After the very first match of the tournament between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli expressed unhappiness over the MA Chidambaram Stadium pitch. RCB were bowled out for just 70 runs while CSK took 17 overs to chase down the target. Then the Feroz Shah Kotla pitch in Delhi came under the scanner due to its slow nature.
In Delhi Capitals’ last two home games against CSK and Sunrisers Hyderabad; low scores have dominated the play. DC could manage only 147 runs against CSK while scoring just 129 against SRH. They lost both the matches after starting the season brightly. DC’s opening batsman Prithvi Shaw on Saturday also criticised the slow nature of the Kotla track for their home matches.
“The wickets weren’t good as we were expecting it to be. The new ball was moving slow off the track and turning from ball one. Nevertheless, we are just keeping those things besides and looking forward to next game,” Shaw said ahead of DC’s clash against struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore.
On the other hand, the Chinnaswamy pitch in Bengaluru has been a belter as it has continuously produced high-scoring games. So Shaw was asked if batting second will be an advantage in Bengaluru due to the dew factor and this was his answer.
“I don’t think it matters too much if you are batting or bowling first on this pitch. The wicket remains the same throughout the 40 overs. There is only the dew factor that probably comes in the second innings,” he said.
In DC’s first home game, Shaw scored a magnificent 99 against KKR to be the match-winner for his team. But he has been unable to hit his stride after that match. It has been like the season that DC are having this year where they have blown hot and cold. Shaw believes that it is because DC haven’t been able to execute their plans in their last two matches.
“Everything was going good. We are practicing hard and preparing well, but not been able to execute on the ground. It is cricket. It happens. Personally, I don’t think IPL is very tough. There will be ups and downs for teams,” he said.
