'Someone Like Axar...': Du Plessis Rues Patel Absence As MI Hammer DC
Last Updated: May 22, 2025, 00:21 IST
'Someone like Axar on a wicket like that, if you look at the way Mitch Santner bowled, you'd understand, they are similar bowlers," De Plessis said.
Delhi also missed the abilities of star seamer Mitchell Star, however, a spinner such as Axar would have been worth his weight in gold on a track that supported spin, the South African opined.
'Axar is an international proven bowler. Starc is a fantastic bowler, but spinner on a wicket like that is worth gold," he added.
Delhi missed out on a qualification spot following the defeat, but Du Plessis expressed delight on the fight his side put up on the field.
'We were excellent today in the field. The guys showed great fight. The bowlers pitched up, obviously not the easiest pitch to bat on, probably made the bowlers' job a little bit easier," he said.
'Still, it's a very strong batting line-up and I thought we were excellent and then let slip in the last 2 overs," the 40-year-old reflected.
He touched upon the importance of momentum in the sport of cricket and likened the fixture to that of David vs Goliath in terms of how it was poised ahead of the toss.
'Momentum is a real thing in cricket, the way they counterpunched to get almost 50 in the last 2 overs, all the hard work that we did for 17-18 overs lost that momentum," the Protea batter said.
'If you looked at the two teams before today's fixture, it was a case of David and Goliath, I enjoy that because it gives guys the opportunity to really play together as a team," he added.
Du Plessis also lauded the efforts of youngsters in the Capital city side and drew parallels between their showing in the game and their season at large.
'Credit to them, Rizvi today showed some signs, he's got some talent there," Du Plessis heaped praise on the youngster.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Australia's Starc comfortable with IPL pullout regardless of repercussion
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is comfortable with his decision to leave the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the India-Pakistan clashes last month regardless of any repercussions, the 35-year-old said. The IPL was suspended on May 9 in the wake of hostilities between the two. It resumed on May 17 after the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire. While most IPL foreign recruits returned to complete their franchise commitment, the Delhi Capitals duo of Starc and fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk took no further part in the 10-team league. 'I'm comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled,' Starc told the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday. 'Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn't return. But I've had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision.' ALSO READ | IPL 2025 Tour Diary — From Playoffs to proposals: Capturing tales of glory and love Starc was in Dharamsala, near the Pakistan border, for Delhi's May 9 match against the Punjab Kings. The contest was abandoned midway through, although league organisers blamed it on a floodlights failure. 'Jake and I chose not to (return). So it was a very individual decision, and I'm happy to live with whatever comes of that,' Starc said. He opted out of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan earlier this year citing personal reasons and has skipped the IPL more than once to preserve himself for international cricket. The left-arm quick said he withdrew from the remainder of the IPL because of the extraordinary circumstances. 'I'm still heavily committed to the Delhi group, and I'm not someone that's gone into tournaments and pulled out after being picked up in an auction or whatever that looks like,' Starc said. 'These are different circumstances ... I had a discussion back home then came to a decision, and whatever comes from that I'm comfortable with that and we move forward.'
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
New Zealand appoints Rob Walter as new men's head coach across formats
Former South Africa coach Rob Walter was on Firday appointed as New Zealand's new head coach across all formats. The 49-year-old Walter who will step into his role later this month ahead of the tour to Zimbabwe, replaces Gary Stead as the new man in charge of the Black Caps unit. Walter was a frontrunner for the position after resigning from his role with the South African limited-overs sides in April. 'The Black Caps have been a successful and highly-regarded team on the world scene for some time now and it's a real privilege to be given the chance to add to that,' Walter said in a statement. 'It's an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of players and support staff through a period of time in which so many global events, as well as massive bilateral series, will be contested.' Walter's contract includes leading the Kiwis up until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with three major ICC tournaments in between, including the 2027 World Cup. NZ Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink heaped praise on Walter's coaching credentials. 'His success in New Zealand's domestic game, combined with his recent achievements on the global stage with South Africa, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Black Caps.' Walter previously was at the helm of the Otago Volts in New Zealand's domestic competitions between 2016 and 2021, before moving to Hawke's Bay and briefly coaching the Central Stags. In his time with the Proteas since 2023, Walter led the side to their first T20 World Cup final in 2024 and the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup and Champions Trophy in 2023 and 2025 respectively. Earlier this week, Stead's departure from the role was announced by New Zealand after a successful stint as the side's most successful coach across formats. While he had hoped to extend his role with the Test side, New Zealand Cricket's choice to maintain a single coach meant the end to a seven-year tenure during which Stead won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship finals and reached three white-ball finals.
India Gazette
6 hours ago
- India Gazette
Rob Walter named New Zealand men's cricket head coach across all formats
New Delhi [India] June 6 (ANI): New Zealand Cricket have confirmed the appointment of Rob Walter as men's national team head coach, following the departure of Gary Stead, according to the ICC website. Walter will be taking over mid-June, and his first assignment will be a tour to Zimbabwe in July. His contract runs until the end of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in late 2028. Walter comes in having overseen the South African white-ball teams until April this year, stepping down after the Proteas' ICC Champions Trophy campaign. During his tenure, the Proteas made history by reaching their first-ever ICC Men's T20 World Cup final in 2024, where they finished as runners-up to India in Barbados, following an impressive eight-match winning streak. He also guided the 50-over team to the semi-finals of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. The news follows confirmation of Stead's exit on Thursday, when New Zealand Cricket ruled the 53-year-old out of contention for a Test-only role, and a move to employ one head coach across all three formats. The coach enjoyed a prolific seven years in the role, with the team claiming an ICC World Test Championship victory in 2021, with the team topping the Test Rankings, and claiming a momentous 3-0 Test series sweep of India away from home last year. Walter's family had remained based in New Zealand while he was coaching South Africa, having set up his life in Hawke's Bay following head coaching roles with Otago Volts and Central Stags in New Zealand domestic cricket, according to ESPNcricinfo. He coached Stags to titles in the Ford Trophy and the Plunket Shield in 2022-23. Walter also led New Zealand A on a tour of India in 2022 and has done stints as an assistant coach in the IPL. (ANI)
