IPL 2019 | Happy that team is number one, says Shikhar Dhawan

In the encounter between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, DC showed that they had learned from their past mistakes and scored briskly in the powerplay at Feroz Shah Kotla. Shikhar Dhawan took on the bowlers from the very first over and went on to score a 37 ball 50 laced with five boundaries and two maximums.

However, when RCB tried to emulate the same in the second innings powerplay chasing a target of 188, none of their batsmen could convert their starts and DC eventually won the game by 16 runs as they now sit on top of the table. The southpaw, awarded the Man of the Match, seemed delighted with his team’s top standing on the points table.

“Very happy with this award, to be honest I didn't expect it. Much more happy that our team is number one, we'll celebrate tonight,” Dhawan said at the post-match presentation ceremony, reported Cricbuzz.

“It was intentional to bat faster and am glad that I did. I am enjoying smacking the ball over the boundary. I want to be positive and keep scoring runs in the remaining games,” he added.

The Delhi-based franchise had last qualified for the playoffs way back in 2012 and their fortunes haven't been very kind since then with the Shreyas Iyer-led side finishing rock bottom of the table last season. However, they have had a splendid turnaround this season and the young skipper was buoyed with the team’s performance. 

“This is an amazing feeling. Before the start of the tournament we wanted to qualify, so we are really satisfied and happy now that we have qualified,” said Iyer.

The bowling attack that DC possesses has seasoned well with veterans like Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada and Axar Patel among others getting the job done. The same goes with the batting and the skipper did not shy away from the fact that he does not interfere in their game.

“It's really important to let the bowlers do their job and not interfere, same is the case with the batsmen. In every game individuals have chipped in with handy contributions and taken the team over the line,” asserted the 24-year-old.

Apart from Dhawan, Iyer also scored a brilliant 52 off 37 balls while Windies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford played a quickfire knock of 28 runs in 13 deliveries in the death overs, which ensured that the side reaches an above-par total. The skipper did not fail to credit both the batsmen for their knocks. 

“It's important to get 50-plus in the Powerplay on this ground. Dhawan has been amazing for us and Rutherford's cameo helped us to 180, we got 15 runs extra because of his innings,” he said.

The Capitals were not given a chance by many at the start of the tournament, but they have now become only the second team to qualify. A finish in the top two would also ensure a second chance in the playoffs and With just two more league stage games to go, Iyer has vowed to maintain the same intensity.

“We are going to maintain the same intensity and mindset for the rest of the tournament. We were termed as the underdogs before the start of the tournament and before the start of every match we think the same,” he signed off.