At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, under a sky swollen with unspent fury, Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad locked horns in a clash meant to define destinies. But instead of thunderous boundaries and roaring crowds echoing through the evening, the final say belonged to the unrelenting rain, which robbed the spectacle of its climax. Yet, in the 20 overs of cricket that did happen, Pat Cummins stormed in like a tempest of his own, tearing through Delhi’s top order with surgical precision.
The Delhi Collapse – Cummins’ Opening Symphony
Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that soon transformed into a masterstroke. The Australian warhorse, Pat Cummins, didn’t walk into this match; he marched with menace. In his very first over, Karun Nair flashed and nicked to Ishan Kishan for a golden duck. It was the beginning of a masterclass in seam bowling.
Next to fall was Faf du Plessis, whose bat seemed carved of ice, refusing to fire. Eight balls, three runs, and a rising delivery later, another catch to the keeper, another feather in Cummins’ cap. When Abishek Porel followed suit, a brilliant running catch by Ishan Kishan, the scoreboard read 15/3, and the air in the DC dugout thickened with panic.
Stubbs and Sharma: Rising from the Rubble
Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma rose from the ruins, two unlikely architects tasked with resurrecting a faltering blueprint. Stubbs was methodical, a surgeon rather than a swordsman. His 41* off 36 might not make headlines, but it was a spine around which hope curled itself.
Ashutosh Sharma, brought in as an impact substitute, lit the dusk with defiance. His bat swung like a pendulum in rebellion, slicing through the bowlers with two fours and three sixes. His 41 off 26 was the tonic Delhi needed, lifting them from 62/6 to a somewhat respectable 133/7.
Vipraj Nigam chipped in with 18 before being run out, a casualty of confusion and pressure, while Mitchell Starc managed a single, more symbolic than substantial.
The Hyderabad Bowlers – A Symphonic Unit
Cummins led the attack with 4 overs, 3 wickets, and just 19 runs, a performance painted with finesse and fury. He bowled like a man with unfinished business, delivering yorkers as if dropping pins on a battlefield.
Unadkat, the silent executor, gave nothing away, 4 overs for 13 runs with a wicket. Malinga’s slingy menace accounted for Ashutosh Sharma just when he threatened to go berserk. Harshal Patel’s variations found some reward, though he was the most expensive of the lot, conceding 36 in 4 overs.
A Match Abandoned, But Not Forgotten
Just as the contest looked set for a chase that could have reshaped playoff equations, the heavens opened. The rain, indifferent to drama and disregardful of destiny, poured its verdict. The field was soaked, the outfield unplayable, and with it, SRH’s playoff hopes washed away.
Sunrisers and Capitals walked away with a point each, a teardrop for Hyderabad, who needed two to stay alive in the race.
Key Moments
- Cummins’ Wrecking Spell: 3 wickets in the powerplay, including all top three.
- Stubbs-Sharma Rescue Act: 50-run partnership off 35 balls brought DC past 130.
- Ashutosh’s Cameo: Brought Delhi alive with flair, counterattacking aggression.
- Rain’s Interruption: The ultimate spoiler, ending the contest prematurely.
Could Delhi Capitals have recovered if the rain hadn’t intervened, or were they destined for collapse?
