'It was like getting my first Test run' - Sourav Ganguly relieves tense moment after DC's maiden victory

Delhi Capitals finally got off the mark in IPL 2023 after labouring to a victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in a low-scoring affair in Delhi. The home side huffed and puffed while chasing a modest target and eventually got over the line, to the relief of the coaching staff. Former Indian skipper and Delhi's Director of Cricket, Sourav Ganguly was also relieved by his side's victory, comparing it to his Test debut at the Lord's in 1996.

The home side were set a paltry target of 128 runs by Nitish Rana's men, and it looked like a walk in the park after a blistering start from Delhi's skipper David Warner. However, the Delhi innings went into a tailspin post the powerplay, needing Axar Patel to save his side's blushes in a last-over thriller.

Delhi's coaching staff, including head coach Ricky Ponting and Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, were relieved to see their side register their first win of the tournament with the latter comparing it to one of his personal milestones. The former Indian captain, who made his Test debut in 1996, compared the feeling to scoring his first runs in Test cricket for India.

"Happy to get off the mark. I was sitting there in the dugout and thinking it was like getting my first Test run (about the pressure to get their first points of the season), 25 years ago. We were on the luckier side today," Ganguly said after the low-scoring match against KKR.

We need to go back and look at ourselves and see how we can get better: Ganguly

While the bowlers impressed in the first innings, restricting a star-studded KKR batting order to a below-par total, it was the batting that almost cost them the match. Ganguly hoped that the batters might find it a bit easy when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on a batting-friendly surface in Hyderabad.

"We bowled well before as well this season. But the problem is the batting. We need to go back and look at ourselves and see how we can get better. We work hard with the boys and get them back in form. Be it Prithvi, Manish, Mitch Marsh. They have been important players and around for a while for their respective teams. We have a day off tomorrow and then fly to Hyderabad, hopefully, it will be a good batting wicket there, it usually is," said the former India captain.