4 games 4 losses. That is Delhi’s record so far this season in the IPL. It is something that Delhi would not have anticipated before the start of the season. Leave alone the players, it must have come as a shock for the supporters of Delhi Capitals. Least of all, their coach, Ricky Ponting. The season so far has been disastrous for Delhi Capitals. It is true that they are missing their regular captain, Rishabh Pant but Pant, even during the best of times, wasn’t that good a T20 batsman. Hence, his absence should not really matter. Yet, Delhi’s struggle in IPL 2023 is nothing short of legendary.
Ricky Ponting, the coach is not used to this performance from his side. He afterall is the most successful international captain. He captained Australia to great heights the likes of which this world has seldom seen. Not even the mighty West Indians or the wily South Africans can match the performance of Australia under Ricky Ponting. The same Ponting must be really disappointed and angry at his team. Perhaps, great teams make great captain is true.
Delhi must move along
Delhi needs some aggressive batting throughout and more so at the end. They also need someone who has the capability to bat for a major part of the innings. It probably is time for Warner to drop himself down the order. The middle order needs stability. Warner is searching for consistency and he is not the same Warner of yesteryears. He just cannot muscle the ball any longer. Also, he has just returned from an injury. There are talks of the WTC Finals, being his last international game. It will be helpful for Delhi if someone else takes care of bludgeoning the ball at the top.
Whom could that be? Phil Salt, the English batsman is in the squad. IPL’s limitation of allowing only 4 foreign-born players in the playing eleven is something that must be taken into account. With Warner moving down the order, Salt can replace Powell in the eleven. He has all the necessary shots to provide a flamboyant start at the top of the order. Someone who is equally flamboyant will have to partner with Salt at the top. That leads me to Prithvi Shaw.
The curious case of Prithvi Shaw
However, it is Prithvi Shaw who will have to standup to be counted. He has got an explosive style of batting. He is not afraid to hit through the line or go over the top. One cannot deny the fact that he is a precious talent though his technique for Tests leaves a lot to be desired. Having said that, he is quite at home in white-ball cricket and particularly in T20. Pitches around the world encourage batsmen to play their shots. This is the format that is ideally suited for Shaw. Ricky Ponting, the DC coach believes everyone can witness the real Prithvi Shaw.
“He’s trained harder and better than I’ve ever seen. I’m pretty sure leading into an IPL, he is in better physical shape than I’ve ever seen him before,” Ponting told reporters in Delhi on Friday. “And I spoke to him the other day about his attitude and the way that he’s working and how things are going. I honestly feel that this is going to be his biggest season ever in the IPL.”
It is clear that Shaw does not really learn from his mistakes. He has continuously failed to deceive. Whether he even works hard is open to questioning. If reports are to be believed, he was warned by the BCCI repeatedly for poor fitness and poor attitude but he does seem to change.
Perhaps, Mitchell Marsh could partner with Salt at the top.
Yash Dhull, the newly minted Delhi captain in Ranji Trophy, alongwith Warner and Manish Pandey can man the middle overs with Rilee Rossouw, the explosive South African providing the finishing flourish in the company of Axar Patel.
On the bowling front, perhaps it is time to blood Ngidi for Mustafizur. Ngidi performed pretty well for CSK and he could be the same force for Delhi.
This IPL is not the same as the previous ones. Scores in the range of 180 are not enough. A minimum of 200 is required. The impact player criteria have meant that teams are willing to take even more risks.
Wrapping up Delhi’s struggle in IPL 2023
Delhi is among the 3 teams that have never won the IPL title in 15 years. As things stand, they do not look like winning this one either. It is not all doom and gloom for Delhi. They still have time. They can affect a turnaround. Inorder to do that, they will have to think within the box. They have the players but how those players are utilised in the overall scheme of things is what Delhi will have to plan. If Delhi fails to go beyond the playoffs, I suspect Ponting will not want to continue. He is too proud a cricketer and he wouldn’t stand repeated failings.