DC VS GT MATCH 40

Right then, that is it from Match 40 where the home side Delhi defeated Gujarat in a thriller of a game. Delhi creeps up to the sixth position with this win and the points table is tightly stacked in the middle now with three teams at 8 points. And for Gujarat, things have gotten a bit more challenging with this itching defeat. But the action in the Indian T20 League 2024 continues as next up is the highly anticipated clash on the cards. It will be the reverse fixture where Hyderabad takes on Bengaluru at the iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium of Hyderabad. That game will begin on Thursday, 25th April at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But as you know, you can join us a lot sooner for the pre-match build-up. Till then, take care, and goodbye!

Rishabh Pant, the captain of Delhi is the Player of the Match for his blistering and decisive knock along with a couple of fine catches. Pant starts by saying that Nortje was having a bit of a tough time and T20 can be a funny game as the ball was coming on nicely after the 14-15th over and when someone is bowling well, he should be given a chance and hence Rasikh Dar was given the 19th over. He also adds that it doesn't always come on but thankfully, it did for them. Mentions that at 43/3, the conversation with Axar Patel was to keep scoring 8-9 runs per over and the opposition had class spinners and waited for the opportunity to put them away. On his fitness, he says that every day it feels better and better and after such a big lay off, he is happy to get back in shape. Ends by saying that once he hits one six in a game, it charges him up and he is just trying to do the best from his side.

Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony...

Kuldeep Yadav is down for a flash interview. He says that they are happy to get those two crucial points. Says that it was an amazing game of cricket and in the end, they held their nerves strongly to get over the line. Adds they went with a plan and executed well in the mid-overs. States that the ball didn't turn a lot but in the end, they had enough on the board. Says that he didn't try to do anything extra and just focused on his lines and lengths and saw what the batters were trying to do.

Shubman Gill, the captain of Gujarat says that they played some great cricket and is very proud of the way the boys played and is just a bit disappointed to have not gotten over the line. Adds that when you are chasing over 220 runs, you shouldn't think much and just have to go for the big shots. Mentions that the Impact Player rule has a role to play in the big scores in recent times as the teams can go big in the middle overs even after losing wickets. Adds that they looked to restrict the opposition to somewhere around 200 but gave away a few runs and feels that given the dimensions of the ground, 224 was chasable. Ends by saying that execution is very crucial when there is a set batter in the death overs and when the wicket is as good as it was here, it is a difficult game for the bowlers.

Earlier in the game, Delhi put up a formidable total of 224 runs on the board. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Prithvi Shaw laid a solid foundation for the home team, providing stability at the crease. However, their partnership was cut short when both batters were dismissed in the same over, momentarily slowing down the run rate. Nevertheless, Delhi's fortunes turned around with the arrival of Axar Patel, who was promoted to number 3, and Rishabh Pant. The duo orchestrated a remarkable recovery, forging a resilient partnership of 113 runs. While Axar reached his fifty, Pant remained unbeaten on 88, plundering 31 runs off the last over and ensuring Delhi posted a daunting total on the scoreboard. Coming to chase, Gujarat despite losing Gill early, kept up with the required rate and after a sensational tug-of-war of a game that went down to the wire, Delhi emerged as the better side of the two.

Delhi, following a strong batting finish, sought to replicate the same while defending. While they managed to make an early breakthrough with Anrich Nortje dismissing Shubman Gill, Delhi missed further opportunities to capitalize during the Powerplay. Axar Patel's costly drop of a straightforward catch proved to be a significant setback for Delhi. However, Axar Patel redeemed himself later in the game by taking three crucial catches and a wicket, contributing to Delhi's fightback. The spinners then took charge, effectively stemming the flow of runs and exerting pressure. Rasikh Dar and Kuldeep Yadav, with a couple of wickets each, played pivotal roles in turning the game around dramatically in Delhi's favor. However, the game witnessed another dramatic turn when Gujarat managed to counterattack effectively for a couple of overs before Mukesh Kumar dismissed the dangerous-looking Miller who dented them badly. The game went down to the wire where Delhi somehow managed to defend 18 off the final over and registered their fourth win of this season.

WHAT A CRACKER OF A CRICKET GAME WE HAVE WITNESSED HERE! Delhi emerge as the victors eventually but surely, their breaths were taken aback in the backend. The crowd has got every penny's worth it as they see their home side winning off the last-ball thriller. In the pursuit to chase 225, Gujarat faced an early setback as they lost the wicket of their captain, Shubman Gill, in just the second over. However, Wriddhiman Saha and Sai Sudharsan took charge, stabilizing the innings with a steady partnership. Sudharsan, benefiting from a stroke of luck after surviving an early dropped catch, capitalized on the opportunity, accelerating the scoring rate to register a brisk half-century. Yet, his departure at a crucial juncture led to a sudden collapse for Gujarat, as they lost Saha, Omarzai, and Shahrukh in quick succession during the mid-overs. With the required run rate escalating beyond reach, pressure mounted on the batting side. Nevertheless, David Miller emerged as a beacon of hope for Gujarat, showcasing his aggressive batting prowess in the 17th over, where he relentlessly fetched boundaries and injected vitality back into Gujarat's innings. Miller's departure at the very wrong time costed Gujarat dearly and despite Rashid's valiant efforts in the final over, Gujarat fell short by just four runs.

So close yet so far for Rashid Khan and Gujarat here! Mukesh Kumar shows some bravery and goes for the yorker yet again, bowling it around off and too full again. Rashid has to fetch it a bit and ends up getting it off the toe end of the bat. The ball flies down to wide long on and Tristan Stubbs collects it on the bounce as the batters don't even bother to run. Delhi win by 4 runs!

SIX! Oh, hello! There's the first one! Full and wide, just a bit too full though and Rashid Khan manages to get under it. Rashid powers it brilliantly over long off and keeps the game alive with a vital maximum. Are we in for a Super Over here? Surely not, right? 5 needed off the final ball.

No run taken, a golden dot ball and Rashid Khan now needs to hit two back-to-back maximums to seal the win. Goes full and straight and gets it full enough, Rashif heaves it away flat and hard towards deep mid-wicket and doesn't take the single.

That should have been put away and Mukesh Kumar will feel he has got away with that. Goes for the wide yorker but serves a full toss instead and Rashid Khan misses the swipe across the line. Rishabh Pant gets a bad bounce but the fielder at short third is alert to save the boundary. Rashid reviews it for a no ball but it is well below the waist.

FOUR! Rashid Khan is making Delhi pay for that dropped catch. Slower one, bowled a bit short and outside off, Rashid Khan waits well and slashes it high over cover-point for another boundary. 11 needed off 4 balls.

FOUR! Rashid Khan with a classic shot! Full and outside off, Rashid stays deep and shuffles across before whipping it helicopter-like towards cow corner for a boundary.

Mohit Sharma is the new man in. And it will be Mukesh Kumar to bowl the final over. Will he be able to defend 18? Let's find out...

OUT! TIMBER! Look what it means to the young man Rasikh Dar but Sai Kishore has done his job he will feel. Finally, Rasikh goes pace on and nails the quick yorker angling it into the stumps. Sai Kishore is beaten for pace as he looks to flick it away and the off stump gets knocked out of the ground. 19 needed off the final over.

SIX! Uh, oh! Rasikh Dar and Delhi are letting it slip here. Another slower one, pitched up this time and right in the slot around off, Sai Kishore waits well and smacks it over long on for another biggie.

SIX! Wow, what a hit from Sai Kishore! Another back-of-the-hand slower one, on a good length and around off. Kishore gets across a bit and lifts it high and over wide long on for a maximum.