In Match 9 of the IPL 2024, Rajasthan Royals defeated Delhi Capitals by a margin of 12 runs.
The captain of the Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant, made history in Match 9 of the IPL 2024 by being the first player from the Delhi-based team to feature in 100 IPL matches. By coincidence, he asked the home team to bat first, which helped him win the toss as well. With Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar striking the new ball with fire, hitting the proper lengths and getting the ball to swing in the air, the supposedly formidable combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler did not fare well for the Rajasthan Royals. After Jaiswal and captain Sanju Samson returned to the hut, RR could only muster 31/2 in the opening six.
Following Buttler’s dismissal, Ravichandran Ashwin emerged. You read correctly. When the seasoned player entered the game at first drop against the same opponents, it seemed like 2022 all over again. He led the Royals in scoring with 50 runs (38). This time, the offie displayed an entirely different demeanor throughout his 19-ball stay at the bat. He blasted three sixes in his 29-run knock, which included two vicious pulls against the South African Anriche Nortje, who was regularly hitting the 140 kph level.
Riyan Parag was unquestionably the highlight of the first innings, although Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer also had brief but impactful cameos. In the course of taking Nortje for a 25-run last over and reaching his highest IPL score, the 22-year-old Guwahati native bludgeoned his way to a stunning innings off 84 off 45, which included 7 fours and 6 sixes. This led RR to a total of 185/5. With Mukesh, Nortje, and Kuldeep Yadav going the distance, all five bowlers claimed a wicket each.
The visitors’ pursuit commenced at a rapid pace, as DC scored 29 points in the first three games without any losses. Nandre Burger produced a double-wicket over in the fourth over, which brought the match to a temporary halt. Pant was supposed to score at run-a-ball, but Yuzvendra Chahal’s outstanding figures of 2/19 in 3 overs caught him off guard. It was not to be Pant’s spectacular day. Instead, he played a similar style of knock to that of his opposing captain.
After scoring 44 off 23 in a Tim David-like innings against SRH the day before, Tristan Stubbs’s effort proved futile when left-hander Abishek Porel, who had trouble with Harshal Patel in DC’s opening game, was removed for a poor 9 (10).
With Avesh Khan at the wicket, Stubbs and Axar Patel at the crease, and 17 needed off the last over, this match looked to be another thrilling last-ball contest. It wasn’t meant to be, though, as Avesh played brilliant yorkers and only gave up four runs to help the home team win their second straight game. Parag also earned the Player of the Match award for his incredible hitting in the first half of the game.
