Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals, IPL, 2024 Full score card

Result Share

Match 9, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, 28 Mar, 2024

Rajasthan Royals

RR

185/5

(20.0) ov

Delhi Capitals

DC

173/5

(20.0) ov

Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs

Player Of The Match

Riyan Parag,
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals
Summary
Scorecard
Commentary
News
Delhi Capitals
Rajasthan Royals

Delhi Capitals • 173/5 (20.0 overs)

D Warner 49 (34)

T Stubbs 44 (23)

Y Chahal 2/19 (3)

N Burger 2/29 (3)

Rajasthan Royals • 185/5 (20.0 overs)

R Parag 84 (45)

R Ashwin 29 (19)

A Patel 1/21 (4)

K Ahmed 1/24 (4)

Commentary

Right then, that's all from this entertaining game where the momentum swung back and forth, but in the end, it was Rajasthan who took home the two points. The action continues on Friday, the 29th of March, when Bengaluru will take on Kolkata. Both teams are coming off a win, and it promises to be a cracker of a game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can join us earlier for the build-up. Cheers!

Riyan Parag is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliance with the bat. He starts by saying that the emotions have settled now and it was special to play in front of his mother who was present in the stands. Adds that she has seen the struggles and it feels special. Shares that it has a lot to do with the domestic season where he scored a lot of runs. Feels that someone in the top four has to bat deep. Ends by saying that he was in bed for the last three days and he is happy with himself of what he was able to do in this game.

Sanju Samson, the Rajasthan skipper, says that it was a roller coaster of a game. Adds that they asked Rovman Powell to get ready for batting but the players in the middle did a fine job and took us to an excellent score. Shares that the IPL is changing and they need to be flexible. Mentions that 15 players need to be ready all the time now and they were always discussing in the middle of the batting innings on the impact player. Adds that the extra bowler in the lineup helped them a lot. States that each day is different for an individual player. Says that Avesh Khan and Sandeep Sharma looked the best in the park and he backed his instinct. Ends by saying that Riyan Parag was always been in the discussion in the past few years and he has started to show his talent now. Further adds that he has huge potential and can serve their side as well as the Indian team in the long run.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

The star of the final over, Avesh Khan is in for a chat. He shares that his plan was clear to bowl the wide yorkers because one side of the boundary was longer. Adds that he was giving himself time before delivering each ball. Mentions that his focus has always been on execution and feels that going for boundaries off yorkers doesn't worry him because the batters have come to hit the ball and he always backs his yorkers. Shares that he is enjoying his time with Rajasthan and they have great experience with Trent Boult, Nandre Burger and Sandeep Sharma in the ranks. Further adds that the skipper, Sanju Samson backs him always in executing his plans. States that he always tries to improve and invent new deliveries in this format. Ends by saying that he does not focus on selection and focuses on his processes.

The captain of Delhi, Rishabh Pant says that he is disappointed but shares that the team needs to learn from this. Adds that the bowlers did a fine job till the 16th over but it did not go according to their plan in the death. Mentions that they got a good platform from Mitchell Marsh and David Warner but the middle order did not carry on from there and they fell short at the end. Shares that there was always an option to use Anrich Nortje against Riyan Parag but wanted to save him for the death overs. Ends by sharing that Nortje is a class bowler and the team will bounce back from here.

Earlier in the game, after Rishabh Pant called it right and opted to bowl first, Rajasthan's batting effort was a tale of two halves. Having lost their top three of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson inside the first eight overs, Rajasthan had their backs against the wall. Sent in at number 5, Ravichandran Ashwin started off slowly before getting three sixes away to inject some impetus into the Rajasthan innings. Riyan Parag took his time initially and batted intending to take the inning deep. He pressed on the accelerator just at the right time and found allies in Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer. Parag with his best Indian T20 League score of 84 helped Rajasthan recover from 36/3 to get to 185. All five bowlers used by Rishabh Pant had a wicket to their name but Axar Patel was the most economical of the lot, going for just 21 runs from his four overs.

Having let Rajasthan off the hook in the second half of their bowling effort, Delhi had all to do in their chase of 186 runs. Mitchell Marsh made his intentions clear straightaway and raced off the blocks quickly. It was a short stay at the crease for him after which David Warner took the mantle and found boundaries at will. Playing in his 100th Indian T20 League game, Rishabh Pant was happy to knock it around with Warner ticking along nicely at the other end. When the two southpaws were out in the middle, Delhi looked in control. Warner fell one run short of his fifty before Pant perished in his quest to break free. Tristan Stubbs waged a lone fight and kept Delhi in the hunt right till the final over with his clean ball striking. However, 17 runs to get in the final over proved to be just too much for him and the way Avesh executed his yorkers made it even more difficult for Stubbs.

Take a bow, Avesh Khan! It was a yorker masterclass in the final over from Avesh, which has helped Rajasthan make it two wins out of two. Having managed to win only once at Jaipur last season, Rajasthan are starting to build a fortress in the Pink City and the trend of home team winning their games continues in the 2024 Indian T20 League. At the start, Trent Boult bowled a tidy first over, giving just 2 runs away. However, the Impact Player, Nandre Burger could not quite back it up from the other end. The move to hand Burger another over in the Powerplay paid rich dividends for Rajasthan as he went bang, bang to pull it back a bit. It was a quiet phase after the Powerplay for Rajasthan as David Warner took them on and it left Sanju Samson scratching his head for a breakthrough. Avesh Khan put his hand up to dismiss Warner before Chahal got into the act to see the back of the Delhi skipper. Sandeep Sharma quietly went about his business and deprived the Delhi batters of boundaries. Tristan Stubbs gave them a real score and almost made them pay for dropping him when he was on 14. With 17 runs needed off the final over, Avesh Khan answered the skipper's call and nailed his yorkers to close out the game for his side.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 20 overs : 173/5

A Patel15 (13)

T Stubbs44 (23)

A Khan4-0-29-1

19.61

THAT WILL BE IT! Avesh Khan has won this for Rajasthan! Bowls a pin point yorker at the stumps. Axar Patel works it through mid-wicket for a single. Delhi finish on 173 for 5 and fall short by 12 runs in the end. A terrific win for the home side who make it two in two to start their season.

19.50

Low full toss slanting across the batter. Axar Patel swings hard and misses.

19.41

Full-length delivery, just outside off. Stubbs slogs across the line and gets an inside edge to backward square leg for a run.

19.31

Pitched full, outside off. Axar Patel drills it to long off and can only take a single.

19.20

A terrific wide yorker, angling across, from Avesh Khan. Axar Patel plays and misses it.

19.11

Bowls a brilliant yorker, just outside off. Stubbs can only manage to bunt this into the off-side.

