IPL 2019: Delhi Capitals’ Journey to Playoffs After 7 Years
With nine wins in 14 games, the Delhi Capitals made it to the play-offs sitting third on the points table.
The Indian Premier League and Delhi haven’t had an easy relationship. The franchise has had more downs than ups. In 11 seasons being the ‘Daredevils’ of IPL, Delhi have managed to make it to the final-four only thrice. This season, they are the only participating franchise to have never featured in an IPL final.
But 2019, has been a different year. The transition from Daredevils to Capitals has not only been about the name. From the arrival of a new management team of coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Mohammad Kaif and mentor Sourav Ganguly to a young and vibrant squad, the Delhi Capitals seem to have ticked all the boxes.
Though it hasn’t been smooth, Delhi Capitals’ journey to playoffs has surely been one to remember. Here is how DC made their way to the IPL 2019 play-offs.
Match 1: vs Mumbai Indians (24 March)
A rebranded Delhi team showed off its effort in every department of the game in their opening game of the season. They rode on Rishabh Pant's blistering knock to post a massive total of 213 runs before their bowlers also rose to the occasion to bowl out the three-time champions, Mumbai Indians for 176 in 19.2 overs.
Kagiso Rabada and Ishant Sharma picked up two wickets each while Rahul Tewatia, Paul and Axar bagged one wicket apiece.
- Man of the match: Rishabh Pant
Final result: DC beat MI by 37 runs
Match 2: vs Chennai Super Kings (26 March)
After Dwayne Bravo (3/33) starred with the ball, it was a combined effort by the CSK top order that helped them chase down the target of 148 with two balls to spare against Delhi Capitals at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
DC opener Shikhar Dhawan struggled his way to a 47-ball 51 as the Delhi Capitals managed to score just 29 runs in the last five overs to finish on 147/6 in their 20 overs.
- Man of the match: Shane Watson
Final result: CSK beat DC by six wickets.
Match 3: vs Kolkata Knight Riders (30 March)
It was a perfect advertisement for T20 cricket as Delhi Capitals (DC) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by three runs in the Super Over after the match ended in a tie at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
Batting first in the Super Over, Delhi managed just 10/1 with Prasidh Krishna bowling a tight line. In reply, KKR lost Andre Russell for just 4 as Kagiso Rabada bowled a perfect yorker. He followed it up with a few perfect deliveries to defend the total and win the game for Delhi.
- Man of the match: Prithvi Shaw
Final result: DC beat KKR in Super Over.
Match 4: vs Kings XI Punjab (1 April)
Chasing a modest 167 for victory, Delhi were in the hunt for most parts of the match.
But Ashwin first removed Shikhar Dhawan (30) just before the halfway stage, with Shami breaking a potential match-winning partnership between Rishabh Pant (39) and Colin Ingram (38) to keep the home team in the hunt.
And then Sam Curran bowled a dream second spell to snare four wickets as Kings XI Punjab beat Delhi Capitals in Mohali.
- Man of the match: Sam Curran
Final result: KXIP beat DC by 14 runs.
Match 5: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (4 April)
Opening pair of Bairstow and David Warner set the platform for Sunrisers as they handed Delhi their third defeat of the season. Mohammad Nabi (2/21) and Rashid Khan (1/18) made full use of the conditions as the DC batsmen failed to read the two Afghanistan spinners and were restricted for 129/8 in 20 overs. Sunrisers chased down the target with nine balls remaining.
- Man of the match: Jonny Bairstow
Final result: SRH beat DC by five wickets.
Match 6: vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (7 April)
RCB batsmen found the going tough after being invited to bat first, managing to put up only 149/8 in 20 overs. Kagiso Rabada (4/21) accounted for four RCB batsmen to lead Delhi's bowling attack, which also comprised Chris Morris (2/28), Axar Patel (1/22) and Sandeep Lamichhane (1/46).
Shreyas Iyer then played a captain's knock, making a 50-ball 67 to guide Delhi Capitals to a comfortable win, bringing their IPL campaign back on track.
- Man of the match: Kagiso Rabada
Final result: DC beat RCB by four wickets
Match 7: vs Kolkata Knight Riders (12 April)
After losing in Super Over in their previous clash, KKR posted a competitive 178/7 riding on Shubman Gill (65; 39 balls, 4x7, 6x2) and Andre Russell's (45; 21 balls, 4x3, 6x4) knocks on a wicket which had a greenish tinge on it.
