'We need to find the winning culture' - Duminy

JP Duminy has said that Delhi Daredevils need to find the "culture of winning" after another underwhelming season where they will end up one better than their wooden-spoon finish in the previous two editions of the IPL.

"It is going to take guys some time to find confidence - not in their own game - but in the team's strategic plan, in closing out games," Duminy told ESPNcricinfo. "If I can pinpoint one area where we've fallen short, it's in closing out games with ball and bat."

Daredevils have won five of their 13 games thus far, recording double-digits on the points tally for the first time since 2012. They remained with an outside chance of making the playoffs until defeats to Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders ended their hopes.

Duminy, however, maintained IPL 2015 wasn't "all doom and gloom", as Daredevils had competed well for the major part of the competition.

"A few of them [matches] could have gone our way. First two games of the season [against Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals] were a great opportunity for us to win. If we had got over the line there, we would have gained a lot of confidence going into the tournament.

"There's a few things that we're going to look at and I just see it as great opportunities and learning for us. There has been some good stuff that we have produced. Barring the win against Sunrisers, all our four other wins have been pretty convincing. That's a big positive for us going forward."

He also said there wasn't any pressure on him from the team owners to deliver instant results. "After the season we had, we knew we were up against it this year. We had a massive shift in terms of the players that we had from last season to this season.

"We knew it was going to be a challenge because we are a new group of people trying to set up an environment that gives players opportunities to be successful. So, I think it is an ongoing process. I don't think it is an overnight thing where you can set up something which is going to be sustainable for a long time. We are on the right track in terms of the processes we have put in place and I think the results would show."

Despite the presence of a strong South African contingent that includes, besides him, head coach Gary Kirsten, Imran Tahir, Albie Morkel and Quinton de Kock, Duminy insisted Daredevils didn't necessarily follow the South African template.

"It's a South African structure as most of the management is South African. So, there's going to be some South African way about it, but that does not mean that it is the only way of going forward.

"Gary will be the first to admit that he is learning as well in T20 cricket. We are all learning as we go along. The game is changing every year. Guys are becoming more innovative in the way they're going about it with bat and ball. So, no one closes themselves off to learning new things and finding out new information."

Duminy also admitted that while he was surprised to be named captain, he found the experience rewarding.

"I had a fair idea before the start of the season that there was a possibility of that happening. [But] with my lack of captaincy experience, I was a little bit taken aback by it. I was overwhelmed that they were considering me," Duminy, who has had an impressive season with both bat and ball, scoring 347 runs, including three fifties, and picking up eight wickets, said.

"I looked at it as a great opportunity to see what I'm about as a leader. I've thoroughly enjoyed the job though the results haven't gone the way we would have liked. Just being able to connect with my team mates and the management in the best way possible has been great."