Avesh Khan has been given the task of bowling the final over. Delhi require 17 runs and it will be Tristan Stubbs on strike.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 19 overs : 169/5

A Patel13 (9)

T Stubbs42 (21)

S Sharma4-0-36-0

18.62

Wide yorker from Sandeep Sharma. Axar Patel squeezes it to the third man region and takes a brace. Delhi needs 17 off the final over. This game has gone down to the wire.

18.51

Low full toss again, outside off. Stubbs gets low and manages to get an inside edge toward short fine leg for a single.

18.41

Low full toss, tailing into the middle. Axar Patel shuffles and lifts it to long-on for just a run.

18.31

Full-length delivery in the blockhole. Stubbs drills it to long off for one.

18.24

FOUR! DISPATCHED! Slower length ball outside off. Stubbs thrashes it hard through the extra cover region and collects a boundary. This is powerful batting by the young Proteas batter.

18.16

SIX! Just over the ropes! Shorter and slower outside off. Stubbs fetches it and hacks it over the wide long-on fence for a 75-meter hit.

It will be Sandeep Sharma (3-0-21-0) to bowl the penultimate over with Delhi needing 32 runs off the last 12 balls.

Runs Scored 9 Runs

Score after 18 overs : 154/5

T Stubbs30 (17)

A Patel10 (7)

A Khan3-0-25-1

17.61

Full-length delivery, outside off. Stubbs has nailed the drive but finds Burger at the extra cover region. He makes a fine stop and keeps it to a single.

17.51

Low full toss, around off. Axar Patel drills it to long off for a single.

17.41

Wide yorker from Avesh Khan. Stubbs looks to play the reverse lap but can only manage a toe end that bunts into the off-side. Just a single.

17.31

Short of a good length, outside off. Axar Patel waits and slaps it to Burger at extra cover region. He goes for the quick single as the throw comes in but Patel was already in.

Is that out? The stumps have been broken at the bowling end but Axar Patel seems to have made his ground. And yes, the replays confirm the same.

17.31wd

WIDE! Lands it full and outside the tramline. Axar Patel lets it go and the umpire calls it a wide.

17.20

Another wide yorker from Avesh Khan, Axar Patel looks to squeeze it away but fails to connect.

Commentary

Welcome back. The players and umpires return to the park. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh will open the batting for Delhi. It will be Trent Boult with the ball for Rajasthan. Also, Rajasthan have brought in Nandre Burger as the impact-sub in place of Shimron Hetmyer. Here we go!

…THE RUN CHASE…

The Delhi batters have a huge task in their hand to chase this down and get their first win of the season. Can they do it? We shall find out soon. Join us in a bit for the second essay.

The man of the moment, Riyan Parag is up for a chat. He says that it is the fruit of a lot of practice and there has been a lot of work that has gone behind the scenes. States that he is happy with his performance and always tries to keep his ready on both sides of the week. Shares that the talk with Kumar Sangakkara and Sanju Samson at the strategic break was to take the innings deep. Mentions that he is a bit emotional right now and he is happy to reap the rewards of his hard work.

The Delhi bowlers were brilliant in the first half of the innings. Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and Anrich Nortje were excellent upfront but were taken to the cleaners at the backend. All the Delhi bowlers got a wicket each and did a decent job.

An excellent finish from Riyan Parag has powered the Rajasthan side to 185 for 5 in their 20 overs. The home side were struggling at 58 for 3 at the halfway mark and made a brilliant recovery from thereon to get a commanding score. Having put into bat first, Rajasthan were reeling at 36 for 3 in the eighth over when Riyan Parag and Ashwin came together and stitched a handy little partnership of 54 before Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer came in later in the innings, played handy cameos and supported Parag to take their side out of trouble. Riyan Parag played one of the best knocks of this Indian T20 League so far and made an unbeaten 84 off 45 to take this side out of a difficult position. The Rajasthan batters have done their job and the onus will be on the bowling to defend this total.

Runs Scored 25 Runs

Score after 20 overs : 185/5

R Parag84 (45)

S Hetmyer14 (7)

A Nortje4-0-48-1

19.61

25 runs off the final over! Full and sliding on the pads, Riyan Parag flicks it off his pads to fine leg and will have to be content with just a single. Riyan finishes unbeaten on 84 and Rajasthan end up with 185 on the board!

19.56

SIX! PICKED THE BONES OUT OF THAT! Easily the best shot of the night so far! Anrich Nortje goes into the wicket, on off, Riyan Parag waits back in his crease and nails the pull over deep square leg. Deposits it into the stands for six more runs.

19.44

FOUR! Intentional or not, the boundaries continue to flow! On a fullish length, outside off, Riyan Parag sets deep in his crease and looks to go big on the off side. Gets a thickish outside edge that flies to the left of short third for another boundary.

19.36

SIX! This has come right off the screws! Nortje errs in length and serves it right in the slot, on off, Riyan Parag holds his shape and clobbers it over long off for a maximum. Parag moves to 73 and this is now his highest Indian T20 League score.

19.24

FOUR! Two in two and this was hit with full control! Nortje goes on a back of a length, on off, Riyan Parag stands tall and pulls it to the left of deep mid-wicket for four more runs.

19.14

FOUR! Not where he intended but Riyan Parag and Rajasthan will take it! With an upright seam, at pace, full in length, on off, Riyan Parag looks to go past the bowler but gets an outside edge that goes past short third for a boundary.

Anrich Nortje (3-0-23-1) will bowl the final over of the innings.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 19 overs : 160/5

S Hetmyer14 (7)

R Parag59 (39)

M Kumar4-0-49-1

18.62

Continues to hone it on a fullish length, wide on off, Shimron Hetmyer walks across his stumps and slices it to wide of deep backward point for a couple of runs. There is a check for a short run but Hetmyer is fine on that count at the bowling end. 15 runs off the penultimate over. Can Rajasthan get to 180?

18.50

An optimistic shout for caught behind by Rishabh Pant but the umpire is unmoved. Pant takes the review but this looks more in hope than anything else. Lands it on a fullish length, wide on off, Shimron Hetmyer clears his front leg and tries to force it through the off side. There is a noise as the ball passes the bat but it is a flat line on UltraEdge. The on-field decision will stand.

18.44

FOUR! Picks the gap to perfection! Going across the left-hander, on a fullish length, near the tramline on off, Shimron Hetmyer takes a couple of steps in front and takes it on the full. Hits it along the ground to the left of deep cover for a boundary.

18.36

SIX! Shimron Hetmyer goes big! Mukesh Kumar goes searching for the yorker but misses his mark and ends up serving a low full toss, on middle, Shimron Hetmyer stays low to make the connection and thumps it over deep square leg for his first maximum.

18.21

Another searing yorker, angling in, at the toes, Riyan Parag jams it out to wide long and gets to the other end.

