The Delhi Capitals concluded their round-robin campaign in the Indian Premier League 2024 with a decisive victory over the Lucknow Super Giants at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, May 14. Their IPL journey, marked by equal instances of triumph and defeat – seven of each, displayed a commendable recovery after a daunting beginning with just a single win from their initial five matches. Although the team’s path to the playoffs remains uncertain due to a detrimental net run-rate, they have found several reasons to remain optimistic about their performance this season.
One of the more prominent stories this season has involved Prithvi Shaw, a player who has historically been a mainstay in the Capital’s lineup. Surprisingly, Shaw, who is normally a fixture in the starting eleven, participated in only eight games this season. During these outings, he recorded a total of 198 runs with an impressive strike rate of 163.63. Despite the rapidity of his run accumulation, Shaw’s inability to notch up higher individual scores proved costly, leading to his exclusion in favor of the up-and-coming Abishek Porel. Porel, as a left-handed batsman, made a significant impact, amassing 327 runs across 12 innings which included a striking rate of 159.51 and an exceptional 165.62 when opening in three matches.
Pravin Amre, the assistant coach of Delhi Capitals, addressed queries regarding the decision to frequently leave Shaw out of the playing XI as the season progressed. He highlighted the cutthroat nature of the IPL, emphasizing the imperative for players to maintain top form, given the intense competition for places within the team. Amre also praised Porel for seizing his opportunities, even when not assigned the opening role.
“He [Shaw] was our retained player, and as you see, last four [of five] games he was also on the bench. But that’s the IPL. If you are not in form, you can’t [keep your place]. Ultimately, the pressure for the team is so much that every game is important and we have to win. And we had done that. Without playing him, we won the games. And whoever got the opportunity… I think Abishek grabbed the opportunities with both hands,” Amre reflected after the match against LSG.
In their latest fixture against the Super Giants, Porel’s standout performance included a blistering 58 off just 33 deliveries, contributing to the team’s 73-run haul in the powerplay alone, despite losing Jake Fraser-McGurk early in the innings. The assistant coach commended both Porel and Shai Hope for establishing a robust second-wicket partnership that set the stage for other players to capitalize during the latter part of the innings.
“What an innings [Porel] played today. We saw Jake [Fraser-McGurk] getting out in the first over and even then we managed to get 73 runs in the powerplay. I think that’s what was so critical and the credit goes to Shai Hope and Porel for getting that 92-run partnership today,” Amre enthused.
The decision to bench Shaw did raise questions and discussion among pundits and fans alike. The Capitals had to navigate the challenge of balancing team composition and individual form — a dilemma that is often the crux of strategic decision-making in the IPL, reflecting the league’s competitive fervor and the sometimes harsh realities for players struggling to find their rhythm. Despite the sidelines hosting a player of Shaw’s caliber, the Capitals demonstrated their depth and adaptability, showcasing the emergence of talent like Porel who capitalized on the chance given to him, illustrating once again the fierce contest for places in this premier T20 competition.
