Delhi Capitals Stumble as Playoff Hopes Hang by a Thread: Chawla, Bangar Weigh In
6 May 2025 10:16 AM IST6 May 2025 10:16 AM IST
Turning his attention to Delhi Capital’s batting frailties, Bangar pointed to the team’s frequent top-order collapses as a major concern
: Delhi Capitals batters Ashutosh Sharma and Tristan Stubbs during the Indian Premier League 2025 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, in Hyderabad (PTI Photo)
Once touted as the frontrunners for a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs, Delhi Capitals (DC) now find themselves on the brink of elimination following a string of inconsistent performances. Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla summed up the situation aptly, stating, “A team that once looked like the first to seal a play-off spot is now in danger of missing out entirely.”
Speaking on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert and former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar offered insights into DC’s woes and praised Pat Cummins for stepping up in Mohammed Shami’s absence during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
"It worked out well for Cummins that Shami opted out, giving him the opportunity to take the new ball. He consistently hit the hard lengths and wasn’t looking to swing the ball much. That strategy earned him three crucial early wickets,” Bangar noted, highlighting Cummins’ vital role in putting DC on the back foot from the outset.
Turning his attention to DC’s batting frailties, Bangar pointed to the team’s frequent top-order collapses as a major concern.
"They’ve lost momentum. When the openers don’t fire, it puts immense pressure on the middle order. Losing half the side for under 60 runs left them in disarray. Still, credit to Ashutosh Sharma and Tristan Stubbs — their partnership gave DC a fighting chance," he added.
Chawla echoed those sentiments, attributing much of the instability to constant tinkering with the opening pair. He stressed the need for bold decisions at this critical stage.
"They’ve tried six or seven combinations already. Jake Fraser-McGurk was their biggest bet, and although it didn’t pay off recently, they should go back to him. He can give you that explosive start in the powerplay, which they desperately need,” Chawla said. “At this point, they have nothing to lose by taking risks.”
Looking ahead, Chawla admitted that DC’s path to the playoffs is narrow. “They’ve lost four of their last six games. Ideally, they need to win all three of their remaining matches — at the very least, two — and for that to happen, their experienced players must rise to the occasion.”
Meanwhile, Sanjay Bangar also reflected on SRH’s season, acknowledging their early promise and subsequent decline.
"They began with a bang, scoring over 280 in their opener, and may have relied too heavily on that aggressive style. It’s a high-risk strategy that only works when your batters are in form. Unfortunately, it backfired,” he said. “But with this being the first year of a new cycle, they’ll likely re-evaluate their approach. The fans in Hyderabad have been fantastic, and hopefully, better seasons are ahead.”
As the race to the TATA IPL playoffs intensifies, all eyes will now turn to the clash between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans at 7:30 PM, live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
Speaking on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert and former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar offered insights into DC’s woes and praised Pat Cummins for stepping up in Mohammed Shami’s absence during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
"It worked out well for Cummins that Shami opted out, giving him the opportunity to take the new ball. He consistently hit the hard lengths and wasn’t looking to swing the ball much. That strategy earned him three crucial early wickets,” Bangar noted, highlighting Cummins’ vital role in putting DC on the back foot from the outset.
Turning his attention to DC’s batting frailties, Bangar pointed to the team’s frequent top-order collapses as a major concern.
"They’ve lost momentum. When the openers don’t fire, it puts immense pressure on the middle order. Losing half the side for under 60 runs left them in disarray. Still, credit to Ashutosh Sharma and Tristan Stubbs — their partnership gave DC a fighting chance," he added.
Chawla echoed those sentiments, attributing much of the instability to constant tinkering with the opening pair. He stressed the need for bold decisions at this critical stage.
"They’ve tried six or seven combinations already. Jake Fraser-McGurk was their biggest bet, and although it didn’t pay off recently, they should go back to him. He can give you that explosive start in the powerplay, which they desperately need,” Chawla said. “At this point, they have nothing to lose by taking risks.”
Looking ahead, Chawla admitted that DC’s path to the playoffs is narrow. “They’ve lost four of their last six games. Ideally, they need to win all three of their remaining matches — at the very least, two — and for that to happen, their experienced players must rise to the occasion.”
Meanwhile, Sanjay Bangar also reflected on SRH’s season, acknowledging their early promise and subsequent decline.
"They began with a bang, scoring over 280 in their opener, and may have relied too heavily on that aggressive style. It’s a high-risk strategy that only works when your batters are in form. Unfortunately, it backfired,” he said. “But with this being the first year of a new cycle, they’ll likely re-evaluate their approach. The fans in Hyderabad have been fantastic, and hopefully, better seasons are ahead.”
As the race to the TATA IPL playoffs intensifies, all eyes will now turn to the clash between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans at 7:30 PM, live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
( Source : Press Release )
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