After 14-year dry run, RCB, DC and PBKS hope for a change in fortunes
MUMBAI: Delhi Daredevils are now Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab are Punjab Kings; the renaming has not ended their IPL title wait. Same goes for Royal Challengers Bangalore, a popular side with Virat Kohli as skipper till last season. Now, 14 years and no trophy to show can weigh down any franchise. There have been a few near-misses and RCB, PBKS and DC surely must be hurting.
The lack of a title is surprising considering how all three started in the first few editions. In the inaugural 2008 edition, powered by Australian Shaun Marsh (616 runs), Kings still ended third. Delhi Daredevils were fourth in 2008 and third in 2009. RCB overcame a horror first season to be runners-up in 2009 and 2011, and end up third in 2010. Every other side has won the title at least once.
A player who has been with all three franchises as a player or coach said: “It all depends on team formation; you got to stick to those players. DD had a fantastic set-up for the first three years (2 semis). If they had stuck with those players things would have been different. The teams that lacked consistency faced problems...as you just keep plugging the holes. It’s all about the nucleus; it has to be the same.”
RCB’s template change RCB are looking to change their template of relying too much on a few players. Having retained the core in Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj, they are looking up to new skipper Faf du
Plessis. Dinesh Karthik is wicketkeeper and finisher.
“It’s all about the players rather than the team management because the pace at which T20 is played is so fast. You need to have a good leader; on-thespot decisions are crucial,” said the IPL veteran, who did not wish to be quoted since he is with a franchise.
There are weakness that have hurt these teams—RCB still lack a solid middleorder Indian batter. That means Kohli must play a big role if RCB are to go all the way. Despite losing strike bowler Yuzvendra Chahal, RCB have assembled a balanced bowling attack by spending big on Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga and Josh Hazlewood. Patel was the top wickettaker in 2021 and Hazlewood was instrumental in CSK’s title run. Siraj’s pace and movement and Patel’s guile makes it an excellent bowling pack.
Delhi Capitals
Since Ricky Ponting took over as coach in 2018, DC have made the play-offs each year. The Aussie legend has created a core of young players in Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw. Iyer went into the auction after DC retained Pant as skipper. DC have retained Pant, Shaw, Axar Patel and Andrej Nortje. “Since Ponting has come in, there has been stability in DC and it’s showing in the results,” said the former DD player.
Capitals didn’t have their way in the auctions, and a lot of their key players went to other teams. The pace combination of Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Avesh Khan was broken up but they still bought Shardul Thakur, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman, Lungi Agidi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Khaleel Ahmed to assist Nortje. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav and Praveen Dubey are the spinners. With David Warner and Mitchell Marsh added, DC will be banking on batters make an impact again.
Punjab Kings
It is poor optics when a team’s top player doesn’t want to be retained. PBKS’ bid to build the side around KL Rahul didn’t work as their captain moved to Lucknow Super Giants. Lack of success made it tough to convince him to stay. RCB are also yet to win a title, but have never had an issue in convincing Kohli to stay. One of PBKS’ biggest problems has been the absence of a settled look over the years.
“As far as CSK and MI are concerned, they have played a lot of cricket together. Their players’ understanding of each other, of the team’s system, is very good. Once you keep changing, every year include five-six new player, it becomes difficult. Then it takes another year for them to settle down. The players also feel insecure and start playing for places than think they’ve got to win games,” said the ex- player who has been with PBKS.
“They are one team who over the years have not done justice to their talent,” former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar said about PBKS on Star Sports. PBKS have Shikhar Dhawan, Rabada and Jonny Bairstow with hitters Shahrukh Khan and Liam Livingstone. With Mayank Agarwal at the helm, they look formidable. Now, it is time to deliver.*