‘If someone needs advice, I’m always there’ – Rabada

They have used seven players aged 25 or under, including two teenagers – Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichanne, and India opener Prithvi Shaw – and four of that seven have been among the six who have played every game for them this season

It means that some youngsters have been thrust into leadership positions, and while there’s been a certain amount of learning on the job, as evidenced by a 3-3 win/loss record, there are also signs that the players are better off for it. Delhi captain Iyer, at 24 years old a relative veteran, started the competition with two scores below 20, but has since come to the party with four consecutive innings above 25.

His 50-ball 67 against Royal Challengers Bangalore was the knock of an old stager, negotiating some difficult conditions and marshalling the chase of a middling total. “Tough pitch to bat on, I wanted to play positively,” he explained after the game. “I bank a lot on my cut shots, and I need to wait for those balls to play them. I wanted to manoeuvre the ball, and keep the singles coming.”

The signs are he’s coming on as skipper too. “There’s big satisfaction when you win a game,” he said. “The atmosphere in the dressing room and hotel is really good. I'm doing alright as a captain, I want to maintain it.”

Another Delhi youngster, Kagiso Rabada, also impressed, claiming 4/21 to keep RCB to 149/8, and eventually sealing the Player of the Match award. “Today my lines worked for me, and I'm glad,” he said. “On a daily basis, you try to execute you simple skills. And not all the time does it work perfectly, but you should try to get it in a decent area. As a player, I believe I have a responsibility at the top and at the death.”

While in-game responsibility comes easy to Rabada, fulfilling leadership roles is less natural. But he too is learning to give back. “To be honest, I don't see myself as a leader in the bowling group,” he said. “But if someone needs advice or needs my help, I'm always there.”

If an example of the vagaries and fluctuations of captaincy was needed, it could be found in RCB’s skipper, Virat Kohli. Vastly experienced as India’s skipper, he has nevertheless led his side to six straight losses to kick off their IPL season, leaving their chances of making the play-offs hanging by a thread.

“We just weren't good on the given day,” he said. “That's the whole story of RCB this season. We've asked the boys to take responsibility. It hasn't happened so far, and that's the reality. The team needs to relax, whatever's in front of us, we need to accept it. We want to enjoy it as a team, otherwise we won't be able to play any good cricket.”