Concerns Rise for Delhi Capitals as Openers Struggle in IPL

Delhi Capitals Face Challenges After Washout Against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 6: Following the washout match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar expressed his worries regarding the underperforming openers of Delhi Capitals (DC), labeling it a "danger sign" for any T20 franchise.

In a low-scoring encounter at Uppal Stadium, DC managed to secure a point, keeping their playoff aspirations alive despite a shaky performance. After a strong start with five consecutive wins, the team has struggled, recording just one victory alongside four losses and a no result in their subsequent matches.

During his analysis on 'Match Centre Live' on JioHotstar, Bangar pointed out the issues with DC's top order, stating, "They have lost momentum, and when the openers fail to perform, it poses a significant risk for any T20 side. A strong performance from the top three can relieve pressure on the middle order and enhance confidence within the team. However, losing two or three wickets during the powerplay can lead to chaos."

Bangar noted that losing five wickets for just 29 runs was a challenging situation, but he praised the middle order for their resilience. "Credit goes to the partnership between Ashutosh Sharma and Tristan Stubbs, who provided DC with a fighting chance, potentially setting a competitive total," he remarked.

This season, DC's opening partnership has averaged a mere 20.18, the lowest among all teams. Additionally, the lack of consistency in the opening lineup has led to six different combinations being tested. Players like Jake Fraser McGurk (55 runs in six innings, with a top score of 38), Abishek Porel (191 runs in seven innings at an average of 27.28, including a fifty), Faf Du Plessis (168 runs in six innings at an average of 28.00, with two fifties), KL Rahul (77 against Chennai Super Kings), and Karun Nair (65 runs in five innings at an average of 13.00, without any scores above 20) have all been tried as openers.

This instability has resulted in DC losing 22 wickets during the powerplay this season, the highest in the league, with their average runs per wicket being the lowest at 26.40.

In the match, after being reduced to 29/5, contributions from Tristan Stubbs (41* off 36 balls, including four boundaries) and Ashutosh Sharma (41 off 26 balls, with two fours and three sixes) helped DC reach 133/7. However, SRH was unable to chase the target as the match was ultimately washed out.

Currently, DC sits in fifth place with six wins, four losses, and a no result, totaling 13 points, while SRH is in eighth place with three wins, seven losses, and a no result, accumulating seven points.