So in the end Delhi’s season did turn out like Liverpool’s.
Heavily backed at the start with many pundits suggesting that this would be the season they would deliver.
There were some tremendous highs like beating Bangalore not once, but twice. Just as Liverpool beat Manchester United, and also Everton twice. But the lows were horrible. Two dismal defeats to Mumbai and then the nadir of being bowled out for 111 by wooden spoon winners Punjab. Topsy-turvy is the best way to describe it.
From semi-final certainties to a final do-or-die clash with reigning champs Deccan Chargers.
Andrew Symonds proved the difference and showed what Australiahas been missing, and I don’t just mean some personality and off-field shenanigans. As ever, Paul Collingwood battled, but he lacked partners and the big shots to take Delhi over the line.
So it as I was warned. Delhiremains the perennial underachievers of the IPL. Most of the big players didn’t do themselves justice. Dilshan had an absolute nightmare, averaging only 7.33 with 44 runs from six innings. De Villiers wasn’t much better with an average of 16. The perplexing nature that is Sehwag’s failure to dominate T20 continued. And Gambhir’s most notable achievement was in upsetting Lalit Modi and Rajasthan fans.
True, Collingwood, Amith Mishra and Mithun Manhas did ok, but on the whole this was one star-studded line-up that failed to fire.
Oh well, Sussex has started with two wins and Englandare going to win the World T20! Onwards and upwards.
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