Indian Premier League table toppers Delhi Capitals are having a dream run at this year T20 league. “For us, what we started last season, we are one big happy family. Win or lose we stay together,” the assembled squad were told by CEO Dhiraj Malhotra at the team’s bio-secure hotel ballroom. “However we have talked and we think your performances have not been good enough. So we have clips of the last matches you have not played very well, so we will start with that and then talk about your performances after.”
However, instead of watching a horror show and being read the riot act, the worried audience members were instead treated to a number of clips from loved ones back home, from India and Australia to South Africa, West Indies and even Nepal.With the IPL being played behind closed doors and the teams living in secure bio-bubbles, it has meant that for the first time, most players won’t have their families join them for the two-month tournament. So co-owner and chairman Parth Jindal played a master stroke with the ploy to keep team spirits up as they make a push for the title. Emotions got the better of one or two tough guys in the squad, with the normally stony-faced head coach Ricky Ponting bursting into a beaming smile as he saw his family on screen and Marcus Stoinis looked close to tears when he was greeted by his kids.
