2nd successive loss but Delhi Daredevils not worried just yet: Quinton De Kock

Reeling from back-to-back defeats they might be but Delhi Daredevils have still not lost the momentum and will be back to winning ways sooner than later, feels the team’s batting mainstay Quinton de Kock.

After their seven-wicket loss to Rising Pune Supergiants, the Zaheer Khan led side lost by nine runs to bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab here last night.

“No, there’s no worry. I don’t think we’re the only team with which (such a thing) has happened in the campaign this year. We’ve got enough games still to play, so just need to make sure we get back into our winning ways. Winning is a habit, I guess,” he said in the post-match press conference.

De Kock, who hit a half-century against KXIP yesterday, defended the decision to give rest to DD’s key performers in their game against Pune, saying with tournament half-way over, the team wanted to make sure that there are no injury worries at the wrong time.

Delhi were on a roll having won five out of their seven games until they lost against Pune. They lost against Punjab yesterday even though top players including skipper Zaheer Khan were back in the side.

Defending the decision to rest the key players earlier, de Kock said, “Well there were a couple of guys that needed it (rest), they were a bit sore. A bit of the older guys were a bit sore.”

“We’ve played a lot of cricket lately, so they just needed some time. We are only halfway through our campaign at this moment, so just making sure we don’t have any injuries at the wrong times,” he said.

Losing by nine runs while chasing 182 for victory, de Kock blamed some fielding lapses. “I think we were a bit sloppy in the field, but our bowling was perfect,” he argued.

The 23-year-old South African import further said it was a good wicket in Mohali. The wicketkeeper-batsman credited KXIP medium pacers Mohit Sharma and Sandeep Sharma, saying a tight bowling spell by the duo, especially towards the end, choked them for runs.

“I think that (death overs) was kind of where we lost it a little bit. With the new ball, it was quite nice to play and then towards the end of the game, it got a lot harder.

“They bowled pretty well also. We tried our hand, but Mohit and Sandeep bowled well and to their fields. They also hit their yorkers. But saying that, we were also in a good position at that stage. It happens I guess.”