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Need to win consistently to qualify for Playoffs: Yuvraj Singh

Thu 30 Apr 2015, 12:00 am

Need to win consistently to qualify for Playoffs: Yuvraj Singh
Summary

Senior paceman Zaheer Khan could play against KXIP says DD all-rounder

When they take the field against the Kings XI Punjab on May 1, the Delhi Daredevils will be keen to bid goodbye to the Ferozeshah Kotla on a winning note. The JP Duminy-led team practiced their skills under the watchful eye of the Gary Kirsten-led coaching staff on the eve of their match. The Daredevils, who ended their long losing streak in the Indian Premier League with a five-wicket win over the Kings XI Punjab on April 15 in Pune, will be taking on the same opposition in Delhi on Friday afternoon. Speaking about the opposition and the forthcoming encounter, Yuvraj Singh, whose 39-ball 54 was crucial in pulling off the chase in Pune, said, “Kings XI haven’t had a good season, we know that. But at the end of the day they came and beat Rajasthan Royals who were playing really good cricket. T20 is very unpredictable; five overs (can) just take the game away from you. We need to concentrate on things that we are doing well. And if we do well in our batting, bowling and fielding departments, I am sure we can win the game tomorrow.” The hosts have since had their share of wins and losses and are presently in the lower half of the points table, but are still in the race to make it to the Playoffs. Speaking about the team’s campaign so far, Yuvraj said, “We won two games in a row. We lost one game, then we won one game and then we lost another one. It’s not that we are losing games in a row.” “T20 is a very unpredictable format (and) it can go very quickly. Anything can happen on a day but the point is that we need to win few more games consistently to qualify for the last four. I am sure we have the guys to do that and we just need two (or) three special performances in the next four games. We have had really good victories (and) lost bad games; we need to fight till the end and try and win some games, and as I said, qualify for the last four,” he added. The two matches that they had lost upfront were nerve-wracking, last-ball finishes. The Daredevils will be keen to pull those off as they endeavour to make it to the final four. CSK are one team who have been consistently getting over the line in tough situations and were quoted as saying that they know how to win close games after a recent close game. Discussing what was needed to win close games, Yuvraj observed, “When guys have been playing for a long time and winning, like CSK have been, you have that confidence that you can pull off games like that.” While DD look too get back to winning ways, the team is likely to be boosted by the inclusion of Zaheer Khan. Yuvraj played his cards close to his chest when he was asked if the senior paceman would take the field on Friday. “I don’t know about the team composition. I think he is starting tomorrow, I am not sure. You have to check with coach and captain.”