Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir, during a press conference, said that the present Delhi team has the ability to create history by lifting the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy this year. The 11th season of the IPL will kick-start on April 7 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Delhi franchise has never lifted the IPL trophy since the league’s inception in 2008.
Gambhir, who led the Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in the 2012 and 2014 editions of the IPL, is now back with Delhi franchise. Gambhir earlier represented the Delhi side in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, he was made the captain of the KKR side.
While addressing the press conference in Delhi on March 5, Gambhir said,
“This is the opportunity for the 25 people sitting in a dressing room to create history this time.”
When asked if this was his last appearance in the cash-rich tournament, the left-handed batsman replied,
“After being picked by DD for this IPL season, I said that ‘you are lucky enough if you start your career with a franchise and you get an opportunity to end your tenure with the same team’. I am the fortunate one that I am back with DD side with whom I started my IPL career. But it doesn’t mean that this is my last season.”
Gambhir was bought by DD at Rs 2.8 Crore during IPL 2018 players’ auction held in Bengaluru in January earlier this year.
Besides Gambhir, DD CEO Hemant Dua and team’s head coach Ricky Ponting was also present at the press conference.
Former Australia captain Ponting is known for his passion and aggression on the field.
A media person asked Ponting about his strategy to train Delhi players to which the Australian replied,
“I am trying to be more motivational than anything else. I am trying to maintain the team’s culture and the positive environment.”
“We have 25 players in the dressing room. They are lucky to be the part DD and they got to understand that. Whenever they get the chance to play they make sure that they win the game for DD. That’s the bottom line,” former Australia captain added, saying that he was here to win and to prepare this team as strong as possible.
Delhi Daredevils will kick-start their IPL campaign against Kings XI Punjab at IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on April 8.