18.11

Serves it on a fullish length, at the stumps, Shimron Hetmyer digs it out to deep square leg for a run.

18.11wd

WIDE! Angles it across the batter but it goes beyond the wide guideline on off, Shimron Hetmyer lets it go for a wide.

Runs Scored 7 Runs

Score after 18 overs : 145/5

S Hetmyer1 (2)

R Parag58 (38)

A Nortje3-0-23-1

17.61b

Bye! Comes from around the wicket for the left-hander and digs it in short, at the right shoulder of the batter, Shimron Hetmyer gets inside the line of the ball to help it away fine on the leg side. The ball zips past him and Rishabh Pant fumbles, allowing the batters to cross for one. Rajasthan review for the wide not called but the replays show that Hetmyer was crouching as the ball went past him and the on-field decision will stand.

17.51

Goes into the wicket and it is near the tramline on off, Riyan Parag reaches out and slaps it on the bounce to deep extra cover for a single.

17.40

Nails the yorker, outside off, Riyan Parag tries to squeeze it out on the off side but misses.

17.31

Bowls it on a fullish length, on middle, Shimron Hetmyer clips it through mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a single.

Shimron Hetmyer comes to the crease at 7.

17.2W

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Anrich Nortje fights back! Goes fuller this time from over the wicket and it is outside off, Dhruv Jurel shapes up for the scoop again but gets a bit rushed in the shot and gets cramped for room as well. Manages to put bat to ball but ends up deflecting the ball back onto the off-stump off the inner half of the bat. End of a cameo by Jurel.

17.14

FOUR! Clever! This is on a back of a length, outside off, Dhruv Jurel premeditates and moves to the off side nice and early. Plays the scoop and gets it to the left of the keeper for a boundary.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 17 overs : 138/4

R Parag57 (36)

D Jurel16 (10)

K Yadav4-0-41-1

16.66

SIX! Too short and Riyan Parag climbs all over it! 15 runs off the over. Kuldeep misses his mark and bowls a half-tracker, slower through the air, on middle, Riyan Parag is quick to rock back and hammers the pull over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

16.51

It is short again, at 115 kph, on middle, Dhruv Jurel pulls it aerially but in front of deep square leg for one.

16.42

Drops it short and on off, Dhruv Jurel goes on the back foot and slaps it to the right of long on where David Warner dives to that side and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

Delhi Capitals
Rajasthan Royals
Batter R B 4s 6s SR
D Warner

c S Sharma b A Khan

49 34 5 3 144.11
M Marsh

b N Burger

23 12 5 0 191.66
R Bhui

c S Samson b N Burger

0 2 0 0 0
R Pant

c S Samson b Y Chahal

28 26 2 1 107.69
T Stubbs

not out

44 23 2 3 191.30

c J Buttler b Y Chahal

9 10 0 0 90
A Patel

not out

15 13 1 0 115.38
Extras

(b 0,lb 1,w 4,nb 0,Penalty 0)

5
Total 20.0 (RR: 8.65)
173/5

Did not bat: S Kumar, K Yadav, A Nortje, , M Kumar

Fall of wickets:

(M Marsh, 3.2 ov) (R Bhui, 3.4 ov) (D Warner, 11.2 ov) (R Pant, 13.1 ov) (A Porel, 15.3 ov)
Bowler O M R W ER
T Boult
3 0 29 0 9.66
3 0 29 2 9.66
R Ashwin
3 0 30 0 10.00
A Khan
4 0 29 1 7.25
Y Chahal
3 0 19 2 6.33
S Sharma
4 0 36 0 9.00
Batter R B 4s 6s SR
Y Jaiswal

b M Kumar

5 7 1 0 71.42
J Buttler

lbw b K Yadav

11 16 0 0 68.75
S Samson

c R Pant b K Ahmed

15 14 3 0 107.14
R Parag

not out

84 45 7 6 186.66
R Ashwin

c T Stubbs b A Patel

29 19 0 3 152.63
D Jurel

b A Nortje

20 12 3 0 166.66
14 7 1 1 200
Extras

(b 1,lb 1,w 5,nb 0,Penalty 0)

7
Total 20.0 (RR: 9.25)
185/5

Did not bat: T Boult, A Khan, S Sharma, Y Chahal,

Fall of wickets:

(Y Jaiswal, 1.5 ov) (S Samson, 5.2 ov) (J Buttler, 7.2 ov) (R Ashwin, 13.3 ov) (D Jurel, 17.2 ov)
Bowler O M R W ER
4 0 24 1 6.00
M Kumar
4 0 49 1 12.25
A Nortje
4 0 48 1 12.00
A Patel
4 0 21 1 5.25
K Yadav
4 0 41 1 10.25
Delhi Capitals
Rajasthan Royals

Commentary

Right then, that's all from this entertaining game where the momentum swung back and forth, but in the end, it was Rajasthan who took home the two points. The action continues on Friday, the 29th of March, when Bengaluru will take on Kolkata. Both teams are coming off a win, and it promises to be a cracker of a game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can join us earlier for the build-up. Cheers!

Riyan Parag is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliance with the bat. He starts by saying that the emotions have settled now and it was special to play in front of his mother who was present in the stands. Adds that she has seen the struggles and it feels special. Shares that it has a lot to do with the domestic season where he scored a lot of runs. Feels that someone in the top four has to bat deep. Ends by saying that he was in bed for the last three days and he is happy with himself of what he was able to do in this game.

Sanju Samson, the Rajasthan skipper, says that it was a roller coaster of a game. Adds that they asked Rovman Powell to get ready for batting but the players in the middle did a fine job and took us to an excellent score. Shares that the IPL is changing and they need to be flexible. Mentions that 15 players need to be ready all the time now and they were always discussing in the middle of the batting innings on the impact player. Adds that the extra bowler in the lineup helped them a lot. States that each day is different for an individual player. Says that Avesh Khan and Sandeep Sharma looked the best in the park and he backed his instinct. Ends by saying that Riyan Parag was always been in the discussion in the past few years and he has started to show his talent now. Further adds that he has huge potential and can serve their side as well as the Indian team in the long run.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

The star of the final over, Avesh Khan is in for a chat. He shares that his plan was clear to bowl the wide yorkers because one side of the boundary was longer. Adds that he was giving himself time before delivering each ball. Mentions that his focus has always been on execution and feels that going for boundaries off yorkers doesn't worry him because the batters have come to hit the ball and he always backs his yorkers. Shares that he is enjoying his time with Rajasthan and they have great experience with Trent Boult, Nandre Burger and Sandeep Sharma in the ranks. Further adds that the skipper, Sanju Samson backs him always in executing his plans. States that he always tries to improve and invent new deliveries in this format. Ends by saying that he does not focus on selection and focuses on his processes.

