Losing streak is cause of concern for us says Delhi spinner Nadeem IPL 6 2013

As Delhi Daredevils slipped to their fourth successive defeat in the ongoing Pepsi Indian Premier League, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem admitted that the team’s losing streak is a “cause of concern”.

“We lost four games and it is a case of concern. But T20 is a funny game, three out of the four games we fought hard and easily could have won them. We need to return to winning ways if we have to qualify for the knockout stage,” Nadeem, who took two for 17, told reporters at the post-match press conference here last night.

The Daredevils lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by three wickets in a low-scoring affair.

Nadeem feels that the Delhi outfit need to get their act together quickly and come out with improved show in their remaining 12 matches.

“We have a good batting side but unfortunately we are not performing with the bat. But we have got the potential. We need to pull up our socks. I hope in the next couple of games you will see us doing well,” he insisted.

Even the return of Virender Sehwag, who missed the first three games due to a bout of back spasms, failed to inspire the Daredevils. Opting to bat, they could only post just 114 for eight, a score that the Sunrisers struggled to chase down but did it in the end with four balls to spare.

“Viru bhai (Sehwag) is a world class player. He was looking very positive today and we are just waiting for him to explode in the tournament,” Nadeem said. Nadeem is of the view that the track on offer at the Kotla last night was a slow one and any score around 140 would have been a winning total.

“The wicket was little on the slower side. It was little difficult for batsmen. 130-140 would have been a good score,” the left-arm spinner said.

Sunrisers leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who was adjudged player of the match for his one for 15 and unbeaten 14-ball 16 with the bat, said off late he has been working hard on his batting.

“I have been improving my batting for the last two years. I have been working very hard on my batting and it helped me here,” said Mishra.

“While chasing you need to keep yourself calm and cool. The pressure was there as wickets kept falling but I knew if I am there we will win,” he added.

Mishra too agreed that the wicket was slow but said it did not have any demons for batsmen.

“The wicket was slow but it was good for batting,” he said.