IPL 2023 | Unfair to criticise Prithvi and Sarfaraz: Agarkar

Delhi Capitals’ bowling coach Ajit Agarkar finds it unfair to single out Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan’s struggles against top quality fast bowlers for the two defeats the franchise has faced so far in IPL 2023

The struggles of Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan against top quality pace attack has been the talking point in Delhi Capitals' crushing defeats so far, but bowling coach Ajit Agarkar finds it unfair to single out any player when the failure has been a collective one.

Lucknow Super Giants beat DC by 50 runs in their first game before Gujarat Titans on Tuesday comfortably romped home by six wickets with 11 balls to spare.

In both the games, the two Mumbaikars, who have been prolific batters at the domestic level, seemed to have struggled against likes of Mark Wood (LSG), Mohammed Shami and Alzarri Joseph (GT), all of whom can bowl at 145 plus clicks, and get movement and bounce at good speed.

"I mean they (Shaw and Sarfaraz) have got runs against fast bowling. I don't think we batted well so why point out one or two guys," Agarkar said.

For Agarkar, the entire top order needs to step up.

"None of our top order players really got going in both the games. We haven't had big runs at the top which some of the other teams have."

After being in a tangle against short ball by Wood in the first game, Sarfaraz was hit on the head by Alzarri and umpires called for a concussion check as he struggled to get to 30 off 33 balls.