Cricket was at its competitive best once again in the TATA IPL as Delhi Capitals clinched a pulsating Super Over win against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday, 16 April.
Mitchell Starc was the star of the show, displaying exceptional control and composure both at the death and in the Super Over. With just nine runs to defend in the final over, Starc executed his yorkers with precision, successfully restricting the Rajasthan Royals to the same score.
In the Super Over, he continued his fine form, conceding only 11 runs in five deliveries while effecting two run-outs. With 12 runs to get in the Super Over, KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs finished the job for the home side, giving us our fifth win of IPL 2025.
Earlier in the day, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and chose to field first. A couple of early wickets put us on the backfoot but Abishek Porel attacked with intent to keep the scorecard ticking.
KL Rahul accompanied the young batter to put up a crucial stand, which accounted for 63 runs. Porel (49 off 37) and Rahul (38 off 32) missed out on half-centuries, and just as it appeared that the team might be restricted to a total around 160, skipper Axar Patel stepped in with clear intent and purpose.
He smashed a quickfire 34 off only 14 balls, which included four fours and a couple of sixes. After his dismissal, Tristan Stubbs (34* off 18 balls) and Ashutosh Sharma (15* off 11 balls) took up the finishing responsibilities and got us to 188/5. The last five overs accounted for 77 runs, giving us a decent edge in the match.
After the break, the Rajasthan Royals were off to a great start as Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal took full advantage of the Powerplay overs. Samson struggled with an injury and was retired hurt. Shortly thereafter, Axar Patel provided the breakthrough for Delhi Capitals, dismissing Riyan Parag with a well-executed delivery that shattered the stumps.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana chipped in with vital knocks for the visiting side. Both batters scored fifties and Dhruv Jurel joined the party later to take them within 31 runs with three overs remaining. Starc conceded eight runs in the 18th over and dismissed Rana with a brilliant yorker.
Later, with only nine runs left to defend, Starc conceded no boundaries and ensured the match went into the Super Over.
A couple of boundaries in the Super Over put Rajasthan in front, but two consecutive run outs off the fourth and fifth balls meant they finished with 11 runs. KL Rahul began our Super Over with a boundary, before Tristan Stubbs hit the winning six in style to take us to our fifth win of the season.
The Delhi Capitals have now participated in five Super Overs in the history of the TATA IPL, emerging victorious in four of them. As this eventful season continues to unfold, we now shift our focus to the upcoming fixture against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals 188/5 in 20 overs (Abishek Porel 49, KL Rahul 38, Tristan Stubbs 34*, Axar Patel 34) | Rajasthan Royals 188/4 in 20 overs (Nitish Rana 51; Axar Patel 1/23, Mitchell Starc 1/36)
Result: Match Tied. Delhi Capitals won in the Super Over.
Player of the Match: Mitchell Starc
