Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the Delhi Capitals (DC) for not trying to improve their net run rate when they came near to a win in their IPL 2024 clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, the Capitals restricted LSG to 167/7 after KL Rahul opted to bat first in Lucknow on Friday, April 12 as well. And, the visitors chased the target down with six wickets and 11 balls in hand.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Delhi won but there was one thing in the end. It’s a small thing but it was there. You won the match, you will no longer be at the 10th but have come to the ninth spot. However, you had a chance to improve your net run rate. They didn’t try at all. (Tristan) Stubbs and (Shai) Hope said they would go till the end.”
“Stubbs hit a six to win the match, or else the match would have gone even deeper. So they missed the trick a little. You have won only two matches and you will need net run rate in the end for sure if you win enough matches to come close to qualification. However, they didn’t try that, which doesn’t speak very well,” the former India opener further added.
ALSO READ: Kirti Azad welcomes BCCI’s new directive in central contract
Delhi Capitals needed 22 runs for a win when Rishabh Pant got out. However, they took another 16 balls to score those runs, with Shai Hope remaining unbeaten on a 10-ball 11 and Tristan Stubbs scoring nine runs off his first eight deliveries before hitting the match-winning six. While praising Jake Fraser-McGurk for playing an attacking knock for the Delhi Capitals, Aakash Chopra also questioned the Lucknow Super
Giants’ tactics against the big-hitter as well.
“Prithvi (Shaw) played decently and then came Jake Fraser-McGurk. The first scoring shot was a six. Jake played well. He hits fast bowling extremely well. He has a lot of power and might get stuck against spin at some stage. I feel Lucknow missed a trick. They should have bowled a lot slower. Krunal Pandya was bowling bouncers to him,” he said
“We should also talk about Rishabh Pant today because he came to bat early and scored runs. When he falls and plays the scoop shot, it gladdens my heart. When he falls and hits fours and sixes, it seems like he has fallen himself but uplifted the team. That means Rishabh Pant is back,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
