Delhi Daredevils CEO disappointed with poor show

New Delhi May 13 (IANS) After Delhi Daredevils once again failed to reach the Indian Premier League (IPL) play-offs the capital franchise s CEO Hemant Dua on Sunday expressed disappointment and blamed injuries to key players for the team s poor show.

The Shreyas Iyer-led side suffered their ninth loss in 12 games on Saturday which also shattered their hopes of advancing to the next stage of the cash-rich Twenty20 cricket league.

The last time Delhi managed to reach the play-offs was in 2012. Delhi have never won the IPL title having reached the semi-finals in 2008 and 2009.

Dua disappointed with the team s performance this season however said that the squad comprises of youngsters on whom the success of the team depends.

In a series of tweets the CEO said: "It s been another tough year and yes we have failed again in front of you #DD fans! I have read all your tweets and we are as disappointed as you all are! I know you might not believe but that s the truth."

"We all want to win and no one wants it more desperately than all of us here at @DelhiDaredevils ... we have hired the best coaches and bought players which are the best and most of you agreed post auction " he added.

Dua further said the injuries to pacers Chris Morris and Kasigo Rabada hurt his side while a few other players took time to get in touch.

"Injuries took away @Tipo_Morris and @KagisoRabada25 and few of our senior players were not in form or took while to click " he said.

However Dua hoped that having youngsters in the team will help them in the long run.

"But what we have is a great nucleus of youngsters in @RishabPant777 @PrithviShaw #Abhisekh #Shreyas @IamSandeep25 #Manjot #Avesh #Sayan #Tewatia #Jayant and #Harshal with strong internationals next year we can do well! #DilDilli #ThankYou for #Support " concluded Dua.

Delhi will now look to salvage pride when they host Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on May 18 and 20.

--IANS
kk/bg