IPL 2016: Amit Mishra says Daredevils will go with an aggressive approach against KXIP
After their nine- wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, Delhi Daredevils leg-spinner Amit Mishra said that their team will go with an "aggressive" approach in their game against Kings XI Punjab today.
"We look to have a positive approach. The preparations are going on well. We have been working hard in the nets," said the Delhi- born cricketer. "We're confident and want to do well. A few matches may not go our way initially but we are going to go all out with an aggressive approach," Mishra told reporters here on Friday.
Mishra, who has been struggling to find his place in the international side, has been a significant player for his Ranji side Haryana over the years. He has also been one of the best spinners in the IPL, holding his record of being the only one to get three hat-tricks playing for three different teams.
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With his last Test match for the international side in November last year against South Africa, the 33- year old says he does not want to put pressure on himself to get back to the national team. "I don't want to put pressure on myself. Now I want to just focus on IPL”, said the leg-spinner.
Mishra went on to say, “I am focused on the upcoming matches and not worried about what will happen one and a half month later. Right now, I want to be in the top 10 wicket takers list this IPL season. Delhi didn't do well in the last two years and we want to finish in the top 4 and we are looking to start that journey from here in Delhi," said the 33- year old .
After finishing in the bottom two of the table for the last three years, the Daredevils are looking for an upswing under the tutelage of Rahul Dravid this season. However, they got off to an ominous start after getting bowled out for 98 in their first match this year. That, in fact, was their seventh instance of a score under 100 in the IPL.
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The team is brimming with young talent this year. Having bought Pawan Negi, Sanju Samson, and Karun Nair for fat amounts in the auction, while releasing the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews, shows the direction the franchise want to head towards.
"This team has a lot of good players. We have some big hitters in Carlos Brathwaite, and Samson is also there in the middle order but we need to boost our middle order and click as a unit. The pitches so far are conducive to batting and as a bowler you need to have variety and think how the batsmen are going to play us and bowl accordingly ."