IPL 2022: What Will You Do For The First Match? You Don't Have Players At All – Aakash Chopra On Unavailability Of Delhi Capitals' Overseas Players At Start Of Tournament

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra is concerned about the Delhi Capitals (DC) as several top overseas players of the franchise will not be available for the first few games of the tournament.

The Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) will begin their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign with the battle against Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Brabourne Stadium on March 27.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that the unavailability of overseas players at the start of the tournament is a concern for Delhi Capitals (DC). He was also disappointed with DC for releasing Kagiso Rabada and retaining Anrich Nortje. Chopra elaborated:

“Surprise surprise, you have only seven overseas players. When you could have taken eight, why didn’t you? I didn’t understand this stinginess at all because you already had seven and if Nortje doesn’t come, it becomes six. Two or three of the six are not available, so what will you do for the first match? You don’t have players at all, you are down to absolutely nothing.”

“You had retained four players, which also included Anrich Nortje. When you retained him, the talk was already going on about his hip surgery. He has not played cricket at all after that. That is the gamble that you took.”

“You let Kagiso Rabada go; you thought you will get someone else, and Anrich Nortje will come. But Anrich Nortje in all likelihood is not going to come. He is not available as of now, has not played anything for South Africa for the last six months. So what will happen to Anrich Nortje; it’s a big question.”

You let Shikhar Dhawan go and got David Warner; I will say thumbs up – Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator was impressed with the move of Delhi Capitals to include David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Rovman Powell in the team in place of Shikhar Dhawan, Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer. However, he highlighted that Warner and Marsh will miss the first few games of the tournament. He elaborated:

“You let Shikhar Dhawan go and got David Warner; I will say thumbs up with both hands. You let Marcus Stoinis go and got Mitchell Marsh, once again thumbs up with both hands. But Mitchell Marsh and David Warner are not available at the start. They are going to miss the first three matches.”

“Forget you and me, even Ricky Ponting doesn’t know properly about Mitchell Marsh’s bowling; he leaves after getting injured. You did a good job by picking Rovman Powell, as Shimron Hetmyer left.”

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