Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant were biggest disappointments for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020: Aakash Chopra

Delhi Capitals had a decent run in the just-concluded 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They finished as the runners-up after registering a defeat against Mumbai Indians in the final of the T20 Championship on November 10. Speaking about DC, former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra named Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant as two biggest disappointments for the franchise in IPL 2020.

Both Pant and Shaw failed to consistently contribute with the willow for the Capitals and delivered below-average performance in the tournament. Shaw managed to score just 228 runs in the 13 matches while Pant had 343 runs under his belt in 14 games.

“The Delhi Capitals had not one but two big disappointments. They are the guys who are paying a huge price for their own success because they will be compared with the success they have enjoyed previously. I am talking about Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant,” Aakash Chopra said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

The former KKR player reckoned that Delhi’s plans for IPL 2020 revolved about both the batsmen as they expected Shaw to give them an explosive start while Pant had to smash the ball all over the ground to give the team a good finish. However, nothing like that happened and that was a major blow for DC.

“The Delhi Capitals had made their entire strategy around these two players. That Prithvi Shaw will come at the start and hit a lot. And then Rishabh Pant will come and there will be no end to the fours and sixes at the ground but that did not happen,” Chopra said.

His attitude was ‘my way or the highway, Aakash Chopra opines on Prithvi Shaw

Speaking about the young wicketkeeper-batsman, Aakash Chopra opined that Pant was clear about his role in the team and was not playing his natural game as he was conservative in his approach. For Prithvi Shaw, the reputed commentator feels that the batter had a good start as he contributed to the score but after that he got lost and never made a comeback.

“Rishabh Pant was injured in the middle and when he came back the bat was not talking. He scored runs in the final but before that the bat was a bit too silent. It felt like he was playing too conservatively and did not have enough clarity about his role.

“Prithvi Shaw started well, he was playing good shots and scoring runs but after that, it just went downhill and then just could not come back which is not a good thing. He is young but is an India player and you expect more consistency from him,” he further added.

The 43-year-old was also not happy with the attitude of the opening batsman as even after getting dropped from playing XI, Prithvi Shaw was careless in his approach and continued playing reckless shots. Aakash Chopra feels that his this attitude can result in Delhi not retaining him and sending him back to the auctions for IPL 2021.

“It is possible that the strike rate might be less one day but here it looked like his attitude was ‘my way or the highway’. He will hit and even if he gets out hitting, it does not matter and that he will not have a different gear even after getting dropped from the side.”

“So that is something that was a bit of a problem because this was a very crucial year as it would determine whom the Delhi Capitals will retain and whom they will let go.” Aakash Chopra concluded.