IPL 2020: We Thought We Might Qualify Easily, Now We Have To Fight It Out - Mohammad Kaif Laments On The Loss

Delhi Capitals’ assistant coach, Mohammad Kaif observed that the players are feeling pressure in the last few games. Kaif also commented on their chances for the playoffs.

Delhi Capitals received a drubbing from Mumbai Indians on Saturday. Delhi could only manage 110 in their quota of 20 overs. Mumbai chased down the target quite comfortably and won by 9 wickets.

We are trying to keep the team together: Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif after their loss against MI said that the players are under a bit of pressure which can happen at this stage of the tournament, but they are trying to keep the team together. Delhi after seven victories have fallen apart and is now on a four-match losing streak. Kaif said that earlier they thought they might qualify easily having 14 points in 9 matches. But now it has come down to net run rate, and they will still back their players who are struggling.

During the post-match press conference, Mohammad Kaid said, “Players are feeling a bit of pressure, that can happen, we expect that, we are trying to keep the team together, at some stage you will lose form and struggle for it but we are still backing our main players, we did not expect that it might come down to net run-rate, we thought we might qualify easily, now we have to fight it out against RCB.” 

On asked about the reason for Delhi’s slump, Kaif said that they probably relaxed a bit in the middle phase of the tournament. They were also hit by multiple injuries to Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra. Also, Kaif feels that their uncapped players haven’t performed as expected. The former India cricketer said that they need to get back their rhythm for their last league game against RCB.

“We had a good start, probably we relaxed a bit in the middle and injury to Ishant and Amit Mishra did not help, we had to try uncapped Indian players, that’s why we could not get our eleven going, it is a tough tournament, we have probably lost the rhythm probably but we are looking to our next match against RCB, we hope to win that and qualify for the playoffs,” Mohammad Kaif added.

Delhi can mathematically still be knocked out. A victory against RCB will ensure DC’s qualification for the playoffs, however, if they lose it will boil down to net run rate between multiple teams.

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