226/3 (19.1)
CR : 11.79
225/6 (20.0)
CR : 11.25
Delhi Capitals won by 7 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
KL Rahul
75(40)
Super Striker of the Match: Donovan Ferreira (SR 335.71)
Most Sixes in the Match: Donovan Ferreira (6 Maximums)
Most Fours in the Match: Riyan Parag (8 Fours)
Most Dot Balls in the Match: Mitchell Starc (12 Dots)
Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals Captain): [on the win] "I have spoken it before as well, you need to repeat what you do everyday. Happy with the way the boys performed in all the three departments.
[on the plans working out] The way we planned, we executed it really well and that's why we won. We got both their dangerous batters out early, I was the happiest person on the ground.
[on Starc] He is a legend. He is playing his first match in 3 months and performed in such a way on this surface. Very happy that Starc is back.
[on his growth as a captain] I was working as a leader in the Indian team as well. It helps to manage the overseas and local players in the IPL team. I back my instincts. Our coaching staff is also there with us. The way we get positive results, we feel we are on the right track.
[on injury concerns] It was stinging when I took the catch but the physio and doctors helped me with an icepack, much better now.
I want to dedicate this win to the DC fans who went through a tragedy after the final game, there were 2 members of the DC Toli involved in the incident."
[on the plans working out] The way we planned, we executed it really well and that's why we won. We got both their dangerous batters out early, I was the happiest person on the ground.
[on Starc] He is a legend. He is playing his first match in 3 months and performed in such a way on this surface. Very happy that Starc is back.
[on his growth as a captain] I was working as a leader in the Indian team as well. It helps to manage the overseas and local players in the IPL team. I back my instincts. Our coaching staff is also there with us. The way we get positive results, we feel we are on the right track.
[on injury concerns] It was stinging when I took the catch but the physio and doctors helped me with an icepack, much better now.
I want to dedicate this win to the DC fans who went through a tragedy after the final game, there were 2 members of the DC Toli involved in the incident."
Player of the Match: KL Rahul
KL Rahul (POTM) also collects the Orange Cap: "[Winning makes this knock much sweeter?] Yeah, of course it does. We play the sport to win. After playing for so many years, numbers do matter. You are happy that you have scored these big runs and broken records but yeah, if you don't have the W after the game, it is not as much fun.
[What DC did to keep the dressing room in the right space] The dressing room has always been in a decent place. We try to keep that room as balanced as possible. We realise that results haven't gone our way. We really have to dig deep and see if we are doing some blunders or big mistakes. That was not the case. We had honest conversations in the dressing room. Except in the last game, we were in the contest in every game. One over, if it went our way, the results would have been different. So we do realise that we played some decent cricket, but there were some areas that we really needed to get sharp and crisp. T20 game doesn't allow you a second chance, it was important to take our chances and really happy to do that. When we're ahead, really press hard and finish the game, which we weren't doing. So, really happy we got this win, and we look forward to stringing a few more together; that will give us more confidence.
[On facing Archer and Burger, and how did he enjoy his knock?] Yeah, I did. I was hoping I could get some more balls in the powerplay. But the way Pathum batted, there was not much for me to do. I just had to stand on the other side and watch him smoke the ball. The way he batted put us right in front of the game. That's what we expect of the powerplay, the right intent. They're a really good team that wins games in powerplay with bat and ball. With the ball as well, I think we started really well, and with the bat as well, Pathum gave us the start that we needed in a 220-run chase.
[Does he enjoy his partnership with Nissanka?] Yeah, we do. I mean, there's not a lot of conversations that we have, but yeah, just reminding each other to play proper cricket shots and be as aggressive as we can in the powerplay and use the powerplay. So yeah, that's about it. And he's batted really well this season in the games that he's gotten, but he couldn't get past those 40s. And I think getting a 50 in the IPL, his first IPL season, will definitely give him a lot of confidence, and hopefully, he builds from there and keeps giving the team these starts.
[On any aspect he's worked on this season] Strike rate was much talked about over the years. That's something I have worked on. I am happy I am doing what's required for the team, number one, and doing what modern T20 cricket requires, and yeah, that's pleasing."
