Sourav Ganguly reveals why Prithvi Shaw is not opening for DC

NEW DELHI:

Sourav Ganguly

, the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals (DC), provided insights into the team's decision to opt for an all-Australian opening combination of

David Warner

and

Mitchell Marsh

in their

IPL 2024

tournament opener against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Ganguly's explanation shed light on the team's strategic choices, addressing queries surrounding the omission of

Prithvi Shaw

despite his retention in the squad.

The decision to pair Marsh with Warner at the top of the order in the season opener raised eyebrows among cricket enthusiasts. Ganguly clarified that Shaw's role as an opener remains intact, emphasizing the team's desire to explore different combinations to maximize batting depth.
"Prithvi Shaw is an opener. We decided to open with Marsh and Warner, and Ricky Bhui is a middle-order batter. So, they bat at different positions. So it's actually not Bhui for sure. It's a different opening combination, they opened for Australia and they have done well together. So, we decided to do that," Ganguly explained to reporters ahead of DC's match against Rajasthan Royals.
While Warner and Marsh provided a brisk start against Punjab Kings, helping DC set a competitive total of 174, the team encountered challenges in sustaining momentum in the latter stages of the innings.

Ganguly also addressed concerns regarding Shaw's limited involvement in pre-season preparations, attributing his absence to injury setbacks and prior commitments to Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign. Despite Shaw's delayed participation in training camps, Ganguly underscored the significance of prioritizing players' fitness and honouring prior commitments.
Reflecting on Shaw's journey, Ganguly highlighted the setbacks and challenges faced by the young opener, including injury woes and commitments to domestic cricket tournaments. Despite these hurdles, Delhi Capitals retained faith in Shaw's potential, retaining him ahead of the 17th IPL season.
Delhi Capitals will look to regroup and bounce back as they face Rajasthan Royals in their upcoming encounter at Jaipur on Thursday.
(Inputs from IANS)