3 major concerns for Delhi Capitals after 4 back-to-back losses in IPL 2023

Delhi Capitals (DC) have suffered four consecutive losses in IPL 2023, leaving the David Warner-led side at the bottom of the points table. The team, which had acquired talented players like Rilee Rossouw, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, and Warner in the auction, has failed to perform up to expectations. Nothing has worked in the first four matches.

The management is now perplexed as to what is causing the team's poor performance.

Here are three major issues that appear to be plaguing the Delhi Capitals:

1. David Warner's leadership

In all four matches, Warner's approach to the game has been heavily criticised by fans and cricket experts alike. The Australian left-handed batsman has been batting at a sluggish strike rate of around 110, which is unacceptable in today's T20 cricket.

Although Warner scored half-centuries in the first two matches, his slow innings put pressure on the other batsmen, causing the team to collapse.

Even when the required run-rate exceeded 12 runs per over, Warner was still dealing in singles and doubles, creating undue pressure on the batsmen at the other end.

In their previous match against the Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals batted first but started off slowly. David Warner, in particular, showed no intent to hit the ball, and the team was struggling at 98/5 in 11 overs. It was only when Axar Patel came in and started hitting boundaries that Delhi's innings picked up momentum. Patel smashed 54 runs off 25 balls, with five sixes.

Meanwhile, Warner continued to struggle with his batting. Two balls after Patel's dismissal, Warner was also out after an unsuccessful attempt to hit a six. This was reminiscent of his dismissal in the third match against Rajasthan Royals, where too he struggled to score boundaries while chasing a target of 192.

2. Star players not performing

Mitchell Marsh, who was retained by the Capitals at Rs 6.50 crore, has failed to score with the bat in the first two matches, only scoring 5 runs.

Prithvi Shaw, who was retained at Rs 8 crore, has also been a disappointment, scoring only 34 runs in four matches as an opener.

Rilee Rossouw, who was acquired at Rs 4.50 crores, has only once scored 30 in the first match against LSG.

Sarafaraz Khan, who had a very good domestic season, has played only the first two games, scoring 34 runs. The issue with Delhi Capitals is that their star players, whom the management put its faith in, are not delivering at this point.

3. Batting line-up considerably weak

Delhi Capitals have a strong bowling line-up, including Mustafizur Rahman, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, and Khaleel Ahmed.

However, the team is slacking in its batting department. Except for Warner, none of the Delhi batters have been consistent. Only Axar Patel hit a half-century in the last match, batting at the number sixth position.

The lack of powerful hitters in the batting side is extremely crucial in a tournament like IPL, where batters majorly decide the fate of matches.

With four losses, Delhi coach Ricky Ponting and mentor Sourav Ganguly will have to figure out the flaws and work on them as the race to the play-offs has already started. The team will have a hard time getting into the top four with a performance like this.