Ahead of the beginning of the second half of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), Delhi Capitals senior batsman Steve Smith has said that his side will have to play their best cricket if they want to make it to the final.

Presently, the Delhi Capitals were at the top of the standings before the tournament was stopped midway in May due to the increasing COVID-19 cases in India and multiple cases in the IPL bio-bubble. The team has earned 12 points from six wins out of eight games.

The Indian Express reported that Smith believes the Rishabh Pant-led team has the potential to do even better in the second half of the IPL to be played in UAE from September 19 to October 15.

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“We have to pick up from where we left off. We were playing some really good cricket, getting the results we were after. And I think we can do even better so we should be playing our best cricket in the back end of the tournament,” Smith was quoted as saying in a DC release.

In the press release, Smith also said that the team will certainly have to rebuild itself for the remainder of the IPL.

Smith said he is fortunate to have returned for the second half of the event during such a tumultuous time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“I am really fortunate to have a chance to come back for the second half of the tournament. I am looking forward to it. Delhi are sitting at a great spot on the table so hope that we can keep playing some great cricket and be there at the business end of the tournament,” The Indian Express reported Smith as saying.

The Delhi Capitals (DC) are all set to resume their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on September 22.