Delhi Capitals' Indian Premier League 2025 opener had everything--thrills, heartbreaks, and a finish for the ages as they pulled off a nerve-wracking 1-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in Vizag at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on March 24, Monday. (Match Highlights| More Cricket News)
The night belonged to the right hand batter Ashutosh Sharma, whose blistering knock of 66 runs off 31 balls turned the game on its head and sealed a last-over victory for Delhi.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Delhi's captain Axar Patel could have regretted his decision several times during the game as Lucknow's top order made strong progress.
However, things began to take a different turn in the death overs when Vipraj Nigam and Sharma ignited slim hopes for the Capitals.
Lucknow Super Giants posted a formidable total of 209/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings were built around Mitchell Marsh's explosive 72 off 36 balls and Nicholas Pooran's blistering 70 off 35 deliveries.
LSG were at least 30 runs short on a good batting track losing seven wickets for 61 runs after being 133 for 1 in the 12th over.
With no assistance off the pitch, LSG openers went off the blocks quickly with Marsh bludgeoning half dozen of sixes and an equal number of boundaries, including a 21-ball fifty for his fastest IPL half-century.
Pooran dazzled with his stunning strokeplay to make 75 off only 30 balls with 7 sixes and 6 fours. LSG appeared set for a total in excess of 240 at one stage, but riding on a splendid spell from Kuldeep (4-0-20-2) and Starc라이브 바카라 3/42, Delhi Capitals applied brakes on their opponent라이브 바카라 charge with tremendous success.
LSG, who were cruising at 133 for one in the 12th over, staggered through the second half to add only 76 runs in the last eight overs while losing six wickets.
Marsh took charge early on to 21 runs off the third over from compatriot Starc to make intentions clear. On a placid track, Marsh made merry as he connected with sheer power and timing to leave Delhi scrambling for answers as each of his stroke appeared to have brought desired results.
A pivotal moment in the innings arrived in the seventh over when Sameer Rizvi spilled a regulation catch to give Pooran a reprieve, off Nigam while fielding at backward point.
Pooran was belligerent against spin and pace alike, clearing the ropes at will to set up the platform for a massive total with his 87-run stand off 42 balls with Marsh, but LSG squandered it.
There was disappointment in store for Pant, who fell for a six-ball duck with Kuldeep, who helped Delhi pull things back in control. Kuldeep varied his pace and used flighted deliveries putting the batters in two minds whether to play from the crease or step out.
David Miller fought till the end but found no support as wickets kept tumbling. However, his 19-ball 27 with two sixes and a four at least took LSG past the 200-run mark in the final over.
Chasing the daunting target, Delhi Capitals faced an early setback as they collapsed in the first over, losing two wickets off Shardul Thakur's deliveries. Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel were sent back to the pavilion, leaving Delhi reeling at 2/2 in just 0.5 overs. Faf du Plessis found himself under early pressure, and with the chase looking increasingly difficult, the Capitals were already in big trouble.
Delhi Capitals slipped to 7/3 in the second over and limped to 116 for six after 13 overs, but Ashutosh라이브 바카라 stunning knock — 66 off 31 balls with five sixes and as many fours — delivered his side a sensational win from the jaws of defeat.
Even as wickets fell regularly towards the end, Ashutosh kept his composure and executed stunning bottom-handed strokes to finish the job for his side and give Delhi Capitals a stunning start to their season.
In a contest where fortunes swung from one side to another, DC emerged on top riding on the calm and composed knock from Ashutosh, who hit the winning runs as DC made 211/9 in 19.3 overs.
There was a late twist in the tale — with six runs needed off the final over and one wicket left, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant missed a stumping on the first ball from Shahbaz Ahmed which would have given his side the win but it wasn’t meant to be.
LSG, who put on a below-par total on a placid surface here after scoring 209/8, made early inroads to shock Delhi라이브 바카라 chase.
A recovery looked largely difficult as Delhi Capitals largely appeared more in damage-control mode than to make a real crack at the target.
However, the pair of debutant Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15 balls, 5x4s, 2x6s) and Ashutosh threatened to turn the tables on LSG with their 55-run stand off only 22 balls for the seventh wicket, but the second strategic break ended their resistance right upon resumption.
Nigam fell to Digvesh Rathi (2/30) and Ravi Bishnoi (2/53) dismissed Mitchell Starc for a second wicket in quick succession as LSG tightened the screws on a faltering Delhi Capitals.
But despite losing Starc as the eighth wicket, Ashutosh smacked two sixes and a four off Bishnoi in the 18th over and hit 10 more runs off the final two balls of the penultimate over from Prince Yadav, even as DC lost Kuldeep Yadav.
Delhi Capitals secured Ashutosh Sharma for INR 3.80 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, and he has already proved to be worth every penny.
He currently also plays for Railways in domestic cricket. And if you don't know yet, he is the one who broke the record for the fastest to 50 runs by an Indian player in T20 cricket, in just 11 balls in October 2023.
Meanwhile, DC's new batter KL Rahul was unable to play in the match against his former team, as he was celebrating the joyous arrival of his baby girl. His wife, actress Athiya Shetty, gave birth to their daughter, just ahead of the game.
(With PTI Inputs)
