NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals' assistant coach, Pravin Amre, has defended the team's decision to utilize Lalit Yadav in the powerplay during their clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2024 encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
In a match where Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious by 67 runs, Lalit Yadav's bowling in the early overs drew significant attention. Facing an aggressive onslaught from SRH's opening pair Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, Lalit conceded 41 runs in two overs, prompting scrutiny from fans and analysts alike.
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Speaking on the strategic choice, Amre explained, "SRH's strength was the openers. The other teams also could not control it.
We thought that Lalit Yadav was a local, Delhi boy, so we took a chance on that."
Despite the challenging start, Amre commended Sunrisers Hyderabad for their formidable batting display, particularly acknowledging the explosive partnership between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, which propelled SRH to a record-breaking total of 266/7 in their 20 overs.
Delhi Capitals' chase saw promising performances from Jake Fraser McGurk and Abhishek Porel.
However, the team struggled to maintain momentum after their dismissals, ultimately falling short of the target and managing only 199 runs in 19.1 overs.
Reflecting on the defeat, Amre emphasized the exceptional power-hitting exhibited by SRH's batsmen during the powerplay.
"Credit to the way Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma batted during the powerplay. The intent we have shown was incredible," he remarked.
Despite the loss, Amre expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back, stating, "Abishek Porel is a finisher, but we wanted to use him in powerplays also."
(With inputs from ANI)
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