IPL 2020: 3 Mistakes committed by the losing side in DC vs KKR

Another 200+ run chase at Sharjah, another close encounter and Delhi Capitals ended up on the winning side this time. The bowlers struggled from ball one of this match as they have in previous games at Sharjah. Delhi capitals were invited to bat first by Kolkata Knight Riders in match 16, DC vs KKR and DC’s batsmen made a mockery out of KKR’s bowling.

While chasing the total of 229, KKR were out of the game for the major part of the innings but Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tripathi tried their best to keep their hopes alive. However, their efforts went in vain as KKR fell short by 18 runs. This loss brings several question marks on the team combination and batting order. It will be expected from Dinesh Karthik to find the answers before their next clash.

Here are 3 mistakes committed by KKR in match 16, DC vs KKR:

1. Playing an extra batsman at Batting Paradise – Sharjah

KKR’s batting order looked weak in the previous games as they played a batsman short on all the three occasions. This time they tried to compensate the same by playing an extra batsman, Rahul Tripathi in place of Kuldeep Yadav. However, Sharjah’s pitch is extremely batting friendly and the boundaries are also short, if they could have added an extra seamer to make their bowling stronger while replacing Yadav, things could have turned out differently. DC could have been restricted to a lower total.

2. Opting to bowl first on a batting-friendly pitch

Sharjah offers everything for the batting front and nothing for the bowlers. In all the matches that have been played at Sharjah, 200 mark has been crossed. If KKR would have opted to bat first, the pressure of chasing a big total would have been on DC and the game could have turned out differently. KKR missed a trick by opting to bowl first, as the pressure of chasing 230 took a toll on their batting unit.

3. Batting order and rotation of bowlers lacked clarity

KKR have made their pinch hitter, Sunil Narine to open the batting on all the occasions in this season. He hasn’t been in great touch and the burden of chasing 229 added more trouble to him. Also, Eoin Morgan, their in-form and reliable batsman could have been sent at number four, so that he would have had enough time to settle and hit big shots in the end.

Varun Chakravarthy, a leg-spinner was given the ball to bowl at the death when Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s overs were available. There were several blunders made in this game by the skipper and team management of KKR. In order to get back to the winning track, some clarity is must in the batting order and bowling rotations.