Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag admitted that making the knock-out stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be difficult for his team following their 17-run defeat against the Knight Riders here Thursday night.

Daredevils are lying at the bottom of the team with just four points from seven matches. Their loss against the Knight Riders here was their second successive at home and fifth overall.

“Well, things have certainly become tough. I think we will have to win six of the next seven matches to make the grade. But nothing is impossible in cricket. There is pressure to perform but once we start winning, we can always gain momentum,” said Sehwag.

Sehwag admitted that chasing 148 was not a tough task for his team.

“Chasing 150-odd runs on this wicket was not difficult. The wicket was easy and there was not much movement. I think it was a good wicket to bat on. We started well and scored 40 runs or so in the first six overs even after losing David Warner. After I got out, I sent Irfan Pathan early thinking that he would be able accelerate the run rate. But unfortunately, he, too, got out,” said Sehwag.

Asked why the run rate dropped in the middle overs, Sehwag said: “It is difficult to decide whether to play in the normal fashion or go for the ball when you are given a target of 149 runs. Sometimes batsmen get in two minds. This could be one of the reasons why we lost out in the chase.”

Sehwag was also unhappy with his own form, saying it was time for him to get a big innings.

“I am also not getting runs. I should be scoring more runs. All of us have to sit together and see how to improve our performance,” he said.