The captain of Delhi, Rishabh Pant says that he is disappointed but shares that the team needs to learn from this. Adds that the bowlers did a fine job till the 16th over but it did not go according to their plan in the death. Mentions that they got a good platform from Mitchell Marsh and David Warner but the middle order did not carry on from there and they fell short at the end. Shares that there was always an option to use Anrich Nortje against Riyan Parag but wanted to save him for the death overs. Ends by sharing that Nortje is a class bowler and the team will bounce back from here.

Earlier in the game, after Rishabh Pant called it right and opted to bowl first, Rajasthan's batting effort was a tale of two halves. Having lost their top three of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson inside the first eight overs, Rajasthan had their backs against the wall. Sent in at number 5, Ravichandran Ashwin started off slowly before getting three sixes away to inject some impetus into the Rajasthan innings. Riyan Parag took his time initially and batted intending to take the inning deep. He pressed on the accelerator just at the right time and found allies in Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer. Parag with his best Indian T20 League score of 84 helped Rajasthan recover from 36/3 to get to 185. All five bowlers used by Rishabh Pant had a wicket to their name but Axar Patel was the most economical of the lot, going for just 21 runs from his four overs.

Having let Rajasthan off the hook in the second half of their bowling effort, Delhi had all to do in their chase of 186 runs. Mitchell Marsh made his intentions clear straightaway and raced off the blocks quickly. It was a short stay at the crease for him after which David Warner took the mantle and found boundaries at will. Playing in his 100th Indian T20 League game, Rishabh Pant was happy to knock it around with Warner ticking along nicely at the other end. When the two southpaws were out in the middle, Delhi looked in control. Warner fell one run short of his fifty before Pant perished in his quest to break free. Tristan Stubbs waged a lone fight and kept Delhi in the hunt right till the final over with his clean ball striking. However, 17 runs to get in the final over proved to be just too much for him and the way Avesh executed his yorkers made it even more difficult for Stubbs.

Take a bow, Avesh Khan! It was a yorker masterclass in the final over from Avesh, which has helped Rajasthan make it two wins out of two. Having managed to win only once at Jaipur last season, Rajasthan are starting to build a fortress in the Pink City and the trend of home team winning their games continues in the 2024 Indian T20 League. At the start, Trent Boult bowled a tidy first over, giving just 2 runs away. However, the Impact Player, Nandre Burger could not quite back it up from the other end. The move to hand Burger another over in the Powerplay paid rich dividends for Rajasthan as he went bang, bang to pull it back a bit. It was a quiet phase after the Powerplay for Rajasthan as David Warner took them on and it left Sanju Samson scratching his head for a breakthrough. Avesh Khan put his hand up to dismiss Warner before Chahal got into the act to see the back of the Delhi skipper. Sandeep Sharma quietly went about his business and deprived the Delhi batters of boundaries. Tristan Stubbs gave them a real score and almost made them pay for dropping him when he was on 14. With 17 runs needed off the final over, Avesh Khan answered the skipper's call and nailed his yorkers to close out the game for his side.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 20 overs : 173/5

A Patel15 (13)

T Stubbs44 (23)

A Khan4-0-29-1

19.61

THAT WILL BE IT! Avesh Khan has won this for Rajasthan! Bowls a pin point yorker at the stumps. Axar Patel works it through mid-wicket for a single. Delhi finish on 173 for 5 and fall short by 12 runs in the end. A terrific win for the home side who make it two in two to start their season.

19.50

Low full toss slanting across the batter. Axar Patel swings hard and misses.

19.41

Full-length delivery, just outside off. Stubbs slogs across the line and gets an inside edge to backward square leg for a run.

19.31

Pitched full, outside off. Axar Patel drills it to long off and can only take a single.

19.20

A terrific wide yorker, angling across, from Avesh Khan. Axar Patel plays and misses it.

19.11

Bowls a brilliant yorker, just outside off. Stubbs can only manage to bunt this into the off-side.

Avesh Khan has been given the task of bowling the final over. Delhi require 17 runs and it will be Tristan Stubbs on strike.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 19 overs : 169/5

A Patel13 (9)

T Stubbs42 (21)

S Sharma4-0-36-0

18.62

Wide yorker from Sandeep Sharma. Axar Patel squeezes it to the third man region and takes a brace. Delhi needs 17 off the final over. This game has gone down to the wire.

18.51

Low full toss again, outside off. Stubbs gets low and manages to get an inside edge toward short fine leg for a single.

18.41

Low full toss, tailing into the middle. Axar Patel shuffles and lifts it to long-on for just a run.

18.31

Full-length delivery in the blockhole. Stubbs drills it to long off for one.

18.24

FOUR! DISPATCHED! Slower length ball outside off. Stubbs thrashes it hard through the extra cover region and collects a boundary. This is powerful batting by the young Proteas batter.

18.16

SIX! Just over the ropes! Shorter and slower outside off. Stubbs fetches it and hacks it over the wide long-on fence for a 75-meter hit.

It will be Sandeep Sharma (3-0-21-0) to bowl the penultimate over with Delhi needing 32 runs off the last 12 balls.

Runs Scored 9 Runs

Score after 18 overs : 154/5

T Stubbs30 (17)

A Patel10 (7)

A Khan3-0-25-1

17.61

Full-length delivery, outside off. Stubbs has nailed the drive but finds Burger at the extra cover region. He makes a fine stop and keeps it to a single.

17.51

Low full toss, around off. Axar Patel drills it to long off for a single.

17.41

Wide yorker from Avesh Khan. Stubbs looks to play the reverse lap but can only manage a toe end that bunts into the off-side. Just a single.

17.31

Short of a good length, outside off. Axar Patel waits and slaps it to Burger at extra cover region. He goes for the quick single as the throw comes in but Patel was already in.

Is that out? The stumps have been broken at the bowling end but Axar Patel seems to have made his ground. And yes, the replays confirm the same.

17.31wd

WIDE! Lands it full and outside the tramline. Axar Patel lets it go and the umpire calls it a wide.

17.20

Another wide yorker from Avesh Khan, Axar Patel looks to squeeze it away but fails to connect.

17.14

FOUR! Axar Patel gets into the act now! Smart batting! A full-length delivery, angling across the batter. Axar Patel guides it past short third and collects a boundary.

Avesh Khan (2-0-16-1) has been brought back into the attack.

Runs Scored 19 Runs

Score after 17 overs : 145/5

T Stubbs28 (15)

A Patel4 (3)

R Ashwin3-0-30-0

16.66

SIX MORE! Stubbs goes back to back! Ashwin bowls a carrom ball in the slot. Stubbs gets under it and powers it over the wide long-on boundary for another biggie. 19 runs coming off the over.

16.56

SIX! BANG! Flatter on the middle. Stubbs connects well and puts it into the stands for a maximum over the deep mid-wicket boundary.

