Former team India off-spinner and presently one of the commentators in the ongoing 16th season of the Indian Premier League, Harbhajan Singh, has come down heavily on Delhi Capitals skipper David Warner, after his team lost their sixth match of the season tonight, against Sunrisers Hyderabad by 9 runs.
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Harbhajan was not only unimpressed by Warner the captain, but also the batter with a below par strike rate (118.60) across the matches. En route the target of 198 runs, Warner was dismissed on a second-ball Duck at the Arun Jaitley Stadium tonight, off the very first Over of the chase bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Managing to win back-to-back matches after losing five initial matches of the season on a trot, DC were very much in the chase until Phil Salt (59 off 35) and Mitchell Marsh (69 off 39) were at the crease, but some questionable tactical moves by the think tank perhaps cost them the game from the 14th Over onwards.
The decision to send the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Priyam Garg (in particular) ahead of the in-form Axar Patel was one of them.
Harbhajan Singh Lambasts David Warner; Backs Axar Patel as Delhi Capitals Captain
Harbhajan did not mince his words one bit, and went on to exclaim that the Capitals must change their captain right away, as Warner has been a failure both as a leader and as the opening batter in the eight matches so far.
Emphasizing on the need to appoint Indian captains in the ‘Indian Premier League’, the 42-year-old went on to suggest that the Capitals should appoint Axar Patel right away as their skipper.
“Apne ladkon ko kaptaan banao! Ye Indian Premier League hai, yahan Indian ladkon ko kaptaan banao. Axar Patel ko app responsibility do. Vo karega achcha. Bowling achcha kar raha hai, ballebaazi achcha karta hai, usko kyun nahi responsibility dete aap? [This is the Indian Premier League, appoint Indian players as captain. Hand Axar Patel the responsibility. He bowls well, bats well, why not hand him the responsibility (to lead the side)],” remarked Harbhajan at Star Sports during the post-match show.
“Sirf angrezi bolne ke liye thodi rakha hai!” – Harbhajan on Warner
Harbhajan further ridiculed Warner’s batting tonight, and mocked at his poor batting strike rate this season so far by exclaiming that the fact that Delhi was able to get close to the target was only because their skipper had got Out early.
“Ye baulen karab karte hain. 50 ball khel kar 50 run banate hain, phir kya faida! Sirf angrezi bolne ke liye thodi rakha hai ki match me ye hua vo hua. Aapke balle se 30 ball me 60 run kab aaenge? [He just wastes deliveries. What’s the use of scoring 50 runs off 50 balls. You aren’t just assigned to speak English while explaining the reasons of your team’s defeat. When will your bat score a 30-ball 60?],” a livid Harbhajan further added.
Axar Patel had arrived at the crease at No.7 in the order and during the 16th Over. He did made some brisk 29 runs off 14 deliveries, but it was all too late.