[What DC did to keep the dressing room in the right space] The dressing room has always been in a decent place. We try to keep that room as balanced as possible. We realise that results haven't gone our way. We really have to dig deep and see if we are doing some blunders or big mistakes. That was not the case. We had honest conversations in the dressing room. Except in the last game, we were in the contest in every game. One over, if it went our way, the results would have been different. So we do realise that we played some decent cricket, but there were some areas that we really needed to get sharp and crisp. T20 game doesn't allow you a second chance, it was important to take our chances and really happy to do that. When we're ahead, really press hard and finish the game, which we weren't doing. So, really happy we got this win, and we look forward to stringing a few more together; that will give us more confidence.
[On facing Archer and Burger, and how did he enjoy his knock?] Yeah, I did. I was hoping I could get some more balls in the powerplay. But the way Pathum batted, there was not much for me to do. I just had to stand on the other side and watch him smoke the ball. The way he batted put us right in front of the game. That's what we expect of the powerplay, the right intent. They're a really good team that wins games in powerplay with bat and ball. With the ball as well, I think we started really well, and with the bat as well, Pathum gave us the start that we needed in a 220-run chase.
[Does he enjoy his partnership with Nissanka?] Yeah, we do. I mean, there's not a lot of conversations that we have, but yeah, just reminding each other to play proper cricket shots and be as aggressive as we can in the powerplay and use the powerplay. So yeah, that's about it. And he's batted really well this season in the games that he's gotten, but he couldn't get past those 40s. And I think getting a 50 in the IPL, his first IPL season, will definitely give him a lot of confidence, and hopefully, he builds from there and keeps giving the team these starts.
[On any aspect he's worked on this season] Strike rate was much talked about over the years. That's something I have worked on. I am happy I am doing what's required for the team, number one, and doing what modern T20 cricket requires, and yeah, that's pleasing."
This is now also the highest successful run chase for DC against RR in the IPL, surpassing their previous best of 193/4 (target 192) at Jaipur in 2019.
Most Player of the Match Award in IPL (By Indians):
21 - Rohit Sharma
20 - Virat Kohli
18 - MS Dhoni
17 - Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul*
16 - Yusuf Pathan
21 - Rohit Sharma
20 - Virat Kohli
18 - MS Dhoni
17 - Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul*
16 - Yusuf Pathan
Delhi Capitals turn their fortunes around and get back to the winning ways with their highest-ever successful run chase in the IPL. Mitchell Starc set it up on his IPL return. DC did well to get rid of Sooryavanshi very early. They failed to finish well with the ball, but the batters stood up this time around. Nissanka and Rahul set the foundation with a bit of help from Nitish Rana, before Stubbs and Ashutosh wrapped it up.
Rajasthan Royals have plenty of positives with skipper Parag returning to form and Ferreira giving the final flourish. They would be happy with the fact that they managed to post 225 despite losing Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi inside 2 overs. But their bowling didn't come to the party, including Jofra Archer.
With this thumping win, DC jump to 6th place with 8 points from 9 games. Their next assignment is against Chennai Super Kings at home on May 5. Despite the defeat, RR stay in fourth place with 12 points from 10 matches. There is a week's gap before they take the field again on May 9 against Gujarat Titans.
Tomorrow, on May 2, it's round two of El Clásico this IPL, with CSK hosting MI at Chepauk. For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ninaad Dixit, and Ajay Pal Singh, scorers Paras Yadav, Manish Bishnoi and Bishal Mandal, and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!
Rajasthan Royals have plenty of positives with skipper Parag returning to form and Ferreira giving the final flourish. They would be happy with the fact that they managed to post 225 despite losing Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi inside 2 overs. But their bowling didn't come to the party, including Jofra Archer.
With this thumping win, DC jump to 6th place with 8 points from 9 games. Their next assignment is against Chennai Super Kings at home on May 5. Despite the defeat, RR stay in fourth place with 12 points from 10 matches. There is a week's gap before they take the field again on May 9 against Gujarat Titans.
Tomorrow, on May 2, it's round two of El Clásico this IPL, with CSK hosting MI at Chepauk. For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ninaad Dixit, and Ajay Pal Singh, scorers Paras Yadav, Manish Bishnoi and Bishal Mandal, and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!