16.42

In the air but dropped! Tossed up on the middle and off. Stubbs gets low and slogs it uppishly to the deep mid-wicket region. Boult runs in from the boundary but misjudges it and drops down a simple chance. Two runs added to the score.

16.31

Tossed up, around off. Axar Patel mistimes the slog to wide of long-on for a run.

16.31wd

WIDE! Floated full and outside off. Axar Patel leaves it alone for a wide.

16.21

Shortish, on off. Stubbs pulls it again to deep square leg for one more.

16.12

Carrom ball on middle. Stubbs rocks back and pulls it to cow corner for a couple.

Runs Scored 6 Runs

Score after 16 overs : 126/5

T Stubbs11 (10)

A Patel3 (2)

Y Chahal3-0-19-2

15.61

Bowls it full and at the stumps. Stubbs eases it to long off for one.

15.51

Googly, outside off. Axar Patel steers it to deep point for a single.

15.42

Wrong'un, outside off. Axar Patel carves it to the sweeper cover for a couple to get off the mark.

Strategic break! The balance of power has shifted drastically in the favour of Rajasthan since the departure of David Warner. The Rajasthan bowlers are using their smarts by keeping it away from the batter and will look to do more of the same in this final passage of play. Tristan Stubbs comes in with a reputation for hitting the long ball and will hold the key here for Delhi. Axar Patel joins Stubbs in the middle now.

15.3W

OUT! In the air and gone! Chahal gets his second! Tossed up, around off. Porel comes down the pitch and looks to clear the man at long off. He does not get enough on it and hands a simple catch to Jos Buttler at the fence. Delhi have now lost half their side as Porel trudges off the field for just 9.

15.20

Pushes through flatter, outside off. Porel advances and knocks it to the cover fielder.

15.12

Serves it full, outside off. Porel skips down the pitch and lifts it to wide long-off for a couple.

Runs Scored 11 Runs

Score after 15 overs : 120/4

A Porel7 (7)

T Stubbs10 (9)

S Sharma3-0-21-0

14.61

On a shortish length, slower again, on off, Abishek Porel runs it down to short third and keeps the strike with a single.

14.51

Digs it in short, near the wide guideline on off, Tristan Stubbs stands tall and drags the pull to deep mid-wicket for one.

14.41

Does not offer any pace again, on a short of a length, on off, Abishek Porel bunts it wide of point for a single.

14.32

Pace off, on a back of a length, around off, Abishek Porel glides it wide of short third where Ravichandran Ashwin dives to his left and parries it to the deep backward point fielder. Two runs taken.

14.21

Short and wide on off, Tristan Stubbs hangs back and muscles it to deep cover for a single.

14.14

FOUR! Gets it through! Hurls it on a back of a length, outside off, Tristan Stubbs gets on his toes and punches it to the right of extra cover for a boundary.

14.11wd

WIDE! Sees the batter make the move towards the off side and lands it on a back of a length, wide on off, Tristan Stubbs shapes up to access the leg side but misses. Wided.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 14 overs : 109/4

A Porel3 (4)

T Stubbs4 (6)

Y Chahal2-0-13-1

13.62

Offers width on off, on a fuller length, Abishek Porel drills it to the right of long off for a couple of runs. Brilliant over from Chahal, a wicket and just the 4 runs off it. The required run rate continues to rise for Delhi.

13.51

Floats it up, full and on the pads, Tristan Stubbs knocks it down to long on for one.

13.41

Serves it on a nagging length, angling away, outside off, Abishek Porel skips down the track and pushes it down to long off for a single.

13.30

Slides it across the left-hander, short of a length, on off, Abishek Porel misses out on the cut.

13.20

Flat and short, on off, Abishek Porel punches it to cover.

Delhi's impact-sub, Abishek Porel walks in at 6.

13.1W

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Yuzvendra Chahal strikes with his first delivery of a new spell and he gets the big wicket of the Delhi skipper. Pushes it through and angles it across the left-hander, on a nagging length, outside off, Rishabh Pant goes for the cut but the ball skids off the deck and only manages to get a feather on it off the toe-end of the bat. Sanju Samson gets his gloves in the correct position and gathers it cleanly.

Yuzvendra Chahal (1-0-9-0) is back into the attack.

Runs Scored 6 Runs

Score after 13 overs : 105/3

T Stubbs3 (5)

R Pant28 (25)

S Sharma2-0-10-0

12.60

A mix-up but a fumble allows Tristan Stubbs to get back in! This is on a good length, on off, Tristan Stubbs uses his feet and drives it firmly to extra cover and sets off for the single. Yashasvi Jaiswal takes his eyes off the ball at the last moment and Stubbs makes his ground safely at the batting end.

12.51

In the channel on off, on a good length, Rishabh Pant moves to the off side and gets down on one knee to swat it through mid-wicket for one.

12.51wd

WIDE! Slips it beyond the tramline on off, on a fuller length, left alone by Pant for a wide.

12.41

Continues to keep it away from the batter, slow and on a good length, Tristan Stubbs reaches out and knocks it through covers for one more run. 4 runs off the over so far. Can Sandeep close out the over now?

12.31

Going away from the batter, on a short of a good length, around off, Rishabh Pant carves it with an open bat face to deep backward point for one more run.

12.21

This is slower again and lands it on a good length, near the wide guideline on off, Tristan Stubbs shuffles across and drives it on the up to deep cover for one.

12.11

Serves it on a hard length, on off, Rishabh Pant sits deep in his crease and slaps it through point for a single. The 100 comes up for Delhi.

Runs Scored 6 Runs

Score after 12 overs : 99/3

T Stubbs1 (2)

R Pant25 (22)

A Khan2-0-16-1

11.60

Beaten! On a back of a length, slanting in, on off, Tristan Stubbs hops back to keep it out but the ball jags back in and goes past the inside edge. A good couple of overs for Rajasthan.

11.51

Bowls it slower and on a length, outside off, Rishabh Pant frees his arms and pats it in front of cover for one.

11.40

Fuller in length, on off, Rishabh Pant creams the drive but it goes straight to extra cover.

11.31

Bowls it on a length, at the stumps, Tristan Stubbs knocks it down to long on and opens his account with a single.

Tristan Stubbs walks to the crease at number 5.

11.2W

OUT! TAKEN! David Warner holes out and he stands there in disbelief! A sharp catch by Sandeep Sharma and Avesh Khan strikes on his return to the attack. Angles it across the left-hander, on a fuller length, at pace, outside off, David Warner throws his hands at it and only gets a thickish outside edge that flies to the right of short third. The ball is travelling at the rate of noughts and Sandeep Sharma reacts well to snaffle it tumbling to his right. A timely breakthrough for Rajasthan.

