Getting over the line: David Miller and Sai Sudharsan took the Titans over the line with a fifty partnership. Sudharsan finished unbeaten on 62.
Fightback: Vijay Shankar, who came in as Gujarat’s Impact Player, added 50 with State teammate Sai Sudharsan for the fourth wicket. While Sudharsan drove well, Shankar relied on his drives down the ground. Both rotated strike brilliantly but also cashed in on the loose deliveries. Shankar walked out with GT 3 down for 54 and helped resurrect the chase.
I believe I can fly: Khaleel Ahmed had his first big ‘impact’ on the match when he had the Titans skipper Hardik Pandya caught behind. Khaleel landed the ball on a length and got it to nip into Hardik, who could only edge it back to the keeper. It was also Abishek Porel's first catch in IPL cricket.
Whattay shot: Sometimes, one shot is all it takes to tell you just how much ability a player possesses. Sai Sudharsan’s audacious scoop off Anrich Nortje was one such shot. Nortje went full at 144.2 kph on off stump, and Sudharsan walked across to scoop it over fine leg for a maximum.
Kaboom: Anrich Nortje, playing his first IPL match this season, clean bowled Wriddhiman Saha with a 143 kph inswinger. In his second over, Nortje cranked up the pace even more, rattling Shubman Gill’s stumps with an inswinger at 148.8 kph. Nortje, along with his other South African teammates Kagiso Rabada, David Miller and Aiden Markram joined their respective IPL teams on April 3, after the Netherlands ODIs.
Wriddhi, the Man: Khaleel Ahmed, the Impact Sub, replaced Sarfaraz Khan, and straightaway bore the brunt of GT opener Wriddhiman Saha’s willow. Saha hit two fours and a six in the very first over to get the Titans run chase off to a flying start.
Silver lining: Axar Patel’s innings was in some ways the solitary crumb of comfort in an otherwise disappointing batting display from the Capitals. Axar struck 36 off 22 but seldom had help from the other end.
Better late than never: Rashid Khan was finally introduced in the 13th over - only once before tonight had he bowled in a T20 innings after the 10th over. But Rashid had an immediate impact when he cleaned up Abishek Porel, who was guilty of playing across the line.
All smiles: India and Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was in attendance at the Arun Jaitley Stadum for his team’s IPL match against the Gujarat Titans. Pant is currently unavailable for IPL and international duties as he is recovering from injuries sustained in a serious car crash in December.
Breathing fire: Alzarri Joseph was fast, brutal and unpleasant to face in his first spell. He exploited the seam movement and uneven bounce to snaffle two consecutive wickets in his second over. David Warner was the first to go, chopping Joseph on before Rilee Rossouw was undone by a rip snorter. The ball spat off just short of a length, and brushed the shoulder of Rossouw’s bat before ballooning towards Rahul Tewatia, who completed a fine diving catch at point. Luckily, for DC, debutant Abishek Porel survived the hat-trick ball, but Joseph had already done some serious damage in the space of just six balls.
PowerPlay specialist: Mohammad Shami had the joint-most wickets in the PowerPlay in IPL 2022, and his new-ball spell tonight reaffirmed the value of deck-hitting line and length early in a T20 match. Here, Shami is celebrating after Mitchell Marsh chops on off a length ball shaping away from him. Shami had figures of 3-0-29-2 in the PowerPlay.
Drawing first blood: Mohammad Shami did not have to wait long for his first wicket. After a wonderful display of seam and swing bowling, Shami eventually had Prithvi Shaw caught on the pull. DC was 29 for 1 in 2.4 overs.
Peach of a delivery: Gujarat Titans pace spearhead Mohammed Shami beat David Warner with an away going delivery in his first over. There was some sound as the ball passed Delhi Capitals skipper Warner’s bat, which prompted a loud appeal for caught behind. It was given not out, and GT captain Hardik Pandya decided against going upstairs.
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