[SPORT] IPL 2020: Gautam Gambhir, Aakash Chopra want Prithvi Shaw to open for Delhi Capitals, play for 6 overs at least

[Nikhel Nice]

IPL 2020: Gautam Gambhir, Aakash Chopra want Prithvi Shaw to open for Delhi Capitals, play for 6 overs at least

 

DC vs SRH: Former India cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra want Prithvi Shaw to open for Delhi Capitals and play a minimum of 6 overs in the 2nd Qualifier.

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Aakash Chopra wants Prithvi Shaw to bat 10 overs for DC against SRH
• Gautam Gambhir wants Prithvi Shaw, not Ajinkya Rahane, to open for DC
• Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad will lock horns in Abu Dhabi on Sunday

 

 

Playing against Mumbai Indians, in the 1st qualifier of IPL 2020, Delhi Capitals lost 3 wickets for zero runs (0/3) but they can’t afford to do the same in the ‘do or die’ clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, November 8.

 

In their two IPL 2020 encounters so far, David Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad have twice trumped Shreyas Iyer’s Delhi Capitals. In a must-win game, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Delhi Capitals need someone to step up and grasp the game for them to crush SRH’s winning momentum.

 

Former India cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra believe Prithvi Shaw could be the one to do it provided he stays at the crease for at least 6 overs. Gautam Gambhir, a former Delhi Capitals skipper, wants Shaw and not Ajinkya Rahane to open the innings.

 

“I want an impact player on top, especially in a must-win game. I know Prithvi Shaw has not been in good form, but even Ajinkya Rahane is not in supreme form as of now,” Gautam Gambhir said on ESPNCricinfo.

 

“Plus, if you make Rahane bat at no. 3, he is not an impactful player in that position. You can make Rahane open the innings but if I have to choose a player to open the innings between Rahane and Shaw and look at the bowling line-up, I will go with Shaw and give him one more chance. If he bats for 6 overs, I am sure I will get the start I need.”

 

“The manner in which he (Prithvi Shaw) plays, if he plays 10 overs the match will be in their grasp,” Chopra said in his YouTube channel.

 

“But the problem is that he is not able to survive 10 balls also. He needs to come back in form as there are a lot of expectations from him,” Chopra added about Shaw.

 

Complete lack of form in DC batting: Chopra

Aakash Chopra has pointed out the lack of quality batting being a major concern for Delhi Capitals in the 2nd half of the IPL 2020 season. Major batsmen like Shaw, Rahane, Iyer have been in poor form which is alarming for Delhi.

 

“The complete lack of form of the Delhi Capitals batsmen is working against them. If we talk about Prithvi Shaw’s form, it is missing, we don’t know where it is and a missing report will have to be to be written for it. The opposition team does not have that aggressive a pace bowling attack, so I hope that it actually works out for him,” he said.

 

“The Delhi Capitals’ biggest strength pre-tournament which is still there is that they can play all Indian batsmen in the top 5. Dhawan can open with Prithvi Shaw followed by Rahane, Iyer and Pant. No other team can do that.

 

“Ajinkya Rahane has played just the one good knock in the entire IPL although he has not played all the matches, he got out early in the other matches. Shreyas Iyer has lost his form towards the business end of the tournament and Pant never got his form,” Chopra added.