11.14

FOUR! Shot! Avesh bowls it on a back of a length, outside off, David Warner walks across his stumps a bit and rolls his wrists to shovel it wide of square leg inside the circle for a boundary.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 11 overs : 93/2

D Warner45 (32)

R Pant24 (20)

S Sharma1-0-4-0

10.61

Sees the batter advance and drags his length back, outside off, David Warner adjusts well and punches it to the left of straightish extra cover for one more run. A tidy first over from Sandeep Sharma, just the 4 runs off it.

10.51

Continues to keep it away from the batter, on a length, Rishabh Pant reaches out and cuts it wide of backward point for one.

10.41

Goes full now does Sharma, outside off, David Warner gets underneath it and knocks it down to long off for a single.

10.30

Keeps it slower and near the tramline on off, on a good length, David Warner mistimes the drive to cover.

10.20

Takes pace off and goes into the wicket, on off, David Warner is through his pull shot early and connects with thin air as the ball goes under the bat.

10.11

Starts from over the wicket and angles it across, on a back of a length, outside off, Rishabh Pant reaches out and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Sandeep Sharma is into the attack now.

Runs Scored 9 Runs

Score after 10 overs : 89/2

R Pant22 (18)

D Warner43 (28)

Y Chahal1-0-9-0

9.61

Tossed up outside off, swept to deep backward square leg for one.

9.50

Flatter, outside off. Pant knocks it to extra cover.

9.46

SIX! In the arc and this is out of the park! Tossed up on off. Pant sits down on one knee and slogs it over the cow corner fence for half a dozen. The fielder in the deep had half a chance but parries it over the ropes.

9.31

Floated, outside off. Warner drives it past extra cover for a run.

9.20

Slider, keeps a shade low and goes across the batter. Warner goes for the pull and misses.

9.11

Wrong'un, outside off. Pant cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

Yuzvendra Chahal has been introduced into the attack now.

Runs Scored 7 Runs

Score after 9 overs : 80/2

R Pant14 (14)

D Warner42 (26)

R Ashwin2-0-11-0

8.61

Slightly short on off. Pant sits down and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

8.51

Flat and angling into the middle and leg. Warner hangs back and knocks it to mid on for a run.

8.41

Tossed up on middle, eased to long on for one.

8.34

FOUR! Put Away! Fraction short, outside off. Pant rocks back and cuts it through the backward point region for an elegant boundary.

8.20

Flighted, around off. Pant pushes it to extra cover.

8.10

Tosses it up, around off. Pant comes down the pitch and pushes it into covers. Jaiswal into covers throws the ball on the bounce to Ashwin who fumbles while collecting the throw and misses the run out. Warner was no where in the picture and gets a massive lifeline.

Runs Scored 10 Runs

Score after 8 overs : 73/2

D Warner41 (25)

R Pant8 (9)

A Khan1-0-10-0

7.60

Short of length outside off. Warner lets out a grunt of frustration as he mistimes the cut to cover.

7.50

Wide yorker from Avesh Khan. Warner jams it out and bunts it to short cover.

7.41

On a length, around off. Pant gets forward to punch to sweeper cover for a single.

7.31

Back of a length, outside off. Warner cuts it to the man at deep point for one.

7.24

FOUR MORE! Nicely done! Short of a length, around off. Warner pulls it with control to the deep backward square leg region and collects back-to-back boundaries.

7.14

FOUR! Avesh Khan is greeted with a boundary! Bowls it full, wider outside off. Warner throws his hands at it and carves it through the backward point region for four runs. Beats Chahal in the deep.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 7 overs : 63/2

D Warner32 (20)

R Pant7 (8)

R Ashwin1-0-4-0

6.61

Flatter, on middle. Warner makes room and punches it to sweeper cover for a single.

6.51

Flatter, on off. Pant skips down and adjusts well to knock this toward long-on.

6.41

Tossed up, around off. Warner mistimes it to mid-on for a single.

6.30

Lands it full, around off. Warner bunts it to short extra cover.

6.20

Tosses it up, on off. Warner mistimes the cut to short cover.

6.11

Ashwin bowls it full, around off. Pant sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Strategic break! This has been a strong start from Delhi in pursuit of 186 runs. Rishabh Pant is yet to find his touch but David Warner has managed to find boundaries with regularity. We are yet to see the introduction of spin from Sanju Samson and it will be interesting to see the approach from the two southpaws against them. Delhi have the required run rate under control as of now and Rajasthan will look to slip in a couple of quiet overs to mount the pressure. Ravichandran Ashwin comes on to bowl now.

Runs Scored 12 Runs

Score after 6 overs : 59/2

R Pant5 (6)

D Warner30 (16)

N Burger3-0-29-2

5.61

Good length, on the middle and leg. Pant tucks it to wide of mid-on for a single.

5.50

Short of a length, around off. Pant has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

5.40

Full and quick on the pad. Pant misses the flick and turns it into the leg side.

5.31lb

LEG BYE! Pace off delivery, on a length and at the leg peg. Warner misses the tuck and the ball rolls off the pad to square leg for an extra.

5.26

SIX! BANG! Short of a length, angling into the batter. Warner gets into the position and pulls it over the deep backward square leg boundary for a biggie.

5.14

FOUR! Streaky! Bowls it full and quick, just outside off. Warner looks to steer it through the off-side but gets an inside edge that runs past the keeper and to the fine leg fence for a lucky boundary.

Runs Scored 13 Runs

Score after 5 overs : 47/2

R Pant4 (3)

D Warner20 (13)

T Boult3-0-29-0

4.60

Good-length delivery, on off, Rishabh Pant is through his shot early and hits it aerially but in front of mid off.

4.51

Misfield! Delivers it on a back of a length, on off, David Warner punches it off the back foot towards backward point where Riyan Parag fumbles and concedes a single.

4.46

SIX! Straight as an arrow! Boult serves a knuckle-ball, on a good length, on off and middle, David Warner picks the change of pace and presents a high elbow to loft it back over the bowler's head for a maximum.

4.30

This is slower and on middle, on a good length, David Warner can only dab it down to backward point.

4.20

On a short of a length, on off, David Warner punches it from the crease to cover.

4.16

SIX! Nonchalantly done! Attacks the stumps with a good-length delivery, David Warner premeditates and gets inside the line to scoop. Uses the pace well and gets it over short fine leg for a maximum.

Runs Scored 5 Runs

Score after 4 overs : 34/2

R Pant4 (2)

D Warner7 (8)

N Burger2-0-18-2

3.60

Half a shout for LBW but only the bowler looked interested. Slanting in, on a hard length, on off, Rishabh Pant gets caught in his crease as the ball sneaks past the bat to ping him on the pads. It looked high and Rajasthan do not go for the review.

