Aakash Chopra has highlighted that the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) hitters dealt hard treatment to the Delhi Capitals (DC) bowlers during their IPL 2024 match in Delhi on Saturday, April 20.
SRH set DC a massive 267-run mark after Rishabh Pant urged them to bat first. Pat Cummins and company then bundled the hosts out for 199, securing a commanding 67-run victory and moving into second place on the points standings.
In a video posted on his YouTube account, Chopra said that Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma virtually crushed the Delhi Capitals bowlers.
“What sort of punishment are you giving? They were hitting sixes one after the other. They are hitting at a different level. The interesting is that Travis Head scored 89 runs off 32 balls with the help of six sixes and Abhishek Sharma ran even faster than him. He scored 46 runs off 12 balls. He also hit six sixes.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener remarked that the SRH hitters showed no compassion to the DC spinners despite losing a couple fast wickets in the middle.
“Whoever was coming was getting hit. Then they lost three-four wickets at one stage and you felt what would happen. Nitish Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abdul Samad had the license to play cautiously as it would still work out. However, I feel it’s illegal to play cautiously in this team.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra stated that SRH may have set a 300-plus total if not for Kuldeep Yadav’s (4/55) spell. While admitting that the left-arm wristspinner was also dismissed, he claimed that his wickets delayed the visitors marginally.
“This player is also playing differently” – Aakash Chopra on Delhi Capitals’ Jake Fraser-McGurk
In reflecting on the Delhi Capitals chase, Aakash Chopra lauded Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel for their aggressive knocks.
“Prithvi (Shaw) came and hit four fours off the first four balls and then got out. Jake Fraser-McGurk – this player is also playing differently. He hit only fours and sixes in a Washington Sundar over – three sixes and three fours. Abhishek Porel is also a good player. He scored 42 runs off just 22 balls.”
Aakash Chopra
The ex-cricketer turned commentator was puzzled. He asked why the Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant batted lower down the order.
“However, Rishabh Pant keeps moving himself down the order these days. Why are you coming at No. 6? This battle had to be won from the front. He didn’t look in rhythm as well in this match but Pant has to bat higher. Forget the left-right combination and bat for 15 overs. You even scored a century once against this team.”
Aakash Chopra
Pant hit 35 balls for 44 runs, including five fours and one six. He was not at his fluent best and was the final player to be removed, caught at fine leg by T Natarajan off Nitish Kumar Reddy’s delivery.