Brad Hogg opined that the Delhi Capitals (DC) showed signs of panic going into Qualifier 1 against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Dubai. Brad Hogg felt the change in the team combination was a huge call for the playoff stages and could have been prompted by panic.
The Delhi Capitals went into the match with six specialist bowling options and five batters in the line-up. However, they ended up promoting all-rounder Axar Patel to no.4 in a bid to lengthen their batting line-up. Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer were the specialist batsmen, while Tom Curran, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Avesh Khan were bowlers.
Brad Hogg: Delhi Capitals Panicked Going In With 6 Frontline Bowlers Rather Than The Extra Batsmen
Brad Hogg stated that the decision not to include the extra batsman in the side was a “big change-up”. The Delhi Capitals had failed to defend a target of 165 runs in the last league match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a last-over thriller earlier this week.
The result of the match might have had a bearing on the Delhi Capitals going in with an extra bowler against the Super Kings. However, the Chennai Super Kings outfit proved to be the better side on the night, edging past the table-toppers with two balls to spare.
“Delhi Capitals going in with 6 front line bowlers rather than the extra specialist batter was a big change up for the finals. Signs of panic,” Hogg wrote on Twitter.
Delhi Capitals was four-down just past the halfway stage but had a lot to thank Prithvi Shaw for his 60 off 34 had ensured they weren’t behind the rate.
That allowed skipper Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer – the Delhi Capitals’ last specialist batting pair – to play risk-free cricket as they tried to stretch the innings as deep as possible. Their 83-run stand for the fifth wicket came off 50 balls and gave Delhi Capitals a bigger total than had seemed possible after Prithvi Shaw’s departure.
Brad Hogg: Josh Hazlewood’s Spell Against Shreyas Iyer The Turning Point In Qualifier 1 Between CSK And DC
Brad Hogg felt that the mini-battle between Shreyas Iyer and Josh Hazlewood at the start of the first innings was the turning point in Qualifier 1. Brad Hogg reckons Josh Hazlewood’s spell against Shreyas Iyer was the turning point. Delhi Capitals began with a flier, scoring 32 runs without losing a wicket in the first three overs. Then, Shreyas Iyer came into the middle, replacing Shikhar Dhawan, who fell to Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over.
The right-hander only managed a single run of the first 7 balls he played on the night. After that, Shreyas Iyer faced six balls from the Aussie pacer without scoring a run and top-edged the seventh delivery-his 8th, holing out to cover point. Brad Hogg pointed out that dot balls in the powerplay are crucial on the UAE tracks.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa put on 110 for the second wicket. MS Dhoni rolled back the clock with a finishing act as Chennai Super Kings qualified for their ninth IPL final, beating league-stage toppers Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1.
“Iyer v Hazlewood was the turning point in the match. & balls no run in a PP is crucial in the UAE,” Hogg tweeted.
Delhi Capitals have one more shot at booking a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 final. They will face the winners of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on October 13 at Sharjah.
Chennai Super Kings 173 for 6 (Gaikwad 70, Uthappa 63*, T Curran 3-29) beat Delhi Capitals 172 for 5 (Shaw 60, Pant 51*, Hazlewood 2-29) by four wickets