Delhi Capitals have had all the hype going into their first match against Punjab Kings in IPL 2024. Rishabh Pant coming back to play for them has made all the hype for them. Abhishek Porel did take their score past 170 but in the chase, bowlers did not find much assistance from the wicket to really keep Punjab Kings middle-order in check.
Spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could only keep the batters silent but couldn’t really create the presence to run through the line-up. Mainly, injury to Ishant Sharma and pacers Mitchell Marsh, Khaleel Ahmed having bad day, did not help DC either. Sumit Kumar had to bowl for absent Ishant and he couldn’t restrict Sam Curran.
Shikhar Dhawan(22) started off aggressively but got bowled by Ishant and in the same over, Jonny Bairstow(9) got run out at the non-stricker’s end. Prabhsimran Singh(26) and Sam Curran got together and occasional boundaries with good running between wickets kept PBKS in chase. Liam Livingstone(38) joined Sam Curran and took PBKS home in the first match.
They scored 177/6 and won the match by 4 wickets. Sam Curran scored 63 runs off 47 balls and drove Punjab Kings home. Khaleel Ahmed threatened to pull out a twist with 2 back to back wickets but match had been over by then. Kuldeep Yadav(2/20) is the best of the lot in the match. Sam Curran won Player of the Match for his batting effort.