Back-to-back wins for the Delhi Capitals (DC). After defeating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their first match of the campaign, they got a win over the Mumbai Indians (MI) as well. On Saturday, they outplayed the star-studded MI in all departments to claim the contest.

While KL Rahul’s dismal performance caused worries for the Delhi Capitals, their emerging batter, Sameer Rizvi, continues to be in a fiery form. The 22-year-old batter played two match-winning knocks in two consecutive games. Today, the young gun missed a century by only 10 runs.

Sameer Rizvi and Pathum Nissanka ensured the win for the Delhi Capitals

The Sri Lankan opener, Pathum Nissanka, also played a crucial role today to secure the win for the Delhi Capitals. His well-composed innings helped the team to endure the early dismissal of KL Rahul. Nissanka played a 44-run knock off 30, and Rizvi blasted a 90-run staller from 51 balls. The DC prodigy hit seven 4s and seven 6s to decorate his innings.

At one point of the run chase, Delhi was down by two wickets when the team was on 7 runs, as Nitish Rana was also dismissed for a duck soon after the fall of KL Rahul.

Mumbai Indians lacked flair without Hardik Pandya.

Batting first, the Mumbai Indians scored 162 runs in 20 overs. Stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav’s 51-run innings helped the team most to post a respectable total on the board. Rohit Sharma’s 35 off 26 was also notable from Mumbai’s batting part.

Hardik Pandya, the regular captain of the team, missed the match as he looked unwell to perform. In the absence of Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav took charge to lead the team. Without Pandya in the line-up, the team might have missed extra firepower both in their batting and bowling.

Delhi Capitals chased down the target of 163 runs with ease as they won the game by 6 wickets and 11 balls to spare. Shardul Thakur, who bowled brilliantly against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), was the most expensive bowler for MI in today’s match, conceding 41 runs in 3 overs, without taking a single wicket.

DC pacer Mukesh Kumar was the best bowler of the match, taking a couple of wickets in 3 overs for 26 runs. DC skipper Axar Patel was also effective in the match. With his spin bowling, he caught one wicket for a 5.5 economy rate in 4 overs.

Axar Patel reflects on their team selection process

"In T20s, you need flexibility. If you have players who can bat in any position, and if the wicket is different and you can use that player, you have to keep an open mind. It doesn't mean that things will click just because you pushed someone up the order," Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel said after the match.

"It's a tactical move, it's great if it comes off. Ashutosh is playing well, but you pick a player depending on the day's requirements. If I have to choose, it's a good problem, which shows how good our bench strengths are. We have to take it one game at a time and keep the momentum, especially after breaks between games", he added.

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