Delhi Capitals posted their fastest win in terms of ball left in the history of Indian Premier League as they defeated Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. The Rishabh Pant-led DC posted a clinical 6-wicket win and improved their IPL table rankings thanks to the stunning improvement in the net run rate.

Before the match, DC’s NRR was -0.975. After the win over GT, their NRR improved to -0.074. They have dislodged GT from the sixth spot in the IPL points table. Reducing GT to just 89 runs in 20 overs, the match 32 of Tata IPL 2024 saw the lowest total in the first innings in this season so far. DC batters completed the chase in just 53 balls. This pace helped them to not only earn two points but also improve the critical NRR. 

This was the first time in GT’s IPL history that they lost four wickets within the powerplay. The bowling unit of DC displayed a consistent and disciplined effort. Top of the charts was Mukesh Kumar, who picked up three wickets in his three over spell at an economy of 5.60. Ishant Sharma picked up the breakthrough wicket of Shubhman Gill that opened the floodgates of DC’s bowling onslaught. The highest score that any GT batter was able to make was by Rashid Khan. he scored 31 off 24 balls. He was the only GT batter to slam a six in the entire inning. 

Another highlight of the day was Pant’s exceptional leadership and his performance as a wicketkeeper. The dynamic keeper-batsman displayed sharpness and agility behind the stumps, executing a swift stumping and a remarkable full-stretch diving catch.

In response, DC batters chased down the target of 90 runs in 53 deliveries. They started off on a fiery note. However, they also lost quick wickets. Sandeep Warrier made an impressive IPL debut for GT as he picked up two quick wickets. But conceding 40 runs in three overs, Warrior was not able to halt the DC’s juggernaut. 

Gujarat Titas vs Delhi Capitals Scorecard

Delhi Capitals

  • Prithvi Shaw c Johnson b Sandeep Warrier 7
  • Jake Fraser-McGurk c Manohar b Johnson 20
  • Abishek Porel b Sandeep Warrier 15
  • Shai Hope c Sharma b Rashid Khan 19
  • Rishabh Pant not out 16
  • Sumit Kumar not out 9
  • Extras: (LB-4, W-2) 6
  • Total: (For 4 wickets in 8.5 overs) 92 Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-31, 3-65, 4-67 Bowling: Sandeep Warrier 3-0-40-2, Spencer Johnson 2-0-22-1, Rashid Khan 2-0-12-1, Noor Ahmad 1.5-0-14-0.

Gujarat Titans

  • Wriddhiman Saha b Mukesh Kumar 2
  • Shubman Gill c Shaw b Sharma 8
  • Sai Sudharsan run out (Sumit Kumar) 12
  • David Miller c Pant b Sharma 2
  • Abhinav Manohar st Pant b Stubbs 8
  • Rahul Tewatia lbw b Patel 10
  • M Shahrukh Khan st Pant b Stubbs 0
  • Rashid Khan c Pant b Mukesh Kumar 31
  • Mohit Sharma c Sumit Kumar b Ahmed 2
  • Noor Ahmad b Mukesh Kumar 1
  • Spencer Johnson not out 1
  • Extras: (LB-5, NB-2, W-5) 12
  • Total: (All out in 17. 3 overs) 89
  • Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-28, 3-28, 4-30, 5-47, 6-48, 7-66, 8-78, 9-88, 10-89 Bowling: Khaleel Ahmed 4-1-18-1, Ishant Sharma 2-0-8-2, Mukesh Kumar 2.3-0-14-3, Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-16-0, Tristan Stubbs 1-0-11-2, Axar Patel 4-0-17-1.

(With PTI inputs)