: With 124 runs in seven games, Yuvraj Singh has cost Delhi Daredevils just a shade under Rs. 6.5 lakh per run in the IPL so far. But the star batsman, struggling to even reach double digits regularly, found support from captain Jean-Paul Duminy after the host was thrashed by 10 wickets in 10.3 overs by Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday.
“Look, it is very easy to criticise him today. He has not had great opportunities in the matches where we have done well and I think he will be first to admit that he would have loved to contribute today. But one guy’s performance is not the reason we are losing; we all have to take that accountability upon ourselves,” Duminy said after the match.
Refusing to point fingers, Duminy admitted the team had been inconsistent in every department but ruled out any drastic changes.
“We have been inconsistent in both batting and bowling departments and we need to take a lot of lessons out of today’s game. It is not about pointing fingers; each of us could have done at least 10 per cent better. We need to explore some options and see whether we need to make changes, but I don’t think we will make any drastic changes,” Duminy said.
Zaheer determined The other senior player for Delhi, Zaheer Khan, is yet to figure in the tournament and Duminy hoped the speedster would be able to take the field in the last game at home on May 1. “I think he is about 95 percent fit. His progress has been good, he has been very determined to come back and my thinking is that he will be up for selection for the game on the first,” Duminy said.
Man-of-the-Match Varun Aaron, who broke the Delhi batting by dismissing Yuvraj and Angelo Mathews off successive balls, said he was glad the team had regained the aggression it was known for.
“It really came together today. We have been planning to get wickets early, it’s important if we have to win games, and we were able to do that,” Aaron said.
With Mitchell Starc bowling from the other end, the pressure on Aaron has reduced. “It is great bowling with Mitch. It definitely builds up pressure on the batsman because then it’s hard for him to get away from either side. He is coming off a great World Cup and it’s working well for us,” Aaron said.
