Delhi Daredevils
Rishabh Pant – 9
Pant started very aggressively, hitting the first ball he faced for a huge six over mid-wicket. He kept going big and scored an emotional half century, studded with 3 fours and 4 sixes. His efforts kept DD alive in the run-chase till the end and it was his dismissal in the last over that tilted the game towards RCB.
Chris Morris – 9
The T20 specialist from South Africa and DD’s best player from last season, Chris Morris started this season with an excellent spell of 3 for 21 off his 4 overs, including the wickets of Gayle and Negi. His efforts went a long way in restricting RCB to just 157, but he failed with the bat after coming in at No. 6 with still more than 70 needed, and was dismissed for just 4.
Shahbaz Nadeem – 9
The highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy for two consecutive seasons, Shahbaz Nadeem spun a web around the RCB batsmen from which they could never escape. He bowled a miserly spell of just 13 in his 4 overs which was his most economical ever in the IPL and picked up the wicket of the RCB skipper Watson to derail the innings.
Pat Cummins – 7
Playing his first match for DD, Pat Cummins did what he is best known for – bowl fast. He conceded only 29 off his 4 overs and took the wicket of Mandeep Singh in the powerplay to put the brakes on RCB’s scoring. With the bat though, he played a poor shot at a critical juncture to be dismissed for 6 in the 17th over with Rishabh Pant well set at the other end.
Zaheer Khan – 7
India’s finest left arm pacer and DD skipper, Zaheer Khan, was playing competitive cricket for the first time after IPL 9 and looked quite good. He picked up the crucial wickets of Kedar Jadhav and Stuart Binny to finish with figures of 2 for 31, and captained the side really well.
Sam Billings – 6
Opening the innings for Delhi in the absence of Quinton de Kock, Billings entertained the crowd with some classy shots and an outrageous six off Abdulla where he reverse-swept him, but was dismissed soon after, having scored 25 off 19 deliveries. His dismissal left DD in some trouble.
Aditya Tare – 5
The Mumbai keeper opened the innings with Sam Billings and managed to give DD a decent start, hitting three crisp fours, but was dismissed before he could make it count for just 18 by Tymal Mills. His place in the XI could be under some scrutiny once Shreyas Iyer gets fit.
Sanju Samson – 5
The flamboyant young wicket keeper batsman once again flattered to deceive. Coming in at No. 4 in the sixth over of the innings, he never looked comfortable during his stay at the wicket and scored 13 off 12 deliveries before holing out to Stuart Binny off the bowling of Stanlake. He did, though, take an outstanding catch to dismiss Chris Gayle earlier in the match.
Amit Mishra – 2
The veteran leg-spinner had an off day and could never really settle into any rhythm with Kedar Jadhav going after him from his first over itself. In his 2nd over, he conceded 24 with Jadhav hitting him for 2 sixes and 2 fours, meaning he ended up conceding 32 off his 2 overs. With the bat too, he didn’t help his team’s cause at all and scored a poor 8 not out off 14 balls that included scoring just 1 off 5 balls in the 19th over when DD needed 21 to win.
Carlos Brathwaite – 2
The West Indies T20 captain, Carlos “Remember the name” Brathwaite, had a night to forget with the ball as he conceded 29 in his 2 overs, going for 2 fours and as many sixes, all to Kedar Jadhav. It didn’t get any better with the bat too as he scored just a solitary run off 5 balls before being bowled off the bowling of Chahal.
Karun Nair – 2
After a scratchy Test series against Australia, much was expected from Karun Nair here as he was one of the more accomplished batsmen in the DD line up, but he failed to make an impact and after hitting an edged four, was bowled by Billy Stanlake off just his third ball.
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