IPL 2023Hard to rebuild after losing three wickets in the powerplay, says Shane Watson after DC lose to CSK

By India Today Sports DeskAssistant coach Shane Watson said that Delhi Capitals (DC) didn’t help themselves by losing early wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Wednesday, May 10 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

After being asked to chase 168, DC were reduced to 25 for three in 3.1 overs. Even as David Warner and Phil Salt got out to Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Marsh got run out. Thereafter, Manish Pandey, and Rilee Rossouw put on 59 runs for the fourth wicket, but the Capitals were hardly able to put pressure on the CSK bowlers.

“After CSK’s first innings, the wicket looked like it played very well; it didn’t really turn a lot for us. So, I thought we got a par score, knowing that we just going to get off to a decent start in the powerplay to set the platform,” Watson was quoted as saying to DCTV.

Watson said that the pitch offered more turn in the second innings and the CSK spinners choked the DC batters in the middle orders. The Capitals finished their innings at 140 for eight in 20 overs.

“Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to get off to a good start. To lose three wickets in the powerplay, it is hard to rebuild, knowing that CSK got spinners, who would try and choke us in the middle period. That period was challenging as the pitch was giving more turn. I know these conditions incredibly well,” he added.

With the defeat, DC kept languishing at the bottom with four wins from 11 matches. DC are next set to face Shikhar Dhawan’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday, May 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.