Delhi Capitals' assistant coach Mohammad Kaif said on Wednesday that the first IPL match of the Delhi franchise against Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 22 will set the tone for the rest of the tournament in Dubai.
The former cricketer, who has joined the pre-season camp in Dubai recently, added that while there was a big break after the first half of the IPL which was suspended on May 3 due to the bio-bubble breach, his players were in good shape as many of them had been "playing international cricket".
"There has been a big break after the first half of the IPL, but we are fortunate that most of the players have been playing international cricket regularly. We have a well-balanced side as there are players with international cricket experience and domestic players, who have been putting in good performances. The first match is going to be crucial for us. Our performance in the first match will set the momentum for us."
