Can you believe this? Despite being head and shoulders above Lucknow Super Giants on the day, and being fifth on the points table, Delhi Capitals are virtually out of the IPL 2024 playoffs race. The 19-run win just doesn’t seem enough for the Rishabh Pant-led side. They would need CSK to lose badly in their last match vs RCB.
If that wasn’t enough, LSG, despite the heart-breaking loss, have a better chance that DC to make it to playoffs, since they have another game to go. So technically, it is a four-way battle for one spot — between LSG, DC, CSK, and RCB. Phew.. But let’s just have a look at what happened in the match between DC and LSG.
But before we start, finally there was smile on LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka’s face. But then, in his heart, he would be disappointed with the way his team played, more so how Rahul played. Let’s start now..
Impact player Abhishek Porel proves his worth
Delhi Capitals batter Abhishek Porel showed the world once again what it means to be an impactful Impact player’ in the IPL once again. In the absence of David Warner, the batter scored a quickfire 58-run knock off just 33 deliveries. Porel, who displayed his prowess as the impact player in DC’s very first game, smashed five boundaries and four sixes en route to his whirlwind knock.
LSG get ‘Stubbed’
Tristian Stubbs proved once again why he is considered as the best finisher in the shortest format in the recent months, The DC star went berserk, playing a 57-run knock off just 25 deliveries. The Proteas star delivered when it was needed the most for DC, in a do-or-die game against DC. With three fours and four sixes, Stubbs powered DC to a mammoth 208-run total in the game at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi.
Not so sweet mangoes for Naveen
Naveen-ul-Haq had one of his worst nights in the IPL in the game against DC. In what could be a nightmare for the pacer before the T20 World Cup, the Afghan star conceded 51 runs in his four-over spell against DC, even while managing to pick up two wickets. He was the most expensive bowler for the visiting side, with an economy rate of 12.80.
Who is Arshad Khan?
While largely it was a forgettable day for Lucknow, but fast bowler Arshad Khan shone with the bat, during the second half of the chase. After LSG kept losing wickets, the match was already out of their grasp, but his 58 from 33 is nothing short of praise-worthy. He could develop into a fine all-rounder.
Pooran impresses as usual
In his 27-ball 61, Pooran looked a class apart. It looked like he was playing on a different pitch, where boundaries were easy to come. He hit four sixes and six fours, and ended with a strike-rate of 225. Had he stayed on wicket for a little longer, LSG, might have sailed home.
KL Rahul further slips into a hole
Although KL Rahul has three fifties this year, but something has been really off for the talented batsman. He has looked under immense pressure, and it seemed like, the Sanjeev Goenka episode hasn’t helped. While chasing over 200 runs, he was out for 5 from 3.
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