The 40th match of the 2024 IPL season at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi was a testament to the sheer drama and unpredictability that the tournament thrives on. In a nail-biting contest that went down to the wire, the Delhi Capitals emerged victorious by a mere four runs against the Gujarat Titans.
Clinical Batting Propels Delhi to a Competitive Total
Delhi Capitals, opting to bat first after winning the toss, got off to a cautious start. Openers Prithvi Shaw and David Warner, known for their aggressive intent, found run-scoring difficult against the disciplined bowling of Mohammed Shami and Lockie Ferguson. Shami, in particular, displayed exceptional swing bowling, troubling both openers with his pace and accuracy.
The breakthrough came in the fifth over when Shami induced an edge from Warner, brilliantly pouched by Shubman Gill at second slip. Shaw, who had shown signs of timing the ball, soon followed suit, holing out to deep square leg off Rashid Khan’s leg-spin.
At 32/2 after the powerplay, Delhi needed a rebuild. Enter Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, two of the most exciting young batsmen in Indian cricket. The pair adopted a contrasting approach. While Iyer anchored the innings with his classical technique, Pant played the aggressor, taking advantage of any loose deliveries.
They stitched together a crucial 87-run partnership, playing with a blend of caution and calculated aggression. Iyer, particularly, looked in sublime touch, finding the gaps with ease and playing some exquisite drives down the ground. Pant, on the other hand, provided the impetus with his characteristic power-hitting, peppering the boundaries with audacious sixes.
However, just as Delhi looked set for a big total, Rashid Khan struck again. This time, it was Iyer who succumbed to the wily Afghan leggie, trapped plumb in front of the wicket. Pant followed soon after, caught at deep mid-wicket while attempting a big hit off Alzarri Joseph.
The middle order of Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, and Shardul Thakur failed to capitalize on the platform provided by Iyer and Pant, managing only a collective score of 32 runs. In the end, Delhi Capitals finished their innings with a respectable total of 224/7, courtesy of a late flourish from Axar Patel’s 18-run cameo off just 8 deliveries.
Gujarat Titans Respond with Grit, But Fall Short in a Tense Finish
Chasing a target of 225, the Gujarat Titans openers, Wriddhiman Saha and Sai Sudharsan, started cautiously. Saha, known for his solidity and temperament, played the anchor role, negating the swing threat of the Delhi pace attack. Sudharsan, on the other hand, played with a touch more freedom, finding the boundary on a few occasions.
A dropped catch by Prithvi Shaw at mid-wicket in the powerplay proved costly for Delhi, as Sudharsan capitalized on the reprieve to accelerate the scoring rate. He played some delightful strokes on both sides of the wicket, showcasing his range and maturity.
The partnership flourished, adding 78 runs for the first wicket before Kuldeep Yadav provided the breakthrough for Delhi. Saha, who had played a crucial role in laying the foundation, was caught at deep square leg while attempting a lofted shot.
The experienced duo of Shubman Gill and captain Hardik Pandya were expected to take Gujarat closer to the target. However, both fell prey to Axar Patel’s left-arm spin. Gill, after a scratchy start, was trapped LBW, while Pandya, looking to up the ante, holed out at long-on.
Gujarat’s chase suffered another setback with the dismissal of the dangerous Rahul Tewatia. Tewatia, known for his late-order heroics, smashed a quickfire 32 off just 18 deliveries, rekindling Gujarat’s hopes. However, his dismissal in the 18th over put Delhi back in control.
With 41 runs required off the last three overs, the Gujarat lower order batsmen fought valiantly. Rashid Khan and Lockie Ferguson played some audacious strokes, keeping their team in the game. The tension escalated with every passing delivery, as the required run rate continued to climb.
The 19th over, bowled by Shardul Thakur, proved to be a turning point. Ferguson, who had taken the attack to the bowler, was dismissed courtesy of a stunning catch by Rovman Powell at long-off. With 19 runs needed off the final over, bowled by Mustafizur Rahman, the drama reached its peak.
Rishabh Pant Deservedly Clinches Player of the Match Award
Despite Delhi Capitals falling short of a potentially bigger total, the Player of the Match award deservedly went to their skipper, Rishabh Pant. While his batting knock of 42 runs might not seem like the most dominant on the scoreboard, his contribution extended far beyond that.
Behind the stumps, Pant displayed exceptional wicket-keeping skills. His sharp reflexes and anticipation led to crucial dismissals, particularly the stumping of Shubman Gill and the diving catch to dismiss Rahul Tewatia. These dismissals proved to be pivotal moments in the match, derailing Gujarat’s chase at critical junctures.
Pant’s captaincy also deserves credit. He rotated his bowlers effectively, using the experience of Ashwin and Axar Patel to good effect, and held his nerve under pressure during the tense final few overs. His all-round performance – a valuable batting contribution, excellent work behind the wickets, and astute captaincy – made him the deserving recipient of the Player of the Match award.
