IPL 2025: LSG Coach Dahiya Discusses Miller's Promotion Strategy

Synopsis

Vijay Dahiya, assistant coach of LSG, explains the rationale behind promoting David Miller to the fifth batting position during an eight-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals, aiming to improve the team's run-rate post early wickets. He commended DC for their effective assessment of match conditions.

Key Takeaways

David Miller was promoted to boost LSG's run-rate.
LSG lost to Delhi Capitals by eight wickets.
Impact player Ayush Badoni scored quickly for LSG.
LSG captain Rishabh Pant failed to score.
Dahiya praised DC for reading conditions well.

New Delhi, April 23 (NationPress) Vijay Dahiya, the assistant coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), defended the decision to elevate David Miller to the number five batting position during their eight-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals (DC), explaining it was an attempt to alter the team’s faltering run-rate after three swift dismissals.

At the BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Miller stepped in to bat following Abdul Samad’s unsuccessful promotion. However, Miller could manage only 14 runs off 15 balls, while impact player Ayush Badoni scored a rapid 36 runs off 21 balls, contributing to LSG's total of 159/6, which DC successfully chased down in 17.5 overs.

This adjustment also led to captain Rishabh Pant coming in at number seven, where he faced only two balls before getting out for a duck. "In the T20 format, there is essentially one strategy: to have numerous plans. Nothing is set in stone in this game. You aim to comprehend the flow of the match and devise your approach accordingly,” Dahiya remarked.

“We found ourselves slightly behind. We attempted to stage a comeback. Therefore, promoting Miller, who is known for his aggressive batting style, was a strategic move to see if it could lead to a change. If we could have garnered 10-15 runs in a few overs, the outcome might have been different," said Dahiya at the match's conclusion.

He also praised DC for their ability to read the conditions accurately and leverage them to their advantage. "We scored over 80 runs in the 8th and 9th overs but then lost our momentum. Instead of focusing on the pitch, we must work on other aspects. We should have capitalized on that momentum," he added.

“Let’s acknowledge their efforts. I believe the bowlers of Delhi Capitals assessed the conditions remarkably well. If you observe both innings, there were phases where the ball slowed down. During those periods, they employed cutters effectively, resulting in a strong comeback," he expanded.

Currently, LSG sits in fifth place on the points table with ten points from nine matches and is set to face the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) led by Hardik Pandya at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday afternoon.