JOIN USLeg-spinner Amit Mishra said winning the first home game will boost the morale of Delhi Daredevils who are striving for improved performances.
Mishra was key to Daredevils’ eight-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab on Friday with his figures of 4/11 in three overs. It was also Mishra’s 100th IPL match and he made it memorable by winning the man of the match and the purple cap.
”It is good that we won our home game. This will boost our team's morale. The way we are practicing and putting in all the hard work is what matters. This is just the start and you can't really predict anything. The focus now shifts to the next bunch of games,” said Mishra.
“David Miller's wicket was the turning point, I feel. They were already under pressure and their captain's wicket added to their pressure. I'm very happy to get the man of the match award and Purple cap on my 100th IPL game.”
With 116 scalps, Mishra became the second highest wicket-taker in IPL history after Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga.
“We get an idea from the body language of the batsmen as to when they are thinking of going for a big shot but I think what is more important is that I got the wickets on those particular deliveries.”
Asked why he was not given another over, Mishra, who returned with figures of 3-0-11-4, said: “The plan was to give the fast bowlers more overs. It will help them as they need to bowl more at the death in the next matches. The best thing for me is that I contributed in the team’s win.”
Mishra admitted that the economical spell by captain Zaheer Khan helped in creating the required pressure. “Zaheer bhai is such a legend. He's been a wicket-taking bowler for India, wherever he has played. The pressure he built was always going to be helpful.,” he said.