In reply, Delhi chased down the total with seven balls remaining, thanks to two left handers, Shikhar Dhawan (97*) and Rishabh Pant (46) guiding them to their fourth win of the season.
- Man of the match: Shikhar Dhawan
Final result: DC beat KKR by seven wickets.
Match 8: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (14 April)
Speedster Kagiso Rabada led a clinical bowling attack as Delhi Capitals ripped through the SRH batting line-up. Batting first, Delhi Capitals posted 155 for 7, banking on the innings of skipper Shreyas Iyer (45) and Colin Munro (40). In reply Sunrisers were 101 for 3 in 15.2 overs when Ricky Bhui fell to Keemo Paul, following which, seven wickets were lost with the addition of just 15 runs.
While Rabada took four wickets, Keemo Paul and Chris Morris picked up three wickets for the away team.
- Man of the match: Keemo Paul
Final result: DC beat SRH by 39 runs
Match 9: vs Mumbai Indians (18 April)
After a rescue-act by the Pandya brothers with the bat, young leggie Rahul Chahar caught the Delhi batsmen off-guard to set up a comprehensive victory for Mumbai Indians over Delhi Capitals.
Chasing 169 was going to be tough on a slow and low Feroz Shah Kotla wicket, and it turned out to be exactly that as Delhi squandered a solid platform of 48 for no loss in six overs provided by the openers Dhawan and Shaw, to eventually lose the game by a big margin.
- Man of the match: Hardik Pandya
Final result: MI beat DC by 40 runs
Match 10: vs Kings XI Punjab (20 April)
Batting first Kings Xi Punjab posted 163/7 in 20 overs as Chris Gayle top-scored with 69 off 37 balls, reaching the half-century in 25 balls and hitting six boundaries besides five towering sixes.
Chasing 164 for a win at their home ground Feroz Shah Kotla, captain Iyer (56 off 41 balls) and opener Shikhar Dhawan stitched a strong 92-run partnership after young Prithvi Shaw fell for 13 guiding Delhi to a win in the last over.
- Man of the match: Shreyas Iyer
Final result: DC beat KXIP by five wickets.
Match 11: vs Rajasthan Royals (22 April)
Blending panache with power, Ajinkya Rahane roared back to form with a scintillating century and propelled Rajasthan Royals to 191 for six. But it was all about to be forgotten.
Rishabh Pant slammed a 36-ball 78 striking six fours and four sixes during his 36-ball furious gallop to beat Rajasthan Royals by six wickets at the Sawai Man Singh stadium in Jaipur.
- Man of the match: Rishabh Pant
Final result: DC beat RR by six wickets
Match 12: vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (28 April)
Batting first, Delhi posted 187/5 in their 20 overs courtesy half-centuries by opener Shikhar Dhawan and captain Shreyas Iyer. The Delhi bowling attack, led by spinners Amit Mishra (2/29) and Axar Patel (1/26), produced another commendable performance after RCB made a promising start. DC ended RCB’s winning streak and also killed their chances to qualify for play-offs.
- Man of the match: Shikhar Dhawan
Final result: DC beat RCB by 16 runs
Match 13: vs Chennai Super Kings (1 May)
Skipper MS Dhoni's prowess in the slog overs was on display yet again while home spinners bamboozled the Delhi Capitals batsmen as Chennai Super Kings prevailed in the IPL battle for top spot.
Batting first, CSK posted 179/4 in 20 overs. In reply, Delhi were bundled for 99 in 16.2 overs with Imran Tahir taking four and Jadeja taking three wickets.
- Man of the match: MS Dhoni
Final result: CSK beat DC by 80 runs
Match 14: vs Rajasthan Royals (4 May)
In the final league game, Delhi Capitals made sure they finish the season off in style. They restricted Rajasthan to 115/9 in 20 overs with Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra picking three wickets each, and Trent Boult grabbing two.
Rishabh Pant was the master of the chase again as he scored 53 off 38, despite of wickets falling on one end to win the game for Delhi with 23 balls remaining.
- Man of the match: Amit Mishra
Final result: DC beat RR by five wickets
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