IPL 2018, DD vs RR: Four reasons why Rajasthan Royals lost to Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils hosted Rajasthan Royals in a crucial game at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Both teams were languishing in the bottom half of the points table and needed a win to rejuvenate their IPL campaign.

Rajasthan won the toss and opted to field first. It didn't start well for both teams as the rain gods opened up just before the commencement of the game. Ninety minutes later, the match began and the contest was reduced to 18 overs per side.

The Royals got off to the perfect start as Colin Munro was snapped up by Kulkarni in just the fourth ball.

Young Prithvi Shaw and Captain Shreyas Iyer came together and blasted the Royals’ bowlers to all corners of the Kotla before the former was sent packing by Gopal. The wicket of Shaw did not derail the Delhi team as Pant came out with a positive mindset and started pummeling the bowlers.

The rains came back again and halted the Daredevils’ innings. Delhi’s innings finished abruptly on 196 for 6 in 17.1 overs as Rajasthan were set a revised target of 151 in 12 overs.

Chasing 151, Rahane sent Buttler to open the innings with D’Arcy Short. The move to open with Buttler proved to be a masterstroke as the Lancashire lad hammered an 18-ball fifty to keep the Royals in the hunt.

Once Butter was undone by a Mishra googly, the run rate crept up and the Royals lost a flurry of wickets. Some late hitting by Short and Gowtham bought Rajasthan closer to the target but Delhi held their nerve and pulled off a spectacular four-run win.

Let's take a look at the reasons behind Rajasthan's loss.

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#1 Lack of picking up early wickets

Iyer and Shaw consolidated the Delhi innings after the fall of Munro's wicket

Rajasthan had won the toss and elected to bowl first. They knew early wickets would be key and they did get one in the form of Munro who was dismissed for a golden duck by Kulkarni.

They needed more wickets at the top but Shaw and Iyer ensured that it did not happen as they tore into the Rajasthan bowling and made brilliant use of the shortened powerplay despite the early loss of Munro.

#2 Expensive middle overs

Royals' bowling in the middle overs were not good on the day

Delhi Daredevils got off to a pacy start courtesy, Shaw and Iyer. Rajasthan looked down and out and needed to pull things back in the middle overs.

They threw everything at the Delhi batsmen but all in vain as both the young Indian players continued to find the gaps and the big hits kept coming in.

The Rajasthan bowlers had no answer as the middle overs went for plenty. Delhi took a firm hold of the game with some aggressive and positive batting.

#3 Special innings from the Indian youngsters

Pant was at his destructive best tonight

It was a hard day at the office for the visiting team Rajasthan as their bowlers had no clue to the might of Delhi's young Indian batsmen.

Three young Indian batsmen in the form of Shaw, Iyer and Pant tore into the Rajasthan bowling.

While Shaw’s brilliant 47 off 25 balls at the top gave Delhi a sensational start, Iyer's 50 off 35 balls and Pant's 69 off just 29 balls laid the platform for a perfect finish.

Rajasthan never really recovered from the three special knocks by the young Indian batsmen as they slumped to a narrow four-run win.

#4 Mishra's economical two-over spell

Mishra put the brakes on Royals' innings

Rajasthan was given a revised target of 151 in 12 overs and got off to the perfect start thanks to Buttler.

They were halfway there as the Delhi bowlers were been taken to the cleaners. Iyer introduced his premier spinner Amit Mishra, who give away only eight runs despite being hit for a six in the first ball.

He came back for another and dismissed the dangerous Buttler for a sensational 67 off just 26 deliveries.

It was a much-needed breakthrough for the Daredevils as Mishra ended with economical figures of 1 for 12 in two overs which proved crucial as the home side eked out a narrow four-run win.