Don’t be surprised if Delhi Capitals soon become IPL champions: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar is impressed with how Delhi Capitals performed during IPL 2019 saying it won’t be a surprise if they end up winning the trophy soon.

A rechristened DC finished at the third spot after losing to defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier on Friday. This was their best finish across the 12 seasons and for the first time in their history, the managed to win a contest in IPL playoff – beating former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator.

“Delhi is the team to watch out for and don’t be surprised if they get their hands on the trophy sooner than later, Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Times of India on Sunday.

A young squad led by Shreyas Iyer lost to a much experienced one led by MS Dhoni and Gavaskar says it was quite evident. “Experience showed how to keep its nerve to exuberance when Chennai beat Delhi easily in what was anticipated to be a nail biter. The manner in which the Chennai bowlers choked some of the finest young stroke-makers in India was awesome,” he wrote.

He added, “It could well be that the sense of the occasion and the delicious anticipation of getting to the finals got to the youngsters but they will be the better for the experience.”

CSK will face Mumbai Indians in the final on Sunday night in Hyderabad and the batting legend feels the Rohit Sharma-led outfit who topped the league stage start as the favourites.

“Mumbai will clearly start as the favourites having beaten Chennai and that too comfortably in their three meetings so far this season but the finals is a different animal altogether. It can get to the best and most experienced. The one that controls the adrenaline rush, the one that stays in the present, in the moment will prevail. This is a battle between two IPL giants, a clash between a team Chennai that has been in 8 finals in 10 seasons and Mumbai who have been in three finals,” he opined.