The games of the Indian Premier League IPL are played at different cities in India and Cricket lovers throng the venues to cheer their teams. This match between Mumbai Indians MI and Delhi Capitals DC was held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and it was a Sunday evening. Fans had turned up in large numbers expecting the home team to keep up its winning streak. However, that did not happen and the Rohit Sharma-led MI faced defeat at the hands of DC.
Indian Express reports Mumbai Indians finished fifth in the previous season and Delhi Capitals (previously known as Delhi Daredevils) used to be an also-ran.
They lost to KKR in 2017. This time around, they went in for a name change and got instant rewards when they beat MI on their home ground. Rishabh Pant, wicketkeeper-come-batsman sculpted the win. He is a hopeful for the ICC World Cup Indian squad.
Delhi gets better of Mumbai again. #MIvDC #IPL https://t.co/VS7GPr8vBk
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 25, 2019
Batting display of Rishabh Pant won the day
Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bowl first. Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant opened the innings for Delhi Capitals and with the young Rishabh on fire, the MI bowlers appeared to be clueless. He smashed an unbeaten 78 off just 27 balls in the last five overs and his team DC put on 99 runs in that time.
It was his method of announcing his arrival in the international arena. The opposition bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah had no answer to his shots. Delhi Capitals finally posted a score of 213/6 in their 20 overs.
Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals : Delhi Capitals makes 213 runs https://t.co/yWtEfOBglz
— makapple (@makapplecom) March 24, 2019
Rishabh Pant played brilliant smashing 78* runs on just 27 balls
with 7 sixes and 7 fours.#MIvDC #IPL2019 #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/BoO1xoXmB0
In reply, Mumbai Indians began their game with Quinton de Kock and captain Rohit Sharma.
Indian Express adds that when wickets began falling at regular intervals, the chase became difficult. Yuvraj Singh tried to hold the fort with Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya but the end was inevitable and MI lost by 37 runs.
Poor show by three-time champions
According to Sports NDTV, the loss of three-time champions Mumbai Indians to Delhi Capitals by 37 runs was a setback to MI’s plans of a fourth win.
The visiting side posted a 200-plus score with Rishabh Pant playing an unforgettable knock of 78 not out in 27 balls at a strike rate of 288.89 that helped Delhi Capitals post 213/6 on the scoreboard.
The home side ended up on the losing side. Rohit Sharma, captain of MI, was playing in his 300th Twenty20 match and went out cheaply, dismissed by Ishant Sharma. Yuvraj Singh made his debut for Mumbai Indians, scored 53 runs from 35 balls (five fours, three sixes), and with Kieron Pollard put on 50 runs for the fourth wicket but it was not enough. MI won the title in 2017 and this loss will compel MI to modify its game plans and work on how best to counter the attacks of big hitters.