IPL 2023: 'These guys have done it,' DC coach defends Indian duo after poor start

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Delhi Capitals slipped to their second defeat in the IPL after the first two matches. It was another lacklustre performance as the Capitals were beaten at their home ground by defending champions Gujarat Titans.

Batting has been an issue for them this season in the first two matches. The Capitals have failed to capitalize despite having some top-class players up top, and their Indian players haven't performed well at all.

Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan both are coming on the back of terrific form in domestic cricket. Both players have scored heaps of runs and DC were banking a lot on the pair. But so far the duo has been underwhelming.

IPL 2023: Prithvi and Sarfaraz's poor start

Prithvi Shaw has scored 19 runs in the first two innings, while Sarfaraz has managed only 34 runs. Shaw scored only 7 runs against the Titans while Sarfaraz scored 30 runs, but took 34 balls to get there.

After their defeat against Titans, DC coach Ajit Agarkar was asked about the pair's adjustment issues from domestic cricket to IPL. But Agarkar believes the batters have the ability and confidence to shine in IPL, and they will do so in due course.

"We are talking about Prithvi Shaw who has got a hundred on his Test debut, why pick on people. When you lose, it's not because of one or two people. As a collective effort, it hasn't been good enough. We need to apply ourselves better and try and improve in the next game," Agarkar said in the post-match conference.

"You are talking about two people (Prithvi and Sarfaraz) who have got heaps of runs. There is no doubt of the difference between domestic cricket and IPL. But as they have got runs there, it's all about adjustment. These guys have done it before in the IPL as well," he added.

"They are pretty confident about getting it right. At the moment they haven't, but they have to improve," the Delhi Capitals coach concluded.

It is a dismal start for the Capitals again in yet another IPL season. They will be travelling to Guwahati next to face Rajasthan Royals on April 8.