Delhi Capitals (DC) batters Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan have come under the scanner for their struggles against top quality fast bowling in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Shaw and Sarfaraz’s failures have also come into the limelight since the Capitals have suffered big defeats in their first two IPL 2023 games at the hands of Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans.
Amid the scrutiny, former India pacer and DC bowling coach Ajit Agarkar said it is unfair to single out any player when the failure has been a collective one.
"I mean they (Shaw and Sarfaraz) have got runs against fast bowling. I don't think we batted well so why point out one or two guys," Agarkar stated after DC’s 6-wicket defeat against GT on Tuesday (April 4).
"None of our top order players really got going in both the games. We haven't had big runs at the top which some of the other teams have."
"No point picking individuals, collectively we haven't been good on both nights and we need to improve as we are playing against some good teams. So lot of credit to Gujarat but we need to bat collectively as a unit to get results," he added.
In both the games, the two prolific Mumbaikars seemed to have struggled against the likes of Mark Wood, Mohammad Shami and Alzarri Joseph, all of whom can clock 140+ kmph and get movement and bounce at good speed.
While Shaw has registered scores of 12 and 7 in the two matches, Sarfaraz returned with scores of 4 and 30 respectively.
Asked if the problem is because of the standard of bowling these two counter at the domestic level with average speed of 130-132 kmph, Agarkar reminded that Prithvi Shaw has a Test hundred to his name.
"We are talking about Prithvi Shaw who has got a Test hundred on debut. He is not playing IPL for the first time. So again why pick on people?
"When you lose, it's not because of one or two people. I think you have to accept collective effort hasn't been good tonight (Tuesday) and you have to accept it. We have got personnel to do it. We just need to apply ourselves better," he said.
According to Agarkar, Sarfaraz prolific run in domestic cricket season after season can’t be viewed in isolation.
"We are talking about two people who have got heaps of runs. There are no doubts that it's different standard when you play domestic cricket and then come to IPL. But because you have scored heaps of runs (in domestic cricket) and have done that before. It's all about adjustments."
"Not like they are playing IPL for the first time. Then you could ask the question (of not measuring up). They have done it before and they will get right. At the moment we haven't but they will improve," Agarkar said.
(With PTI Inputs)
