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IPL 2021 | DC vs KKR: What Experts said as Prithvi became the Shaw-stopper in Motera

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It was a Prithvi Shaw show at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, as he destroyed the Kolkata Knight riders bowling attack in a splash. He was all over the purple brigade right from the first over, setting the tone by hitting youngster Shivam Mavi for six fours straightaway. If that wasn’t the sign of things to come, Shaw, 21, made sure that every bowler that came to face him, was punished to the core. 

In just a matter of 20 balls, he reached his fifty with an array of fours and sixes. Shikhar Dhawan, his senior partners and second on the list of most runs scored in this year’s IPL, could do nothing but admire the show that Shaw was putting up. With an opening partnership of 132 runs in just 14 overs, there were mere formalities left as Delhi Capitals bamboozled KKR to reach the second position on the Points table.

However, there were a few negative points on their way to the win, including Shaw losing his wicket and not being able to get to the hundred (scored 82 off 41) and then Pant losing his wicket too, to win just by seven wickets. 

Earlier in the day, KKR after being put to bat first, struggled to get to even 154 as all their batsmen failed, by either not scoring, or scoring too slowly. And hadn’t it been for Andre Russell’s 27 ball 55, getting to even a respectable total would have been impossible. 

Captain's Viewpoints 

Speaking post the victory, Rishabh Pant, the Capitals’ skipper was in awe of the pocket size dynamite that Shaw is. 

“I think Prithvi Shaw is a very talented player and if you give him the chance he will deliver,” he said. “In the break, I told Prithvi you just play your game and finish the game for us,” Pant added. 

Talking about the hurry to finish the game, the wicket-keeper batsman reasoned, “In this kind of matches, we can afford to think of the run-rate as the match was almost done by the 12th or 13th.”

Avesh Khan and Lalit Yadav, the uncapped Capitals’ men were once again the stars with the ball and the skipper was hugely impressed. While Lait picked two wickets for 13 runs in three overs, Avesh Khan was sturdy in his approach while bowling at the death and picking one wicket. 

“All I tell Avesh Khan is to enjoy his game and concentrate and the rest will be taken care of,” Pant said about Avesh before praising Lalit and claiming that he can turn out to be phenomenal with the bat as well. “Lalit Yadav hasn't got chances with the bat much but whenever he gets a chance he will perform,” said the 23-year-old. 

The Uttarakhand born concluded by saying that he is loving the captaincy and clearly the results suggest the same. “I am loving the captaincy and if the result keeps going your way it's just the icing on the cake.”

Eoin Morgan, on the other hand, was visibly upset with the loss, the fifth of the season in just the seventh game, making their next seven affairs almost a must-win one. 

“Very disappointed, very slow off the blocks and then lost wickets in crucial periods and it was Russell who got us over the 150 mark,” Morgan said at the post-match presentation ceremony. 

The English captain also admired the batting display from Shaw. “When Prithvi Shaw plays like that you don't have any options but to sit and admire,” he said.  

Saying that KKR were off in ‘both facets of the game’, Morgan deduced, “If we give so many opportunities to Delhi Capitals they will cash on.”

Explaining why the Knight Riders went with a young bloke like Mavi instead of an experienced Pat Cummins, the 34-year old said, “Mavi bowled brilliantly the previous day and finished off his quota at a stretch so we thought of going with him. Cummins was definitely in the plan but someday it doesn't go your way.” 

Ireland born complained that the team has talent but is just unable to execute the plans and convert the talent into performance. “It has been a learning curve for the guys in the changing room and we need to start to execute our plans now. We have talent but we need to turn talent into performance, which is not happening at this moment,” he said. 

Expert Opinion

The experts were all singing praises of Shaw who was on fire today. While some criticise the slow batting of the Knight riders, others also targeted Morgan the skipper for KKR’s continued failure. 

Veteran journalist Ayaz Memon applauded Delhi Capitals' batting, at the same time criticising the KKR batters for being too slow and clueless. 

Ace commentator Harsha Bhogle compared the all-around display of Delhi to the miserable day in the office for KKR with boxing. 

