Delhi capitulate at home again, MI win by 40 runs

Tribune news service

New Delhi, april 18

Delhi Capitals capitulated at home again. Chasing a gettable total of 168 runs, Delhi folded at 128 and handed Mumbai Indians a big 40-run win. But it was Delhi Capitals loss more than a Mumbai Indian win. None of theirestablished name, including Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, showed discipline out in the middle. More than anyone else, it was an opportunity lost for Pant who had a perfect scenario where a big innings could have made all his detractors look silly.

Post his omission from India’s World Cup squad all eyes were on Rishabh Pant. Calling it a positive thing, Delhi Capitals’ coach Ricky Ponting had stated that Pant will be motivated to score heavily. But the intent was missing. Pant walked in with Delhi in trouble after losing three wickets for 63. The situation was tailor-made for a Pant blitzkrieg as 103 runs were needed in the last ten overs. But once again, the 21-year-old failed to deliver when it mattered the most. He was castled by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery that came in a shade after pitching and brought an end to a very uncharacteristic Pant innings where he consumed 11 balls to score seven runs. His was the fifth wicket to fall and Delhi never looked in contention after that. Delhi lost the momentum with a false shot.  Chasing 169, Delhi were motoring along at 49/0 in 6.3 overs but Dhawan decided to play cute. Dhawan was bowled while trying to reverse-sweep Rahul Chahar.  

Like his opening partner, Shaw too gave away his wicket. Shaw holed out to Hardik Pandya at long-on off Chahar. Delhi lost wickets at regular intervals after the loss of the openers.

Mumbai spin it well

In fact it was the Mumbai Indians spinners that had a telling effect on the match. Chahar, Krunal Pandya and Jayant Yadav were difficult to score off. Pandya only conceded seven runs off his two overs and snared the wicket of Colin Munro. Chahar was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/19 that included the prize wickets of Dhawan, Shaw and Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer.

Points table

team m w l pts

Chennai 9 7 2 14

Mumbai 9 6 3 12

Delhi 9 5 4 10

Punjab 9 5 4 10

Hyderabad 8 4 4 8

Kolkata 8 4 4 8

Rajasthan 8 2 6 4

Bangalore 8 1 7 2