Led by an emphatic batting performance, the Delhi Capitals (DC) secured a crucial 20-run victory against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 56 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This win propels DC to 12 points, now level with three other teams, creating an intriguing twist in the points table.
On a pitch historically conducive to high scores, RR opted to field first after winning the toss, confident in their batting prowess to chase down any target. The DC openers set a blistering pace from the start, signaling an impending run-fest.
Jake Fraser-McGurk was the star of the early assault, blasting to a 19-ball half-century, astonishingly his slowest fifty of the season, highlighting the tremendous impact he’s had throughout the tournament. The fourth over, bowled by Avesh Khan, saw an onslaught of 28 runs, with Fraser-McGurk smashing four boundaries and two sixes to reach his milestone.
However, his fireworks were cut short when R Ashwin had him caught at cover by Donovan Ferreira. Abishek Porel, who had begun cautiously with a few early boundaries, then took charge. Even the early run-out of Shai Hope did not deter Porel, who persisted in his aggressive approach. Axar Patel supported him until the 10th over before falling to Ashwin, who had him caught at long-on.
At the halfway mark, DC was poised at 115 for three, setting a solid foundation for a mammoth total. Porel continued his aggression and reached his maiden IPL fifty in the 11th over, hammering Avesh for a six in just 28 balls.
The Capitals experienced a brief slowdown as they lost wickets in rapid succession. Porel departed for a well-made 65, dismissed by Sandeep Sharma, and Rishabh Pant was bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal, who celebrated his 350th T20 wicket. Gulbadin Naib and Tristan Stubbs then worked to stabilize the innings.
Stubbs spearheaded the final surge, bringing his combative style to the fore. His 20-ball 41 featured three fours and three sixes, two of which came in the last over bowled by Sandeep. The platform for this final assault was laid when Chahal conceded 21 runs in the 18th over. Impact Player Rasikh Salam chipped in with two critical boundaries, ensuring DC ended their innings at 221 for eight, a formidable total yet within recent chasing trends.
In reply, RR needed their big hitters to deliver, and captain Sanju Samson rose to the occasion with an extraordinary innings. Despite Yashaswi Jaiswal hitting a four off the first ball, his dismissal on the next delivery by Khaleel Ahmed put pressure on RR.
. Jos Buttler, brought in as an Impact Player, took time to settle, giving Samson the responsibility of accelerating the innings.
Samson shifted gears dramatically in the third over with a mammoth six off Khaleel, marking his 200th IPL six. He continued his assault, targeting Ishant Sharma next with a flurry of boundaries. DC tried to respond by bringing in Mukesh Kumar, who nearly claimed Buttler’s wicket, only for a skied chance to be dropped by Stubbs. Samson’s brisk scoring took RR past fifty in the fifth over.
Buttler struck a couple of boundaries in the sixth over before perishing to Axar Patel’s wily bowling, prompting celebrations among DC players. The game entered a phase where boundaries were hard to come by. Riyan Parag took time to find his groove, and at the halfway stage, RR was trailing at 93 for two.
Parag fell for 27 in the 11th over, dismissed by Rasikh, leaving Samson with the task of ramping up the run-rate. Supported by Shubham Dube (25 off 12 balls), Samson raised RR’s hopes by attacking with renewed vigor. Over the next 29 balls, the duo added 59 runs, reigniting the chase. Samson soon passed his fifty but was eventually dismissed for 86 off 46 balls, courtesy of a brilliant catch by Hope near the boundary.
The game continued to sway in the nail-biting slog overs. Although RR kept finding boundaries, they were also hemorrhaging wickets. Dube’s aggressive innings ended at 25 when he aimed for another big hit. Donovan Ferreira, in his first IPL outing, was leg-before to Kuldeep, who bowled a crucial 18th over, conceding only four runs and dismissing Ashwin off the last ball.
This left RR needing 37 from the final two overs. Rasikh’s penultimate over was exceptional, yielding just eight runs and stifling Powell’s attempt at big hits. With 29 needed off the last over, Mukesh bowled Powell off his second ball, sealing a memorable victory for DC.
The win not only adds to DC’s points tally but also promises a thrilling conclusion to the IPL 2024 season as multiple teams vie for the playoff spots.