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Prithvi Shaw's recent batting slump has become a growing concern for the Delhi Capitals (DC) as they gear up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Australian legend bowler Brad Hogg believes head coach Ricky Ponting will need to find a solution to address Shaw's poor form. Shaw, once a rising star and a key player in DC's batting order since his debut in 2018, has failed to impress in the last two IPL seasons. His free-flowing style that brought him 479 runs in 15 matches during IPL 2021 seems to have dissipated, leaving his place as an opener alongside veteran David Warner potentially up for grabs. Hogg expects Ponting to strategise and address this crucial issue within the top order. Shaw's lackluster performances pose a significant challenge for DC, and Ponting will be under pressure to find a way to reignite the young opener's form before the season kicks off.
Prithvi Shaw's lacklustre form in IPL 2023
Things went south for Shaw last season. He only managed a meager 106 runs in eight matches, averaging a paltry 13.25. This dismal performance resulted in him being dropped from both the Delhi Capitals' starting lineup and the Indian team setup.
Former Australian bowler Brad Hogg, in a recent YouTube video, highlighted Shaw's struggles as a key concern for DC. He suggests that head coach Ricky Ponting will likely prioritize fixing the team's batting strategy during the powerplay overs. Addressing Shaw's inconsistency at the top of the order will be a crucial first step in solving this problem.
"Ponting will firstly address Prithvi Shaw's form. He is not living up to his expectations at the moment. He has got to change the way he goes about his business, he has got to gain confidence," Hogg said.
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Brad Hogg underlines DC's major problem
Former Australian bowler Brad Hogg highlighted a crucial concern for the DC – the recent slump in Prithvi Shaw's batting form. In his recent YouTube video, Hogg emphasized the importance of Shaw finding his rhythm, as his improvement would significantly strengthen the entire DC batting lineup.
"Ponting will be really working on that (Shaw's form) with his strategy for the first six overs. If he can turn things around and compliment Warner, then the middle order can come into play," Hogg added.
Shaw first grabbed the cricket world's attention leading India's U-19 team to a World Cup victory in 2018. He then seamlessly translated that form into the IPL, impressing everyone with 245 runs in his first nine appearances for DC that same year. However, since the 2020 IPL season, Shaw's performance has dipped considerably. Despite this slump, DC decided to retain him for IPL 2024, hoping for a resurgence from both the team and the now 25-year-old batsman. With the season opener against Punjab Kings just around the corner on March 23rd in Mohali, DC will be determined to bounce back from their disappointing ninth-place finish in IPL 2023. A strong start hinges heavily on Shaw rediscovering his spark at the top of the order.
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