Irfan Pathan, Monekeygate Scandal, Abdul Samad
Irfan Pathan. Credit: BCCI

Delhi Capitals lost to Mumbai Indians in the final of IPL 2020. However, Shreyas Iyer’s team has garnered a lot of appreciations from every corner. Former India cricketer, Irfan Pathan strongly believes that with a couple of additions, Delhi will become a dominant team for the next few years in IPL.

Delhi had a strong start to the tournament by winning 7 out of the first 9 matches. However, their wagon slipped, and they lost four in a row. Delhi defeated Bangalore in their last league game and finished second on the points table. They won versus Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 to reach the final. In the final, they were up against a Mumbai team which has looked insurmountable and were convincingly beaten by Rohit Sharma’s side.

Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals. [Photo-Twitter]

Delhi need to get a finisher and a leg-spinner: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan made a bold comparison between the current Delhi Capitals team and the Chennai Super Kings a few years ago. Pathan opined that like CSK, Delhi will win a lot of matches and become the team to beat in the upcoming years. The former all-rounder said that Delhi has prepared a strong core of players, and have a good captain along with a couple of high-class overseas fast bowlers.

On the Cricket Connected show on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan said, “I see the Delhi Capitals in the next few years like CSK used to be earlier. They used to dominate and win a lot of matches. But now you will see the Delhi Capitals dominate for the next few years.” 

“They have given themselves a very good chance by choosing a very good team and preparing a very good core. They have a very good captain. They have a couple of South African pacemen who bowl very fast,” he said.

Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals [Photo-Twitter]
Pathan, who played three seasons for the Delhi franchise, suggested that Ricky Ponting should get a finisher and a leg-spinner to bolster his side. The southpaw believes that Delhi relies a lot on Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis and could do better with support from another batsman.

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The 36-year-old said Delhi should also get a young Indian leg-spinner and invest in him. Pathan thinks that DC will be a much stronger side if they get these two types of players. While DC has Amit Mishra, who got was ruled out of the tournament after playing 3 matches, he is 37 years old and has had injury issues in recent years.

The 2007 T20 World Cup winner said that Delhi has good openers, a strong middle-order, and a cool captain with the best part being that their youngster are experienced players. He strongly counts on DC to dominate the next 4-5 years in the IPL.

Pathan continued, “They have to work on two things. If they can get a good finisher, whether he is an Indian or overseas. I still feel they have a small problem. They rely a lot on Shimron Hetmyer and Stoinis has also done very well to a certain extent but if one more batsman supports them, then this team will become even stronger. And along with that I feel a good wrist-spinner, who is preferably Indian on whom they can invest. If they can find a good player like that, these two players, then this team will become even more dangerous.

“They already have good openers, middle-order and a very good captain, who is cool and young and the best part is that most of their players are young and that too with experience, which is a very rare combination. That means they are going to dominate a lot in the next 4-5 years.”

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