Veteran sports journalist and one of Kolkata’s favourite, Gautam Bhattacharya compared the long leash that Morgan is getting to the snappy captaincy decision of the pat that the KKR management had taken, suggesting that Morgan is getting more cushion than he deserves. 

Boria Majumdar, historian and cricket expert is of the opinion that KKR captain Eoin Morgan is not at his level best and the team struggling to find its feet. 

Vikrant Gupta, a TV journalist pointed out how the Delhi Capitals opening pair is a lesson for other teams to follow. 

Former cricketer cum commentator cum cricket pundit, Aakash Chopra was on with his wordplay as well, praising Shaw for the ‘show’. 

While the road becomes tougher for KKR from here as they face RCB on May 3rd. For the Capitals, though it would be a comparatively easy task, although no game is easy, they will face another struggle in the form of Punjab Kings on May 2nd at the same venue of the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. 

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IPL 2021 | MI vs RR: What Experts said as Mumbai get back into the groove

Rajasthan Royals continued their lean patch in the IPL 2021 after suffering yet another defeat in the tournament against Mumbai Indians on Thursday in Delhi. Chasing 172, MI went over the line by 7 wickets and with 9 balls to spare. Captain Rohit Sharma and his opening partners Quinton de Kock gave Mumbai a steady start and put up 49 on the board before Rohit departed for 14 off 17. De Kock carried on with his run flow and notched up an unbeaten 70 off 50 that included two maximums and 6 boundaries to anchor the side to the win. MI were 83/2 when Krunal Pandya joined the South African wicket-keeper batsman in the middle. The two stitched a vital stand of 63 runs before Krunal played an outside off stump delivery from Mustafizur Rahim on to hi stumps for 39 off 26. But the damage had been done till then as MI were clear favourite now. Quinton along with Kieron Pollard took the team to victory. Earlier, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal started off the proceedings well for RR as the two put 66 for the first wicket before Buttler departed for 41 off 32. Jaiswal was the second wicket to go down after he was sent back in the hut by Rahul Chahar for 32 off 20. Captain Sanju Samson who came in at number three took on the MI bowling attack and scored a brisk 42 off 27 before Trent Boult cleaned him up but Shivam Dube’s slow scoring-rate didn’t let RR take the super hand and they eventually ended the innings at 171/4 in 20 overs. Mumbai Indians are now sitting at the number 4 in the points table while the Royals are at seventh spot. Captains’ corner RR captain Sanju Samson admitted that the team fell short of some 20-25 run at the end that cost them the match. Surely, a few runs short, maybe around 20-25 runs short. We were going on nicely (with the bat), but didn't finish well. The bowlers have been doing their job well, but as batsmen, we need to get them a good score to defend. It was a good wicket, the ball was coming on nicely and they (MI) batted really well, as a team, we will need to score more runs as a batting group. Trust yourself, play positive and fearless cricket - that's all one should do,” he said. MI were back with their winning ways in this match after suffering a couple of defeats. Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma hailed his team’s efforts and said that the players probably did everything right. “We needed to win badly after a couple of losses. We did everything right today, right from ball one, and very clinical towards the end as well. Individuals took the responsibilities that were given to them, it was a collective effort. Guys were positive as they got to know we were going to Delhi, because it was a good pitch, not like Chennai! I thought the bowlers did the job for us. In the last 7 overs we gave around 50 runs with 7 seven wickets in hand for them. Playing the conditions is very important. We knew that we're going to play on good pitches after Chennai. We didn't adapt well as a team there, but having said, it looks like from here on the pitch will suit us. There's a lot of discussion that happens around us, because there's a way we want to play. It's very easy to go down when we know they're 110 in 12 overs, it's very easy to lose confidence. But we stuck to our plans. Very happy with Quinny's knock, we know how good he can be. Not to forget Krunal's innings as well,” he said. Experts’ opinion Commentator Harsha Bhogle pointed out the importance of this win for MI while also lavishing praise on Quinton de Kock for getting among runs finally. Journalist Ayaz Memon also talked about how badly MI needed this win. Former cricketer S. Badrinath had earlier questioned Rohit’s decision of dropping Ishan Kishan and playing an extra bowler. But later on the right-handed batsman put his weight behind the decision. MI will now play CSK in Delhi on Saturday while RR will be up against SRH at the same venue.