3.54

FOUR! Rishabh Pant is up and running in his 100th Indian T20 League game. Lands it on a back of a length, on off, Rishabh Pant gets on top of the bounce and angles the bat face to guide it wide of backward point for a boundary.

Delhi skipper, Rishabh Pant walks in at 4.

3.4W

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! That's what pace can do! An absolute snorter from Nandre Burger and he now has two in the over. Burger bends his back and bangs it in short, directs it at the left shoulder of the batter, Ricky Bhui gets rushed and gets himself into an awkward position. He tries to fend it on the off side and it comes off the gloves and lobs tamely behind the wicket. Sanju Samson runs a few steps in and does the rest.

3.30

A loud and confident appeal for LBW but the umpire is unmoved. Sanju Samson has a word with the bowler and takes the review. Serves it on a good length, at the stumps, Ricky Bhui gets on the front foot and tries to cover the line of the ball. He gets beaten on the inside edge and it pings Bhui on the front pad. There is nothing on UltraEdge but it has pitched outside leg on Ball Tracking. Rajasthan lose an early review.

Ricky Bhui is in at 3.

3.2W

OUT! CASTLED! Nandre Burger fights back in grand style! Credit to Sanju Samson for persisting with Burger despite an expensive first over. Stays over the wicket and bowls it on a good length, around off, Mitchell Marsh waits in his crease and shapes up to go through the off side. The ball nips back in off the deck and beats Marsh on the inside edge. The ball pegs back the off-stump and Burger is pumped.

3.11

Serves it on a hard length, on the sixth stump line, David Warner dabs it along the ground to deep backward point for a single.

Runs Scored 14 Runs

Score after 3 overs : 29/0

M Marsh23 (11)

D Warner6 (7)

T Boult2-0-16-0

2.64

FOUR! Easily done! Boult slants it back into the right-hander, full and on middle and leg, Mitchell Marsh shows the full face of the bat and lofts it over mid on for yet another boundary. 14 runs off the over and Delhi are off to a brisk start here.

2.50

Serves it on a back of a length, on off, Mitchell Marsh waits on the back foot and steers it to backward point.

2.44

FOUR! Creamed away! Boult dishes out right in the slot, outside off, Mitchell Marsh plants his foot forward and cracks the drive through covers for a boundary.

2.31

Takes pace off and bowls it on a good length, on off and middle, David Warner works it behind square on the leg side and rotates the strike.

2.24

FOUR! Short and dispatched! Boult goes short but it is not short enough to trouble the batter, on middle, David Warner clears his front leg and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

2.11

Angles it in, on a hard length from around the wicket, Mitchell Marsh pats it in front of mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Runs Scored 13 Runs

Score after 2 overs : 15/0

M Marsh14 (7)

D Warner1 (5)

N Burger1-0-13-0

1.61

Short of a length, outside off, Mitchell Marsh gets on top of the bounce and runs it down to deep third to keep the strike with a single. An expensive first over from Rajasthan's Impact Player, 13 runs off it.

1.50

This is on a back of a length, on middle, Mitchell Marsh hangs on the back foot and keeps it out on the leg side.

1.44

FOUR! Marsh slashes and slashes hard! Angling away, on a good length, outside off, Mitchell Marsh throws his hands at it and it flies off the thickish outside edge to the left of Trent Boult at short third for four more runs.

1.34

FOUR! Hit with some power! Burger goes full in search of swing, around off, Mitchell Marsh gets his weight on the front foot and hits it through the line. Hits it past David Warner at the bowling end and beats the diving mid off fielder to his right for a boundary.

1.20

Keeps it full again, on off, Mitchell Marsh gets half-forward and strokes it with a straight bat to mid off.

1.14

FOUR! Mitchell Marsh with the first boundary for Delhi! Starts off on a fullish length, angling across, on off, Mitchell Marsh lets his hands flow into the shot and drives it through covers for a boundary.

Nandre Burger will bowl from the other end. Also, Rovman Powell comes into the field in place of an Indian player. Ricky Ponting is discussing the same with the fourth umpire. The umpire informs him that Rajasthan can do so as they fielded just three foreign players in their XI.

Runs Scored 2 Runs

Score after 1 overs : 2/0

M Marsh1 (1)

D Warner1 (5)

T Boult1-0-2-0

0.61

Full and swinging into the pads, Mitchell Marsh clips it through mid-wicket and opens his account with a single.

0.51

David Warner and Delhi are underway! Lands it on a good length, on middle, David Warner pats it in front of mid-wicket and scampers across for a single.

0.40

This is on a hard length, on off, David Warner gets on his toes and punches it to cover.

0.30

Gets the ball to shape away from the left-hander, on a back of a length, on off, David Warner hops back and stays leg side of the ball towards backward point where Rovman Powell dives to his right and makes the stop.

0.20

Pulls his length back and keeps it at the stumps, David Warner hangs back and covers the line of the ball to stab it down on the leg side.

0.10

Starts from over the wicket and gets a hint of away movement, on a length, on middle, David Warner presents a straight bat and pushes it back to the bowler.

Commentary

Welcome back. The players and umpires return to the park. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh will open the batting for Delhi. It will be Trent Boult with the ball for Rajasthan. Also, Rajasthan have brought in Nandre Burger as the impact-sub in place of Shimron Hetmyer. Here we go!

…THE RUN CHASE…

The Delhi batters have a huge task in their hand to chase this down and get their first win of the season. Can they do it? We shall find out soon. Join us in a bit for the second essay.

The man of the moment, Riyan Parag is up for a chat. He says that it is the fruit of a lot of practice and there has been a lot of work that has gone behind the scenes. States that he is happy with his performance and always tries to keep his ready on both sides of the week. Shares that the talk with Kumar Sangakkara and Sanju Samson at the strategic break was to take the innings deep. Mentions that he is a bit emotional right now and he is happy to reap the rewards of his hard work.

The Delhi bowlers were brilliant in the first half of the innings. Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and Anrich Nortje were excellent upfront but were taken to the cleaners at the backend. All the Delhi bowlers got a wicket each and did a decent job.

An excellent finish from Riyan Parag has powered the Rajasthan side to 185 for 5 in their 20 overs. The home side were struggling at 58 for 3 at the halfway mark and made a brilliant recovery from thereon to get a commanding score. Having put into bat first, Rajasthan were reeling at 36 for 3 in the eighth over when Riyan Parag and Ashwin came together and stitched a handy little partnership of 54 before Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer came in later in the innings, played handy cameos and supported Parag to take their side out of trouble. Riyan Parag played one of the best knocks of this Indian T20 League so far and made an unbeaten 84 off 45 to take this side out of a difficult position. The Rajasthan batters have done their job and the onus will be on the bowling to defend this total.

