Our execution wasn't up to the mark in the end, says DC coach Badani
Despite having lost six of its last eight games, the manner in which Delhi Capitals bowlers had restricted Mumbai Indians for the first 18 overs of a must-win game would have given the visiting dugout a ray of hope of making a rare playoffs appearance in the Indian Premier League.
However, the last two overs saw Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir pulverise Mukesh Kumar and Dushmantha Chameera for 48 runs. Hemang Badani, the DC head coach, admitted that the seasoned pacers erred in their plans and execution.
'Until then, the 18 overs that were bowled by us were consistent and spot on. Our execution wasn't to our expectations in the end. Those 48 runs in the last two overs were a big difference,' Badani said after DC's hopes were dashed after a 59-run loss at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
'[The pacers should] be able to read the game better and be able to understand that the surface was slower. We could have gone to cutters and wide yorkers. Even if you look to nail yorkers at this level, you would expect bowlers of international level to come and nail those balls. If you don't do that, players like Surya, who has been around long enough, will punish you.'
DC has employed seven opening combinations so far and still returned with the lowest opening partnership average in IPL 2025. Badani admitted it as a major setback in a campaign that went downhill after starting with four consecutive wins.
'A settled opening pair is only possible when your opening pair gives you a start. If you don't get starts, you are bound to make changes to try and fill that gap,' Badani said. 'While other sides have had great PowerPlay with the bat, we haven't had those, unfortunately. Opening was a worry for us'.
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