IPL 2024: Prithvi Shaw's inclusion will help Delhi Capitals set their house in order. Delhi Capitals top and middle-order batting problem and solution.
Delhi Capitals (DC) had a terrible time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, finishing in ninth position with just five wins under their belt. They started the 17th edition of the league with two successive defeats against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Their dominant performance in 2020 and 2021 promised a potential trophy shortly. However, their wrong execution in tactics and processes since then has witnessed a tumble. The runners-up of IPL 2020 have lost 11 of their last 16 games, and are affected with injuries and unavailability. Even though the team management made several experiments, they look to be far from fixing the issue.
Apart from their poor bowling in a few patches, they did reasonably well with the ball in both games this season. However, they continued with the same mistakes in their batting. Even after their captain Rishabh Pant made a comeback to the game after a long time, their middle order remains thin.
Let’s take a look at what went wrong and how can they turn around from the next phase in the season
Delhi seeks more contributions from top & middle-order
One of the main reasons behind their four-wicket defeat against Punjab was little contribution from the top order. Mitchell Marsh began in an aggressive mood with his 12-ball 20-run knock along with David Warner’s 29. Both of them provided a good start to the team but failed to convert their scores into big knocks.
Rishabh Pant looked a bit rusty for his 18 runs, while Tristan Stubbs and Ricky Bhui didn’t offer any contribution in their opening game of the season. It was Abhishek Porel who came as a substitute and carried them to a respectable total with his unbeaten 32-run knock in 10 deliveries.
The Capitals didn’t learn the lesson and made the same mistake in the second game. Marsh again got out in the 20s, while the rust was yet to come off Pant’s 28-run knock. The left-hander looked to be searching for his old touch. Warner made his way to 49 but failed to convert it into a huge score.
Stubbs tried his best to pull the game in their favour with his 23-ball unbeaten 44-run knock but ultimately failed to carry them over the line. The team also made some tactical mistakes. Bhui has been a brilliant batter against spin, but coming at number three, he was dismissed on his second ball against Nandre Burger. When the Royals introduced their spinners in the middle overs, DC didn’t have a specialist batter to whack the spinners.
Prithvi Shaw’s inclusion may reinforce Delhi with a balanced combination
With Mitchell Marsh not bowling, Delhi can look to drop the Australia batter and bring his countryman Jake Fraser-McGurk. The 21-year-old's exciting talent has been in tremendous touch of late with 51 T20I runs in two innings at a strike rate of 221.73. Even in 37 T20s, the right-handed batter has notched up 645 runs at a strike rate of 133.54.
Apart from this, the Capitals may look to include Prithvi Shaw in the side. The opener had a poor last season with just 106 runs in eight games at an average of 13.25 and a strike rate of 124.71 with a lone fifty. The 24-year-old missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2023-’24 with injury.
Shaw made his return to the game with a 451-run season in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai at a strike rate of 83.51. With the inclusion of Prithvi Shaw, Marsh can walk at number three. The position will also give him the exposure to smash the spinners.
Pant and Stubbs will follow them in the middle order, while Axar Patel and impact player Abhishek Porel will arrive in the lower middle order. This will make the side much more balanced and stronger with clear basics.
The time is slowly getting over, and they need to turn the table, DC won’t love another season where they will start winning after five successive defeats. They will take on unbeaten Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 31 at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
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