Delhi Capitals (DC) had a strange bowling strategy against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 21. Abhishek Sharma single-handedly destroyed all the plans of the opposition team as the opener scored 135 runs in 68 balls with the help of ten fours and ten sixes.
Facing an aggressive batsman, who was scoring runs for fun, DC captain Axar Patel allowed Nitish Rana, who is a part-time spinner, to complete his full quota of 4 overs. In comparison, Patel himself and Kuldeep Yadav bowled 2 overs each. After the match, former Australia captain Aaron Finch questioned the mentality of the Delhi captain.
Akshar Patel wanted to snatch the ball from Abhishek Sharma
On paper, Delhi Capitals have the most lethal spin combination with the presence of Team India’s two stars – Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. The question is natural that why did the captain himself not come forward to take the wicket of Abhishek Sharma and why did he not even use 4 overs of Kuldeep Yadav?
Patel’s intention was to take the ball away from SRH’s openers – Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head – by reducing the pace of the ball. With the same intention, he picked Nitish Rana, for whom it was the 27th time in 122 matches that he bowled in the IPL and the second time that he completed his entire quota.
“We’re sitting there scratching our heads, aren’t we? Your two leading Indian spin bowlers, Axar Patel, captain [2-0-23-1]and Kuldeep Yadav [2-0-30-0]Four overs were bowled between them. A part-time off-spinner in the form of Nitish Rana has bowled four overs. To me, it doesn’t make any sense,” Aaron Finch said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show.
Patel beats Sharma twice before the match
In fact, Axar Patel has a pretty good track record against Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma: 2 for 6 from eight balls in the IPL.
Abhishek Sharma vs Axar Patel on 21st April:
|
total number of runs |
1s |
2s |
3s |
4s |
6s |
|
11 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Finch pointed out that by avoiding Sharma, Patel really exposed his defending mentality.
Patel has a great defensive mindset: Aaron Finch
“He’s got a great defensive mindset even with the ball in his hands. “He’s not a guy you know. If he’s under pressure, he’ll float one up into the slot. He defends himself. He changes the angle. “He also uses his range, his height, to his advantage,” Aaron Finch said.
“So even when you are thinking defensively, it is about attacking Abhishek Sharma when he is in that mood. You bowl a few good balls, and you know something will happen,” he said.
After the match, Patel claimed that he executed his plans wrongly against the opposing batsmen. However, Finch has different ideas. He believes that despite having the tools in their armoury, Delhi Capitals did not show enough will to utilize them.
The former cricketer further claimed, “I am seeing comments saying wait boss, you also had a chance, but you are not ready to stand up even this time.”
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