The Delhi Capitals’ defeat on Wednesday night had a feeling of inevitability. Anyone who has been paying close attention to both clubs’ development this season understood which way the match was heading after Deepak Chahar sent back David Warner in the first over. At this point, Ricky Ponting says None of the Indian batters for DC made a noteworthy impact.
At that point, a target of 167 was still rather attainable, at least on paper, but what really happened was exactly what one had come to anticipate. Early losses for DC included Mitchell Marsh and Phil Salt, and the spinners for CSK never allowed the middle order to get going.
The loss has all but ended DC’s prospects of making the playoffs. The Indian batters’ performance has also been disappointing, and without a regular captain and dangerous keeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, the middle order has been a little off.
Head coach Ricky Ponting said that they need to do a little more thinking. Each of their Indian batters has been used in the middle order at some point throughout the competition, but none has truly taken advantage of the occasion yet.
This was the sixth time this season that DC lost a wicket in the opening over. Their batting has failed them time and time again. As a result of losing early wickets, the batsmen have played too many dot balls in the middle overs. It is a pattern that has troubled Ponting.
