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Vijay Dahiya opens up on Delhi’s future, his stint with Purani Dilli 6 in the DPL and how coaching in the state league differs from the IPL.
Vijay Dahiya says Delhi has the talent to do well in red-ball cricket. (Picture Credit: IG/vijay.dahiya.1973)
When former India cricketer Vijay Dahiya started his first-class career with Delhi in 1993-94, it was an era when the team was a dominant force in domestic cricket. Delhi last won the Ranji Trophy in 2007-08 and while they reached the final in 2017-18, the semifinal in 2009-10 and the quarterfinal in 2014-15, consistency has eluded the seven-time champions.
Having played 63 of his 82 first-class matches for Delhi, the former wicketkeeper-batter acknowledges the challenges ahead and shares his thoughts on the team’s future, his stint with Purani Dilli 6 in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) and how coaching in DPL differs from the IPL, in a chat with News18 CricketNext.
Purani Dilli 6 had a good season last year, but this time it was a rollercoaster. What could have been done better?
We didn’t cash in on momentum. In T20s, momentum is everything. In the games we lost, we were in positions of control but couldn’t close them out. Skill is one thing, but game sense is equally important and that is where we fell short. If you do not finish strong when you’re on top, this format punishes you. That is exactly what happened.
What was the idea behind bringing in Vansh Bedi as captain after Rishabh Pant got injured and was ruled out of the season?
Rishabh is a bonus for us, but with his international commitments, we knew he would not be available for all matches. Making him captain would have added unnecessary pressure. Vansh, on the other hand, was someone we retained and wanted to groom.
Vansh is aggressive, has leadership instincts and is learning from a winning environment at the Chennai Super Kings. We see him as the long-term leader around whom the team can grow. This is a team in transition, so backing a youngster made sense.
You’ve been part of three IPL teams. How different is coaching in the IPL compared to the DPL?
It is a completely different ballgame. In the IPL, players already know what is at stake; they have been through the grind. Here, in the DPL, you aren’t just a coach; you are a mentor as well, helping youngsters shape their careers. For me, it is also about giving back to Delhi cricket.
If these boys develop here, they will serve Delhi better in first-class cricket. The larger picture is nurturing local talent, not just winning matches.
Delhi reached the semifinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this year, but overall performances have dipped in recent years. Do you see things improving?
Yes, especially in white-ball cricket. There is enough talent to dominate the domestic scene. The bigger concern is red-ball cricket. We do not have two-day or three-day leagues in Delhi; most cricket here is short format. To prepare for Ranji-level challenges, cricketers need exposure to longer formats.
Either we introduce multi-day leagues or take part in tournaments that provide that experience. Once that happens, I am confident Delhi has the talent to succeed in red-ball cricket too.
Have you been able to share these concerns with the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA)?
Absolutely. I had a good discussion with our president, Mr. Rohan Jaitley. He agrees that we need a two-day league or early preparation for red-ball cricket as well. He has already done a lot; this league (DPL) is his brainchild and it is producing more white-ball options for Delhi.
The foundation is being laid and hopefully, we will soon see improvements across formats.
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The post‘Delhi Cricket Needs To Get Its Red-Ball Focus Back’: Vijay Dahiya Advocates For Multi-Day Leagues In City | Cricket News appeared first on News18