Praveen Amre, Head of Scouting for the Delhi Capitals, has singled out the Pandya brothers -Hardik and Krunal, for DC’s 40-run defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians (MI) in an IPL 2019 match at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi on Thursday, 18th April.
Amre believes that DC conceded 18 runs extra to the tourists that made a big difference here, setting them a target of 168 at Kotla that was expected a 150 pitch, as Pandya brothers given a brilliant final touch to MI, added 50 runs off 17 balls to put the hosts under pressure at home ground.
Krunal (37 off 26 balls) and Hardik (32 off 15 balls) didn’t allowed Capitals bowlers to make a comeback in the match, while MI’s spin attack led by Rahul Chahar (3/9) broke the backbone of the hosts batting line-up and put them under pressure to score 10 runs per over after the 10 overs here.
While crediting Mumbai batsmen the way they batted at tricky Kotla wicket, Amre believes that DC’s Indian middle-order batsmen should have countered MI's bowling attack, saying Capitals badly need to work on how to handle spinners in the middle overs to win matches in the IPL 2019.
Speaking to media at the post-match conference, Amre said, “We have to give credit to the way the Mumbai Indians batted. The last four overs they got 58 runs. Hardik Pandya's innings was very crucial - 15 balls, 32 runs - that really got the runs on the board. We felt like this was a 150 pitch and I think that extra cushion they got - 18 runs - that made the difference and put the pressure (on us). After 10 overs it was chasing 10 runs per over. It was not that easy a task considering the Kotla wicket.”
He signed off by saying, “He (Chahar) controlled the game in the first 10 overs and picked up the wickets of the top batsmen, which was very important. (The spinners) bowled in the powerplay. That gave them the extra cushion to use their experienced bowlers later on. The middle overs really cost us (with the bat) and that's where we have to really work on. Playing the spinners' overs well will be very important. Our Indian middle order batsmen have to stand up and deliver.”
(With Cricketnext Inputs)
