Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Shikhar Dhawan played for a long time but played quite slowly after Punjab Kings’ four-wicket loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Benglauru on Monday.
Dhawan scored 45 runs from 37 balls with the help of five fours and one six and thus scored his runs at a strike rate of 121.62. In fact, PBKS could only manage 40 runs in the Powerplay overs on a two-paced pitch.
Dhawan added 55 runs with Prabhsimran Singh but the pressure kept increasing on PBKS batters for their mundane strike rate.
“Punjab were asked to bat first and Punjab just could not get going. Jonny Bairstow was looking good but he got out. Shikhar Dhawan played for a long time but played quite slowly, considering the circumstances. After that, a lot of people got small starts but no one was able to do the job,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator noted that PBKS will promote Sam Curran only when Shikhar Dhawan is dismissed early.
“They sent Sam Curran down the order slightly. Sam will probably go up the order only if Shikhar gets out. They want to keep a left-hander in the middle. Jitesh Sharma was looking good but short bowling was used very well, whether it was Mohammed Siraj or Yash Dayal,” Chopra said.
Chopra hailed Shashank Singh for his 8-ball 21 cameo but felt PBKS could not post a par score.
“To be very honest, the runs they scored were enough to fight but were probably not enough to win. In fact, Shikhar came later and said as well that they were short of runs. Shashank Singh was praiseworthy. If he had not scored 20 runs in the last over, you wouldn’t have reached a fighting total as well,” he stated.
Harshal Patel conceded 45 runs in the four overs he bowled and Chopra added that the seamer didn’t bowl well in the death overs.
“I agree runs were less but the bowling was also extremely ordinary. It wasn’t Shikhar’s fault. Sam Curran dismissed Anuj Rawat and then conceded two fours by bowling on the legs. Then Harshal Patel came and bowled full tosses, and short and wide as well. Very ordinary bowling towards the end,” he concluded.
Punjab Kings will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Saturday.
