In what was the Delhi Capitals’ must-win game following losses in their first two matches, their key men delivered. And they opened their account in IPL 2024 with a 20-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
David Warner (52 off 35 balls), with good support from opening partner Prithvi Shaw (43 off 27 balls), laid the foundation before captain Rishabh Pant (51 off 32 balls) unfurled himself when his team needed it the most, propelling the team total to 191/5. That crucial knock from Pant was after Matheesha Pathirana’s double blow in the 15th over had somewhat derailed the Capitals innings.
Thereafter, left-arm quick Khaleel Ahmed’s right line earned him the vital scalps of openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra early in Chennai's chase. Daryl Mitchell and Ajinkya Rahane fought back, till the former played a loose shot to give Axar Patel a return catch.
The Super Kings’ hopes rested on Rahane and Impact Player Shivam Dube (replacing Pathirana), but Mukesh Kumar (3/21) bowled the kind of length required on the Visakhapatnam surface to dismiss Rahane and the promising Sameer Rizvi off successive balls. That too, in his very first over.
CSK's Matheesha Pathirana takes a flying catch to dismiss David Warner on Sunday PTI
Mukesh did take a bit of pounding from Mahendra Singh Dhoni (37 not out off 16 balls), who did entertain the fans in his vintage style for the first time in this IPL after coming out to bat at No.8. But by that time, Mukesh had already picked up his third wicket, that of the dangerous Dube, and that had made the equation almost impossible for CSK.
Not just that, the Bengal pacer conceded only five off the penultimate over of the game, giving almost nothing away to Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja as CSK could only manage 171/6.
This certainly was a much-needed win for the Delhi franchise, especially ahead of their clash against a buoyant Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday. While they have moved up to seventh in the standings now, CSK have slipped to second with KKR going atop by virtue of a superior net run rate.
Earlier, skipper Pant for the first time in the current edition unleashed some of his trademark strokes in the closing overs that propelled the Capitals to a formidable total after they won the toss and elected to bat.
Sri Lanka pacer Pathirana’s fast, pinpoint yorkers helped yank out Mitchell Marsh and Tristan Stubbs in just three balls. But Pant, having taken a bit of time to get set, took things in his stride and launched a counterpunch. His innings has breathed life into Delhi's campaign.