Let’s not kid ourselves — IPL seasons are as much about tactics as they are about sixes. To note, very often, the biggest tactical errors are made not by the players on the field, but by the coaching team in the dugout, where the decisions (or lack thereof) that impact a team’s fortunes are made. Delhi Capitals’ strange and indisputable loyalty to Harry Brook. With a shaky top order and plenty of time to recalibrate, DC held out on Brook longer than his positions on the form sheet allowed for. Ultimately, had they pulled the plug even slightly sooner, would they have potentially lost out on a big opportunity?
A Fragile Top Order and a Wobbly Call
The top order for DC this edition had all the characteristics of a Jenga tower: fragile and a bad move away from collapsing. Yet they continued with Brook even while watching his pain unfold. Brook, an Englishman, came with much promise, but went nowhere to make anything meaningful. His shot selection was ludicrous, confidence lacking, and the big shots from an overseas importer, at the top of the order, were absent.
And here’s the kicker — Brook wasn’t really challenged for his place at all. It’s not like DC is short of time or options. But time and again, they stuck with him, game after game, even when life’s hard and their batting looked as fragile as a dry biscuit. You have to ask yourself — is it blind faith, lack of intelligence, or simply an unwillingness to upset the apple cart?
Also read:- How Akash Madhwal Went from Wicketless to Fearless in the IPL
The Missed Chance to Reshuffle
Sure, hindsight is always 20/20, but let’s not kid ourselves here; there were choices. There was Jonny Bairstow’s experience; maybe he would’ve added some energy and respectability. Even Dewald Brevis had no experience, but had enough enthusiasm to give it a try. To be fair, a more experienced domestic player may have broken the trend at the outset.
Instead, DC took an eternity to announce who was going to replace Atal for the Brook decision, far too late in the season for this news to be of any value. By then, the top order’s confidence was gone, and the playoffs were out of reach. It will be quite difficult to replace Brook, but not impossible, since it wasn’t just Brook DC that needed to be replaced, but rather assume fresh thinking with the improved combination. By taking a middle-order overseas option, DC advanced the flexibility of every player, most likely freeing up someone like Rahul to open consistently without a patchwork solution every game.
Form, Faith, and the Fallout
Admittedly, Fraser McGurk’s dip in form didn’t help matters either. After a breakout last season, he fizzled out across all formats – from the Big Bash to internationals. His drop-in form left DC looking for individuals who could anchor innings or attack at will. And that is where the true cost of not having a Plan B came to bear.
Cricket is a game of confidence, and when your top three are uncertain in role and form, the domino effect can be swift. The middle order can end up firefighting too early, the bowlers may feel scoreboard pressure, and the whole campaign feels like a giant patch job.
Delhi had the opportunity to recalibrate – but whether by indecision or misplaced loyalty, they allowed the window of opportunity to slip. Next season, they will have to ready themselves for the question – are we selecting players purely for pedigree, or performance?
What do you think – poor planning, bad luck, a combination of both? Share your perspective in the comments, and let’s talk cricket, how it should be talked about – with lots of passion, honesty, and robust debate.
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