Delhi Daredevil’s pace power boosted by fit again Umesh Yadav & Irfan Pathan

They after all bank heavily on their Indian recruits as far as pace bowling is concerned. With South Africa’s Morne Morkel and West Indies’ Andre Russell being the other likely pace starters in the side,the onus is on Yadav and Pathan to hold the other end up.

Daredevils team mentor TA Sekhar,however,is confident that both Yadav and Irfan are game for the challenge. “Yadav’s performance in the national T20 showed that he has lost nothing. He hit peak form and speed straightaway,” the former fast bowler Sekhar said.

‘in safe hands’

“Irfan,on the other hand,is an experienced campaigner. Injury stays in the back of your mind when you don’t have a proper rehab. But both have joined the side,doing their rehab properly. And these days we have experts to look after the players. Yadav and Irfan know they are in safe hands. I don’t think they will struggle to get into the rhythm,” he added.

Apart from Yadav and Irfan,Daredevils also have Ajit Agarkar and Ashish Nehra in their ranks,while novice Punjab seamer Siddharth Kaul completes Delhi’s seam battery. After losing Kevin Pietersen and Jesse Ryder for different reasons,Daredevils are short on impact players in the batting — vital in this format of the game.

But now the bowlers will have to step in and compensate. Morkel,Yadav and Pathan will now look to make things easier for the batters.