IPL: Irfan makes it look easy for Delhi as Daredevils beat Knight Riders by 8 wickets

Kolkata: Irfan Pathan made it an easy chase for Delhi Daredevils after Kolkata Knight Riders posted 97 in 12-Over affair in the IPL encounter at Eden Gardens on Thursday, writes The Times Of India.

“Invited to set a target after a 90-minute delay resulted in a 12 overs-a-side game, Kolkata scored 97 for the loss of 9 wickets after a disastrous start, and the total proved woefully inadequate. Virender Sehwag (20 off 13) and Aaron Finch (30 off 27) provided a blistering start for Delhi with a 49-run partnership in 38 balls, and Irfan Pathan weathered a wobble to finished it off with a 20-ball 42 that had three sixes and a couple of fours. It was all over in the first ball of the final over. Delhi 100 for 2,” writes TOI.

Meanwhile Sourav Ganguly in his column in Hindustan Times writes that Mumbai Indians would have never expected victory to come so easily against the defending champions. “It was presumed to be a keen contest between the two top sides but when one team wins a T-20 contest with about four overs and eight wickets to spare then it is bound to be labeled as one-sided,” writes ganguly, adding that the wicket in Chennai looked interesting.

“It has been re-laid but looks to have settled down. It had bounce, carry, the ball was moving around when put in the right spot. On the whole it was a different wicket on Indian soil. It would be interesting to keep an eye on the nature of such an 'alien' wicket in the course of the IPL,” says Ganguly.

He might be out of the India squad, but Harbhajan Singh is seen as a player who has the credentials to lead the country at some time in the future by former skipper Sourav Ganguly, says newspaper reports.

"Harbhajan's captaincy was brilliant in Champions League and yesterday too (for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL opener). His body language was terrific. He has the ability to lead India some day. I have always said I will have Harbhajan in my side," said Ganguly who is to lead Pune Warriors against Harbhajan-led Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday.