Lack of team combinations cost Delhi as they crash out of IPL

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Gulf News

Dubai Delhi Daredevils crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to lack of team combination, according to Mohammad Hyder, Asian Cricket Council and Cricket Australia’s Level 3 coach.

“[The] Delhi team lacked good all-rounders and they crashed out due to poor selection of players. Twenty20 needs good allrounders and they suffered heavily in most matches due to this...,” said Hyder, who is also UAE women’s team head coach.

“Delhi also lacked a good No.3 batsman like Gautam Gambhir and whenever Virender Sehwag had failed the team has slipped to defeats. Naman Ojha was a poor selection as a top order batsman,” said Hyder, who was a former Delhi Ranji trophy player and India’s Under-19 team batsman who played against Australia and Brian Lara led West Indies team.

Hyder said the Delhi franchise owners made a mistake in selecting batsmen and bowlers. He said Irfan Pathan is not the same as he was in the past. Hyder said Ajit Agarkar was another wrong choice, because he has past his heydays and not the right pick to play Twenty20 cricket.

Best bowler

“The best among their bowlers was Varun Aaron who bowled brilliantly at a speed of 150kmph. It is unfortunate he was selected into a poor team like Delhi and could have made a bigger impact had he played for another franchise,” he said.

“In Twenty20 the right combination matters a lot. Bangalore Challengers have the right combination with hard hitting batsmen and good bowlers and they are the favourites to win the IPL.

“Mumbai is a good team but they depend heavily on Sachin Tendulkar and when he fails the whole team’s batting crumbles,” he said.

By K.R. Nayar?Chief Cricket Writer