IPL 2023: GT pacers skip out terrified DC players to a content six-wicket win

IPL 2023: The inept technique of young Indian batters against top-quality fast bowling compounded Delhi Capitals' worries as they succumbed to an embarrassing six-wicket defeat at the hands of defending champions Gujarat Titans in an IPL match here on Tuesday. GT pacers bounced out frightened DC batters to script a six-wicket win. Defending champions Gujarat Titans came up with a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Delhi Capitals to 162/8.

In the first ten overs, Mohammed Shami (3/41 in 4 overs) and Alzarri Joseph (2/29 in 4 overs) intimidated the Delhi top order, while Rashid Khan (3/31 in 4 overs) had no trouble controlling the batsmen and held the home team to a subpar 162 for 8.

Young Sai Sudharsan, who scored 62 not out off 48 balls despite Anrich Nortje's best efforts, calmly anchored the chase, leading Titans to an 18-run victory. 1 overs.

In the 16th over toward the end, David Miller's two sixes and four off Mukesh Kumar (31 not out off 16 balls) decisively sealed DC's fate.

DC's only batsman, Axar Patel, had 36 runs off 22 innings, but David Warner couldn't give him a single over because the matchup wasn't right.

DC have now lost two games in a row, and even though it is early in the tournament, it will be surprising if this team, with the talent it has from India, even finishes in the top five or is a contender for the title. In the face of competition from the best in the business, Indian batting and bowling talent appears to be lacking.

Even 150 would have appeared to be a distant possibility for DC if Axar hadn't successfully utilized his long handle.

Simply a month after Kotla delivered a turner for the Test against Australia, the adjustment of nature of the track was discernible as the balls in a real sense took off the surface.

At times, it seemed like Sarafaraz Khan's (30 off 33 balls) or David Warner's (37 off 32 balls) bats hit the ball, not the other way around.

As Sarfaraz and Abhishek Porel (20 off 11 balls) were hit on the head by well-directed bouncers, Alzarri twice forced umpires to call for concussion checks. Shami literally beat Warner's bat for fun in his first two overs, frequently cutting him in half. In fairness, both appeared dazed.

Even an international like Rilee Rossouw (0) received a bouncer similar to that used in a Test match at first, but a diving Rahul Tewatia caught him brilliantly at backward point.

Their inability to avoid the short ball was more likely caused by a lack of technique, and not regularly facing bowlers of Shami's or Alzarri's caliber was what ultimately cost them the game.

The pace was too quick for Sarfaraz, a heavy-duty scorer in domestic cricket, to improvise or change his shot selection.

The former chairman Chetan Sharma's committee or even the current quartet of selectors are wary of selecting him for international assignments because of his performance in the first two IPL games against international bowlers. A decent homegrown player, who is out-of-profundity against top-grade bowlers.

What's more, it's not Sarfaraz alone. Faced with a bowler of Shami's caliber, even Prithvi Shaw lacks self-assurance.

The experienced Shami, pitching one back of length at a fair pace, once again exposed Shaw's (7) poor technique against fast rising deliveries. Alazarri happily accepted Shaw's top-edged pull-shot at midfield as the delivery kept climbing on him.

Mitchell Marsh was bowled twice, this time by Shami, but skipper Hardik Pandya wisely gave him a third over in the Powerplay, and the job was done.

Skipper Warner used experience to ride the pace and bounce before Alzarri got rid of him, despite literally playing and missing the first few overs.

Nortje boled Wriddhiman Saha with a deadly off-cutter and another quick delivery that moved quickly enough to knock Shubman Gill's off-stump back while Gujarat chased. Khaleel Ahmed caught Hardik Pandya behind, giving DC hope, but Sudharsan and Vijay Shankar (29) added 53 off 7.2 overs to keep the chase moving forward. Miller then completed the task.

Brief Scores:

Capitals of Delhi, 162-8; 20 runs (37 for David Warner and 30 for Sarfaraz Khan; Alzarri Joseph 2/29, Mohammed Shami 3/41, Rashid Khan 3/31) Gujarat Titans: 163/4 overs (62 not out by Sai Sudharsan and 31 not out by David Miller)