IPL 2020: 3 Mistakes committed by the losing side in Qualifier 1, MI vs DC

Delhi Capitals lost the first qualifier against Mumbai Indians in a one-sided affair. MI looked a better team in all the departments and DC encountered serious hammering. Luck favoured DC in the beginning as they won the toss and invited MI to bat first to dismiss Rohit Sharma on a golden duck.

However, with some swashbuckling finish from Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan, MI managed to reach 200. Chasing such a big total against MI’s bowling line-up was a hefty task and losing their first three wickets without opening their account came as a serious setback for DC. They never get over the disastrous start and MI sealed the game quite clinically. If DC want to qualify for the final, they need to raise their performance dramatically in the next game.

Here are the three mistakes committed by DC against MI in Qualifier 1:-

1. Poor bowling rotations by DC

With the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Ravi Ashwin, DC have a star-studded bowling line up. However, the way they were used against led DC to a dismal outing. Ashwin grabbed Rohit Sharma’s priced wicket early on but he was removed from the attack, 6 overs of their prime pacer were kept for the last 10 overs which allowed MI to lay a solid foundation. If Shreyas Iyer would have used his bowlers better, Delhi Capitals could have restricted MI to a lower total.

2. Poor technique against world-class bowlers

Delhi Capitals have experienced batting order with several international stars. However, their top order didn’t show the appropriate technique which was a must against bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. The way their top order was dismissed, there was no feet movement and their technique looked too shaky against a bowling line up like MI. With such a start, chasing 200 was like boiling the ocean.

3. Senior batsmen didn’t take responsibility

Delhi’s batting order included players like Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer. These have vast experience in international cricket but when DC needed them the most, none of them took any responsibility. If one of them would have stayed for long and played a big knock in this significant fixture, with the presence of dew, chasing 200 was very much possible.