IPL 2018, KXIP vs DD: 5 reasons why Delhi Daredevils lost

The 2nd match of IPL 2018 was a clash between the perennial underdogs of the IPL. Gautam Gambhir-led Delhi Daredevils took on the Ravi Ashwin-led Kings XI Punjab at the PCA stadium, Mohali.

Ashwin won the toss and put the Daredevils into bat. The Delhi side got off to a slow start and never really got going in the middle overs either. Some lusty hitting by Rishabh Pant and Chris Morris ensured that they posted a competitive total. However, it was never going to be enough as KL Rahul smashed the fastest fifty in the history of the IPL.

The Kings cruised home with the help of some intelligent batting by Karun Nair. Let us now have a look at 5 reasons why the Delhi Daredevils lost the contest.

#5. No support for Gautam Gambhir

This game was a sort of homecoming for Gambhir and he didn’t disappoint his fans. While the other batsmen struggled to score runs during the powerplay, he played some delightful strokes.

He took a special liking to Axar Patel, whom he smashed for 3 fours and a six. However, Gautam’s role is more of a sheet anchor during the middle overs and he needs someone to strike those meaty blows from the other end. Unfortunately, that support never came. Shreyas Iyer and Vijay Shankar struggled with their timing while Rishabh Pant did hit some big shots off Tye, but departed soon thereafter.

#4. Middle overs struggle

Delhi got off to a solid start, losing just one wicket in the powerplay overs. The stage was set for fireworks in the middle overs but Delhi failed to get going.

Vijay Shankar was not able to clear the fence and holed out to deep midwicket. Gauti, who had been terrific at the start, got just one boundary from the 7th to the 15th over. Some tight bowling from Punjab’s bowlers strangled the batsmen. This was a major reason why Delhi could only post a par score of 166.

#3. The deadly Mujeeb-Ashwin duo

The Mohali pitch offered some assistance to the spinners and both Mujeeb and Ashwin made full use of it. The duo conceded just 51 runs off their combined 8 overs and picked up 3 crucial wickets.

Mujeeb was the pick of the bowlers. The 17-year-old from Afghanistan, playing only his first match, showed nerves of steel and bowled some tight overs in the powerplay, picking the big wicket of Colin Munro in the process.

He returned in the middle overs to take the prized scalp of Rishabh Pant who was threatening to take the game away from Punjab. The captain Ashwin, on the other hand, mixed his bowling up really well and kept a tight leash on the batsmen.

#2 Big hitters sent too late

With Delhi struggling to score runs in the middle overs, the team management committed a blunder of sorts. Both Morris and Christian were sent in too late to influence the outcome of the match.

Morris especially must be very disappointed as he was sent in at no. 7, even below the likes of Rahul Tewatia and Vijay Shankar in the batting order. He has shown in the past that he can strike it big when needed. Although he tried his best at the fag end of Delhi’s innings, making 27 quickfire runs, it was never going to be enough.

#1. KL Rahul’s blistering start

Punjab's openers have struggled in the past few seasons in the IPL. Hence, they went hammer and tongs to buy KL Rahul at the auctions and the stylish Indian batsman did not disappoint.

He got stuck into Delhi’s attack from the word go. Batting at his favourite opening spot, he made his intentions pretty clear by amassing 16 runs off the first over bowled by Trent Boult. Rahul did not even spare Amit Mishra, who has been one of the best bowlers in the IPL in the past.

Mishra was smashed for 24 runs off his first over. He went on to register the fastest fifty in the history of the IPL, off just 14 balls. His scorecard read 0,2,0,6,4,4,6,4,1,4,6,6,4,4,4.