IPL 2022: "Suddenly You Are Hoping That You Play 20 Overs Somehow?" - Aakash Chopra On Punjab Kings' Batting Performance In IPL 2022 Match Against Delhi Capitals

Aakash Chopra has featured that Shikhar Dhawan got out in a strange style during Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) innings in the final evening’s IPL 2022 game against the Delhi Capitals (DC).

Dhawan attempted to paddle a Lalit Yadav ball down the leg side, just to get the slightest of edges to Rishabh Pant behind the wickets. His wicket set off a breakdown, as the Punjab Kings lost four wickets for 21 runs and were at last bowled out for 115.

Who Get’s Out Like That: Aakash Chopra Criticizes Shikhar Dhawan

Aakash Chopra thought about the Punjab Kings’ batting exertion in a video shared on his YouTube channel. Talking about Dhawan’s wicket, Aakash said:

“I had great expectations from Shikhar Dhawan. He got out in an odd fashion, who gets out like that? Lalit Yadav was called to bowl. Shikhar Dhawan hit a shot straight down the ground as well but then got out playing the paddle, Rishabh Pant took a good catch.”

The former India cricketer brought up that the Punjab Kings were set further back with Mayank Agarwal and Liam Livingstone additionally falling one after another. Aakash Chopra elaborated:

“Mayank Agarwal was batting well. But in the next over itself, he got an inside edge to a Mustafizur Rahman delivery and he was also out. You had lost two wickets and the powerplay overs are still going on.

“Liam Livingstone comes, Axar is called here and he leaves the former stranded halfway down the pitch.”

Agarwal scored a blustery 24 off 15 balls before inside-edging a Mustafizur Rahman ball onto his stumps. Livingstone moved down the wicket off the third ball he played. He got beaten by the turn and was stumped by Rishabh Pant.

Punjab Kings Following Their Procedure Of Struggling After Great Starts: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra added that the Punjab Kings were battling to bat out the 20 overs after Jonny Bairstow’s wicket. He observed:

“It seemed Jonny Bairstow will hit boundaries, he hits two or three fours, and then he also departs. When he also gets out, you are down in the dumps. You have Jitesh and Shahrukh, suddenly you are hoping that you play 20 overs somehow.”

The putative commentator closed by featuring that the Punjab Kings’ innings followed its standard way of struggling in the wake of starting off in great shape. Chopra explained:

“They tried a lot – Jitesh, Shahrukh, Rahul Chahar – everyone tried to somehow play the 20 overs. A team which interestingly enough goes at the highest strike rate in the powerplay and then suddenly nosedives and Punjab Kings is the team which goes at the least pace in the last five overs.”

After Mayank Agarwal’s excusal, Jitesh Sharma (32 runs off 23 balls) was the main PBKS player to set up a battle against DC bowling. The 116-run target was never going to be difficult for the Delhi Capitals. David Warner and Prithvi Shaw’s dangerous strokes at the top order helped Delhi Capitals pursue the target with 57 balls still left.

Also Read: IPL 2022: We Know How To Get Out Of It – Dwayne Bravo On CSK’s Slow Start In IPL 2022