Abu Dhabi: Delhi Capitals suffered a major blow with wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant advised by the doctor to rest for a week.
In Delhi's last game against Rajasthan Royals, Pant was seen limping when he completed the catch to dismiss Aaron off Kagiso Rabada's bowling. Before that, he was seen struggling with reaching the wickets for the throws from the deep as well. But it started with a sprint towards mid-wicket to stop a quick single earlier in the innings.
"We have no idea (on Rishabh's availability), the doctor said he has to rest for a week and hope he comes back really strong," skipper Shreyas Iyer told the host broadcaster after the five-wicket defeat over Mumbai Indians.
Shreyas Iyer with Rishabh Pant
Iyer felt that the side fell 10-15 runs short of the desired target as they posted 162/4 in their 20 overs.
"Definitely, I would say 10-15 short, 170-175 on the board would have looked completely different. We really missed out when Stoinis got out, he was hitting the ball really well and also seeing the ball like a football, that was the main error that we did and something that we really need to work on," Iyer said.
Shreyas Iyer
The skipper feels that the team needs to work on their mindset before the next game and not to take things lightly.
"Apart from that the effort we put on the field, we could definitely work on that as there were a few misfields and dropped catches as well. Overall they outplayed us in all the departments. We need to work on our mindsets before the next game. I thought the spinners were bowling well as the ball was coming onto the bat, it wasn't stopping as it was in the first innings," Iyer said
"If we could have squeezed in two more wickets after the powerplay we would have been on top. It is really important for us not to take any team lightly and be positive in our approach. There are still certain elements we have to work and we will use the break to work on that," he added.
Shreyas Iyer