From the iSport Cricket Paddock: iSporter Issac John is hopeful as his favoured Deccan Chargers have entered the semi-finals of IPL-3. Although the points table reads well for DC, here are Issac's observations.
By last weekend, DC had won three matches in a row and yet they managed to find themselves in a soup that needed them to win the last two. Meanwhile, the tourney played out in a manner over the last ten games that while for the Royals, Super Kings, Knight Riders and Challengers, different permutations and combinations with or without the run-rate would’ve allowed them an entry in the semis, for DC the writing was on the wall- nothing less than two wins would suffice. Anything worse, and they could’ve kissed a goodbye to their chances.
Midway through the tournament, the Chargers were beginning to be touted as pushovers, the chokers or the boys who couldn’t even match up with even the league’s mediocre teams like Royals and Knight Riders leave alone the likes of fancied teams like the Daredevils. The team was never the strongest on paper even last year and the story was no different this year. The team had an eclectic bunch of international cricketers who were all either past their prime or on the verge of retirement with two very strong contenders for the Indian national team in Ojha and Sharma. Apart from that, the team had none else to write home about.
The loss against Royals in the last over must’ve really rankled them. That is the exact kind of loss that either crushes a team and consigns them to doom or pushes a team to raise their game up by a couple of notches. What helped was that DC had a captain who has been cool as a cucumber this entire season in spite of a poor run of form and someone who knows a thing or two about winning must-win games. What followed over the next five games since that match against Royals has been nothing short of a tremendous fight back by a team that’s beginning to look like a wonderfully knit bundle with the right mix of senior statesman pulling their weight in and a smart bunch of local players who’ve stood up to be counted.
As a result, at this stage of the tournament though, the team’s statistics don’t make a bad reading. Exactly two weeks ago, DC were languishing at #7 position on the points table. Yesterday, they qualified to the semis standing tall at #2 on the points table. If it’s been a turnaround, it’s because everyone’s chipped in. Both Symmo and Rohit have scored above 400 runs. Suman and Harmeet have delivered in crunch situations. Pragyan holds the Purple cap and though the catching could still improve, it has been exceptional in parts. Even Gilly for his part, has made smart tactical changes that have paid off. It’s been a dream run thus far but the question really is that has DC already played their best cricket?
The one change DC should go in for before the next match is to replace Marsh with Dwayne or Gibbs. Marsh is too much of a rookie and hasn’t been able to really impress with either the bat or the ball.
According to a lot of experts, Deccan have over-achieved with their entry into the semis this year. It’s quirky because last time around, when Deccan was lined up to play table-toppers Delhi in the semis that’s exactly what we heard last time as well.
It remains to be seen if the fairy tale could stretch for two more must-win games.
Midway through the tournament, the Chargers were beginning to be touted as pushovers, the chokers or the boys who couldn’t even match up with even the league’s mediocre teams like Royals and Knight Riders leave alone the likes of fancied teams like the Daredevils. The team was never the strongest on paper even last year and the story was no different this year. The team had an eclectic bunch of international cricketers who were all either past their prime or on the verge of retirement with two very strong contenders for the Indian national team in Ojha and Sharma. Apart from that, the team had none else to write home about.
The loss against Royals in the last over must’ve really rankled them. That is the exact kind of loss that either crushes a team and consigns them to doom or pushes a team to raise their game up by a couple of notches. What helped was that DC had a captain who has been cool as a cucumber this entire season in spite of a poor run of form and someone who knows a thing or two about winning must-win games. What followed over the next five games since that match against Royals has been nothing short of a tremendous fight back by a team that’s beginning to look like a wonderfully knit bundle with the right mix of senior statesman pulling their weight in and a smart bunch of local players who’ve stood up to be counted.
As a result, at this stage of the tournament though, the team’s statistics don’t make a bad reading. Exactly two weeks ago, DC were languishing at #7 position on the points table. Yesterday, they qualified to the semis standing tall at #2 on the points table. If it’s been a turnaround, it’s because everyone’s chipped in. Both Symmo and Rohit have scored above 400 runs. Suman and Harmeet have delivered in crunch situations. Pragyan holds the Purple cap and though the catching could still improve, it has been exceptional in parts. Even Gilly for his part, has made smart tactical changes that have paid off. It’s been a dream run thus far but the question really is that has DC already played their best cricket?
The one change DC should go in for before the next match is to replace Marsh with Dwayne or Gibbs. Marsh is too much of a rookie and hasn’t been able to really impress with either the bat or the ball.
According to a lot of experts, Deccan have over-achieved with their entry into the semis this year. It’s quirky because last time around, when Deccan was lined up to play table-toppers Delhi in the semis that’s exactly what we heard last time as well.
It remains to be seen if the fairy tale could stretch for two more must-win games.
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