IPL 2023: The batting looked weak – Aakash Chopra on Delhi Capitals’ loss to LSG

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra highlighted that Delhi Capitals’ batting looked weak after their loss against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Saturday. DC was beaten by a huge margin of 50 runs after they could only manage 143-7 in response to LSG’s score of 193.

In fact, Delhi Capitals batters failed to find any kind of impetus in their batting innings. Prithvi Shaw and Mitchell Marsh were castled by Mark Wood on consecutive deliveries and it put the visitors on the back foot.

Sarfaraz Khan was dismissed with a bumper from Wood, leaving DC reeling at 48-3 after seven overs. Rilee Rossouw scored 30 runs from 20 balls but David Warner meandered to 56 runs from 48 balls as the required run rate kept swelling. Mark Wood bowled a hot spell of 5-14 as he troubled the opposition with his raw pace.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “The batting looked weak despite David Warner scoring runs. You played four overseas batters. The day Anrich Nortje comes, you will have to make one of them sit out and get Manish Pandey in.”

“Till the time the top three score runs, you will stay in the game, but as soon as you go below that, you will find that the depth is slightly less. Let’s be honest, you can send Axar Patel to bat slightly up the order, he bats well.”

On the other hand, Khaleel Ahmed was the pick of the Delhi Capitals’ bowlers as he returned with figures of 2-30 in his quota of four overs. Ahmed accounted for Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis but he made the mistake of dropping Kyle Mayers when the left-hander was on 14. However, Chopra admitted that DC missed the services of their gun pacer Anrich Nortje.

“From the bowling point of view, Anrich Nortje’s absence is definitely felt. When he plays, obviously he will be like Mark Wood. Chetan Sakariya proves slightly expensive. Khaleel Ahmed is looking good. If you leave aside the last over, Khaleel has actually come back from where he had left.”

“They will be able to manage the bowling. Kuldeep Yadav also bowls well and you have an option in the form of Axar Patel. So bowling will take care of itself, but there will be some problems in batting this time around.”

Delhi Capitals will next face Gujarat Titans on Tuesday at their home ground of Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.