IPL 2018, DD vs KXIP: Four best decisions from the game

An out of form Delhi Daredevils unit went up against a high flying Kings XI Punjab side at the Feroz Shah Kotla for the first time this season.

Delhi was keen to not only get their campaign back on track but also seek revenge against Punjab, who had earlier beaten the Daredevils comprehensively in the reverse fixture at Mohali.

Gautam Gambhir got Delhi off to the best possible start by winning the toss and as most Captains had done this season, he opted to put the visitors in to bat.

Liam Plunkett, who was making his IPL debut, returned with impressive figures of three for 17 in four overs to restrict a batting heavy Punjab side to 143-8 in 20 overs.

Prithvi Shaw gave Delhi a breezy start but once he was dismissed, a flurry of wickets brought Punjab back into the contest.

Shreyas Iyer and Rahul Tewatia joined hands and got Delhi back with a valuable partnership but some tight death bowling gave Punjab a narrow four-run win.

Here are some decisions which had an impact on the game.

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#1 Drafting Liam Plunkett and Avesh Khan into the playing XI

Plunkett had a great IPL debut

With their backs to the wall, Delhi needed to change things a bit and Captain rung in the changes for their first home game and it proved pivotal.

Young Avesh Khan, playing in just his second game in the IPL and his first this season, got the ball to bounce and swing.

He counted for two big Punjab wickets in the form of Aaron Finch and Yuvraj Singh. Liam Plunkett, on the other hand, was making his first ever IPL appearance and straightaway was amongst the wickets.

He struck in his first over to dismiss KL Rahul, struck in his second to dismiss Mayank Agarwal and again in his third to dismiss Karun Nair to stem the flow of runs for the visitors.

He ended up with impressive figures of three for 17 in four overs which helped Delhi restrict Punjab to a below-par score of 143.

#2 Gambhir persisting with his pacers paid rich dividends

Gambhir used his pace bowler to great effect

The wicket was hard and had good bounce which tempted Captain Gambhir to hold back his spinners and give his pacers an extended spell.

It paid rich dividends as their pace quartet comprising of Avesh Khan (two for 36 off four), Liam Plunkett (three for 17 off four), Trent Boult (two for 21 off three) and Dan Christian (one for 17 off three) all chipped in with wickets to restrict a batting heavy Punjab outfit to just 143 on a decent batting wicket.

#3 Giving young Ankit Rajpoot four straight overs at the start

Rajpoot delivered a brilliant spell for KXIP

With Mohit Sharma not in the team, the onus was on young Ankit Rajpoot to give Punjab a good start with the new ball and boy he did exactly that.

First, he castled Prithvi Shaw with an absolute peach of a delivery who was looking to take the game away from the away team.

Second, he got the better of the dangerous Glenn Maxwell with a good delivery. Ashwin gave the youngster four overs on the bounce who ended with economical figures of two for 23 in four overs.

#4 Giving Barinder Sran the penultimate over

Sran

gave away just four runs in the penultimate over

Delhi required 21 runs off the final two overs and Ashwin tossed the ball to Barinder Sran who was rather expensive on the night.

It was a big risk, knowing that Sran was having an off day but the lanky left-arm pacer held his nerve and gave away just four runs and also picked up the wicket of Plunkett.

It proved to be crucial in the end as Punjab eked out a narrow four-run win.

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