A tough assignment for Daredevils against Super Kings: Shipperd

Chennai, May 11 : While admitting that the Delhi Daredevils were struggling to fire as a unit and depended too much on individual performances, coach Greg Shipperd was still hopeful that his side under new captain James Hopes, standing in for an injured Virender Sehwag, would author a "big story" in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Daredevils are scheduled to take on Chennai Super Kings here Thursday aware that the hosts have won all their five games at Chepauk this season.

"It is a very tough assignment for us to beat the team in their home ground. We know that they have got some special skills in all three departments of the game.

"It is tough for us to come tomorrow and bring in the best three disciplines in the game and play best cricket with the bat and get off to a good start. It is important for us in the first six overs to bat and bowl to tell a big story tomorrow. That is where we have been lagging particularly with the bat.

"We had difficulties with the bat against Mumbai the other day but the team still conjured nearly 150 runs. We have been a quite reactive team but we tend to be proactive in the next three matches and lay a foundation whether with the bat or the ball," said Shippered at a press conference, here Wednesday.

Responding to the obvious query about Sehwag's absence due to a shoulder surgery, Shipperd said Hopes was anything but a greenhorn and hoped that he would be able to regroup his players.

"Viru will be a huge loss for us as he is the holder of Orange cap. He fired in each of our matches that we won. He is sadly missed as a captain as well apart from his run scoring abilities.

"However, we have plenty of options and assess which player could handle pressure. Next three games are very important from the franchise point of view to establish which players would be committed to and which player will get the opportunity.

"Captain of our side, James Hopes is an experienced campaigner and behind the scenes, we do not have a captain but we have a range of people who have been given leadership opportunities in making sure that we move as a squad.

"James Hopes has got lot of experience. His determination and abilities could help us finish the tournament as well as we can," Shipperd said.

Reviewing his key players like opening batsman David Warner and all-rounder Irfan Pathan, the coach pointed out that inconsistency has been a matter of concern and that has weighed the team down.

"The other batters have been very up and down and they are quite reactive as a group instead of leading from the front and taking the opportunity. There have been a number of players who have been given chances to but not come forward.

"Warner started the tournament very well but drifted off in the last five outings. Irfan Pathan is a solid configure in the team and he will be given some more opportunities in the next three games.

"He has been playing in middle instead of setting up in building a total for our team. He is prepared very well and perhaps requires some more chances to excel himself," Shipperd said.

The coach hinted at exercising spin options in Thursday's must-win game, just like the Super Kings who in recent matches have packed the team with three specialist spinners.

"Chennai Super Kings have played quite a few spinners. This is an option for us. Our bowling group has held us together and given us opportunities to win matches.

"Venugopal Rao has not been used on a regular basis and he is a good option. Across the course, we are satisfied with our bowling group. Again, we played a range of players and spinners have taken wickets for us.

"Roelof van der Merwe has done quite well and Venugopal Rao has not bowled a lot and I think he is capable to bowl his off-spin and Shabaz Nadeem, a finger spinner has done quite nicely.

"In the middle, Ajit Agarkar has done a fair job of his chances. In way, we are quite happy with the bowling group. We know that there is a huge challenge ahead of us," he said.