We have to stay calm and keep a steady mind against KKR: Delhi Capitals' assistant coach Mohammad Kaif

In a high-octane clash, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders will lock horns in Qualifier 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a place in the VIVO IPL 2021 Final. Delhi suffered a four-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 in Dubai on Sunday. Delhi franchise’s assistant coach Mohammad Kaif believes that the team will have to stay calm under pressure in the match against KKR. “It’s a big day tomorrow. It’s all about how we handle the pressure. Every game is a pressure game in the IPL, but this game is a different challenge for us. We have to stay calm and keep a steady mind under pressure. Clarity of mind will be very important for us,” Kaif was quoted as saying by Delhi Capitals’ press release.

Kaif added that the Delhi Capitals will have to rise after their four-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 in Dubai on Sunday. He added: “We have played well in this tournament. We finished at the top of the table in the league phase. We have played good cricket in this tournament. We have had back-to-back losses, but now it’s all about coming back. We have to rise after defeat in our game against KKR. And we have players who can win matches. There’s a lot of experienced and in-form players.”

The assistant coach reckons that the Delhi franchise will take confidence from their previous success against KKR. “We have played all the KKR bowlers in the past and we have had success against the team. We defeated them in the first half of the tournament. We lost to KKR in the UAE phase of the tournament, but we were in control in some parts of that match as well. However, in the next match, both teams will be under the same pressure as both sides are playing for a spot in the Final,” signed off Kaif.

It’s a tough loss to digest: Prithvi Shaw

Earlier on Sunday, half centuries from Prithvi Shaw and Captain Rishabh Pant helped Delhi Capitals post a total of 172/5 in their 20 overs before Chennai Super Kings chased down the total in 19.4 overs. 

Speaking about it, Prithvi Shaw said, “At the moment, we have to back each other. The entire team takes the responsibility for our performance, whether we win or lose. We’ll try and come back stronger in the next match. It’s a tough loss to digest for the team. However, we have one more match through which we can qualify for the Final and I believe in each and everyone in the team. They are all great players – talent and skill-wise. I really believe that we can do something special in the next match and go through to the Final.”

When asked about MS Dhoni’s blistering innings of 18 runs from 6 balls in the death overs, Shaw said, “MS Dhoni is something different, everyone knows that. We have seen him finish games so many times and it’s nothing new for him or for us to see him do that. He’s definitely a dangerous player whenever he bats. I feel very lucky to be in this atmosphere and get a chance to watch him as a batsman and a leader. He took the game away from us.”

Shaw, who played a brilliant knock of 60 runs from 34 balls, felt that he should have batted for a longer time. He added: “I am happy with my knock, but I feel I should have played a longer innings. This is a lesson for me. When I am in the same situation again, I’ll try to bat for a longer time.”