'PBKS should explain why Arshdeep Singh...': Aakash Chopra questions strategy after loss to DC

Punjab Kings (PBKS) moved closer to an early elimination in IPL 2023 with their loss to Delhi Capitals (DC) in match 64 on Wednesday (May 17), in Dharamshala. Opting to bowl first, Shikhar Dhawan & Co. left many surprised with their bizarre tactics as they underbowled ace pacer Arshdeep Singh and brought off-spinner Harpreet Brar to bowl the final over.

Arshdeep, Punjab's leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps this season (10th overall), has been expensive with the ball but remains one of the key bowlers for Dhawan & Co. He came into the attack in the fifth over and bowled only one more over in the game versus DC (ending with 2-0-21-0). His underutilisation shocked many and former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra questioned PBKS team management for their usage of Arshdeep.

"Arshdeep started this tournament with being in the race for the purple cap...he’s not bowling with the new ball anymore. Isn’t bowling in the death either. And it’s not about the captaincy, I feel. The team management at PBKS should explain why and how Arshdeep has been marginalised," Chopra wrote on Twitter.

At the post-match presentation, Dhawan said, "It was frustrating. But we didn't bowl well in the first six overs. We should have taken a couple of wickets with the way the pitch was behaving. With the no ball, we believed but credit to Liam for the way he played. I feel my decision to bowl spinner the last over was wrong and it shifted the momentum towards them. The pacers didn't bowl full enough. We need to bowl in the right areas on these kinds of surfaces and it is hurting us."

Dhawan, however, didn't touch the topic of Arshdeep. PBKS remain in the playoffs race but by the barest of margins. They need to win their remaining game, versus Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Dharamshala on Friday (May 19), and need other results to also favour them.

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