Slowly and steadily, Delhi Daredevils have found some momentum after a 12-match losing streak across two seasons. Two wins in four matches isn't bad for a team that started the season with a near-blank sheet.
Combination was the buzzword in Daredevils camp before starting their IPl-8 campaign. It was a big challenge in the ultra-competitive and fast-paced Twenty20 league environment to find the right combination soon enough to have a chance of qualifying for the knockouts. But, within a space of four matches, it seems, Daredevils have found what they sought.
It may sound like 'jumping to the conclusion too early' but in the four matches so far, Daredevils have been consistent with at least nine of their players. Albie Morkel played the first match because Angelo Mathews, a Sri lankan national, couldn't have played in Chennai. Though Morkel almost won the match for Daredevils, Mathews still replaced him in the next match — means the team management was always sure who they wanted in the first eleven.
Apart from that, there were only two changes - Manoj Tiwary came in for CM Gautam after the first match and Dominic Joseph Muthuswami was dropped in favour of Jaydev Unadkat for the second match against Rajasthan Royals.
And unless Mohammed Shami and Zaheer Khan don't get fit for selection, this perhaps is the best combination for Daredevils.
"It's good to get the wins and I think it was important for us to get the winning feeling going and the winning habit. So I was pleased from that perspective," DD coach Kirsten said.
"We have had two nice little injections of confidence now, so we need to maintain that form and stay confident," he added.
There are some weak areas still. The batting depends too much on JP Duminy forcing him to curb his aggression and playing a sheet anchor role. He needs some surety from other batsmen in the side, especially their most experienced and expensive player Yuvraj Singh and Mathews.
Another concern for them is seam bowling. Nathan Coulter-Nile is their only frontline bowler who has international experience. In the absence of Shami, Muthuswami is playing that role, with modest success. It's too early to call him a success or failure but Daredevils certainly need some experience at the front.
However, Daredevils must be very happy with their openers Mayank Aggarwal and Shreyas Iyer. They are the only team who are using non-international openers this season but the duo hasn't disappointed yet.
Home, not so sweet
Daredevils' next four games are at their home ground Ferozeshah Kotla, where they have another unwanted streak to snap. DD have lost their previous eight games at their home venue, a sequence that goes back to 2013. So far this season, they have played only one game at Kotla, against Rajasthan Royals, which also they lost.
In their bid to snap this losing sequence, DD face Kolkata Knight Riders, who ironically have more connection to Delhi than the home team, in the first game on Monday. KKR have three players from Delhi, including captain Gautam Gambhir. And, the main weapons of destruction for the defending champions will also be three former Daredevils — Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell.
However, the most interesting aspect of KKR’s campaign this season is their reduced dependability on Sunil Narine. The mystery spinner, who got his action corrected, is still economical but has managed just one wicket in three matches.