Runs Scored 25 Runs

Score after 20 overs : 185/5

R Parag84 (45)

S Hetmyer14 (7)

A Nortje4-0-48-1

19.61

25 runs off the final over! Full and sliding on the pads, Riyan Parag flicks it off his pads to fine leg and will have to be content with just a single. Riyan finishes unbeaten on 84 and Rajasthan end up with 185 on the board!

19.56

SIX! PICKED THE BONES OUT OF THAT! Easily the best shot of the night so far! Anrich Nortje goes into the wicket, on off, Riyan Parag waits back in his crease and nails the pull over deep square leg. Deposits it into the stands for six more runs.

19.44

FOUR! Intentional or not, the boundaries continue to flow! On a fullish length, outside off, Riyan Parag sets deep in his crease and looks to go big on the off side. Gets a thickish outside edge that flies to the left of short third for another boundary.

19.36

SIX! This has come right off the screws! Nortje errs in length and serves it right in the slot, on off, Riyan Parag holds his shape and clobbers it over long off for a maximum. Parag moves to 73 and this is now his highest Indian T20 League score.

19.24

FOUR! Two in two and this was hit with full control! Nortje goes on a back of a length, on off, Riyan Parag stands tall and pulls it to the left of deep mid-wicket for four more runs.

19.14

FOUR! Not where he intended but Riyan Parag and Rajasthan will take it! With an upright seam, at pace, full in length, on off, Riyan Parag looks to go past the bowler but gets an outside edge that goes past short third for a boundary.

Anrich Nortje (3-0-23-1) will bowl the final over of the innings.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 19 overs : 160/5

S Hetmyer14 (7)

R Parag59 (39)

M Kumar4-0-49-1

18.62

Continues to hone it on a fullish length, wide on off, Shimron Hetmyer walks across his stumps and slices it to wide of deep backward point for a couple of runs. There is a check for a short run but Hetmyer is fine on that count at the bowling end. 15 runs off the penultimate over. Can Rajasthan get to 180?

18.50

An optimistic shout for caught behind by Rishabh Pant but the umpire is unmoved. Pant takes the review but this looks more in hope than anything else. Lands it on a fullish length, wide on off, Shimron Hetmyer clears his front leg and tries to force it through the off side. There is a noise as the ball passes the bat but it is a flat line on UltraEdge. The on-field decision will stand.

18.44

FOUR! Picks the gap to perfection! Going across the left-hander, on a fullish length, near the tramline on off, Shimron Hetmyer takes a couple of steps in front and takes it on the full. Hits it along the ground to the left of deep cover for a boundary.

18.36

SIX! Shimron Hetmyer goes big! Mukesh Kumar goes searching for the yorker but misses his mark and ends up serving a low full toss, on middle, Shimron Hetmyer stays low to make the connection and thumps it over deep square leg for his first maximum.

18.21

Another searing yorker, angling in, at the toes, Riyan Parag jams it out to wide long and gets to the other end.

18.11

Serves it on a fullish length, at the stumps, Shimron Hetmyer digs it out to deep square leg for a run.

18.11wd

WIDE! Angles it across the batter but it goes beyond the wide guideline on off, Shimron Hetmyer lets it go for a wide.

Runs Scored 7 Runs

Score after 18 overs : 145/5

S Hetmyer1 (2)

R Parag58 (38)

A Nortje3-0-23-1

17.61b

Bye! Comes from around the wicket for the left-hander and digs it in short, at the right shoulder of the batter, Shimron Hetmyer gets inside the line of the ball to help it away fine on the leg side. The ball zips past him and Rishabh Pant fumbles, allowing the batters to cross for one. Rajasthan review for the wide not called but the replays show that Hetmyer was crouching as the ball went past him and the on-field decision will stand.

17.51

Goes into the wicket and it is near the tramline on off, Riyan Parag reaches out and slaps it on the bounce to deep extra cover for a single.

17.40

Nails the yorker, outside off, Riyan Parag tries to squeeze it out on the off side but misses.

17.31

Bowls it on a fullish length, on middle, Shimron Hetmyer clips it through mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a single.

Shimron Hetmyer comes to the crease at 7.

17.2W

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Anrich Nortje fights back! Goes fuller this time from over the wicket and it is outside off, Dhruv Jurel shapes up for the scoop again but gets a bit rushed in the shot and gets cramped for room as well. Manages to put bat to ball but ends up deflecting the ball back onto the off-stump off the inner half of the bat. End of a cameo by Jurel.

17.14

FOUR! Clever! This is on a back of a length, outside off, Dhruv Jurel premeditates and moves to the off side nice and early. Plays the scoop and gets it to the left of the keeper for a boundary.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 17 overs : 138/4

R Parag57 (36)

D Jurel16 (10)

K Yadav4-0-41-1

16.66

SIX! Too short and Riyan Parag climbs all over it! 15 runs off the over. Kuldeep misses his mark and bowls a half-tracker, slower through the air, on middle, Riyan Parag is quick to rock back and hammers the pull over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

16.51

It is short again, at 115 kph, on middle, Dhruv Jurel pulls it aerially but in front of deep square leg for one.

16.42

Drops it short and on off, Dhruv Jurel goes on the back foot and slaps it to the right of long on where David Warner dives to that side and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

16.34

FOUR! Streaky but Rajasthan will take it any way they come! Holds his line near the wide guideline on off, Dhruv Jurel reaches out in front to go back over the bowler's head. Gets a bottom edge that goes past short third for a boundary.

16.21

Serves the googly and keeps it away from the batter, short and near the tramline on off, Riyan Parag slices it in front of deep cover for one.

16.11

Angling in, on middle and leg, on a length, Dhruv Jurel swipes it through square leg for a single.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 16 overs : 123/4

R Parag50 (34)

D Jurel8 (6)

M Kumar3-0-34-1

15.66

SIX! BANG! Hit with real authority and that brings up FIFTY for Riyan Parag! He is turning on the heat here for Rajasthan but the job is not over yet and he needs to power his side to a daunting total. Fuller, around off, Riyan Parag picks up the length early and holds his shape to tonk it flat and to the right of long off for six more runs.

15.50

Comes back well does Mukesh Kumar! Serves with an upright seam, on a yorker length, outside off, Riyan Parag reaches out but cannot lay bat to ball.

15.44

FOUR! A bit too straight and these are easy pickings for Parag! Strays on the pads, full as well, Riyan Parag stays balanced and clips it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

15.30

Well bowled! Right in the blockhole by Mukesh, outside off, Riyan Parag cannot get underneath it and squeezes it out to cover.

15.21

Serves it on a fullish length, outside off, Dhruv Jurel opens the bat face and steers it towards short third where Abishek Porel dives and keeps it down to just a single.

15.14

FOUR! Dhruv Jurel gets into the act now! At pace, on a good length, around off, