the post-match press conference.
“Whatever the backup was there, they came and delivered. Right now, for us to finish in fifth place is an achievement. Whatever resources we have, we have done really well in the season. There are many positives from this year, and big thanks to the home advantage,” Amre added.
Prithvi Shaw got eight opportunities this year, scoring 198 runs. However, his only fifty of the season came in the clash against Chennai Super Kings (68). Since then, his form has been quite concerning, leading to management replacing him with Porel at the top of the order.
"He (Shaw) was our retained player, and as you see, last four (or five) games he was also on the bench. But that's the IPL. If you are not in form, you can't [keep your place]. Ultimately, the pressure for the team is so much that every game is important and we have to win,” Amre on Shaw’s form.
"And we had done that. Without playing him, we won the games. And whoever got the opportunity... I think Abishek grabbed the opportunities with both hands."
Porel had quite a stunning season, playing a vital role in Delhi’s wins, with 327 runs in the competition, scoring with a brisk strike rate of 159.51. Not just that, Porel’s partnership with Fraser-McGurk at the top of the order - 289 runs @48.2 and SR 240.8 - set them apart this season.
"What an innings (Porel) played today. We saw Jake (Fraser-McGurk) getting out in the first over and even then we managed to get 73 runs in the powerplay. I think that's what was so critical and the credit goes to Shai Hope and Porel for getting that 92-run partnership today."
Another breakthrough star for Delhi this season was the South African Tristan Stubbs. Despite being originally picked as a backup for Harry Brook, the South African batter lit up the tournament with his pyrotechnics at the backend of the batting innings.
In the last five-over phase this year, no batter has scored more runs than Stubbs’ 252. It isn’t just the runs but his impact - SR of 262.5 - that proved to be a game-changer for the Capitals. Amre revealed that the 23-year-old wicketkeeper batter could be an asset for the next five years.
“Stubbs was originally supposed to be a backup to Harry Brook. We had to pick a very good backup. He had a very good impact at the SA20 2024 (for Sunrisers Eastern Cape), and we were very hopeful about his talent,” Amre was in awe of Stubbs.
“He even scored a triple-century at the domestic level. He’s a special player, including his skillset against spin. That was the biggest plus we saw. He’s hungry for success and is quite composed. He is a player for the next five years.”
Delhi finished the season with 14 points, with just a slimmer of hope to make it to the next stage of the competition. For that to come true, several results have to go their way in the last few rounds, which seems highly impossible.
Play Asli Fantasy on Cricket.com. Download the app now.
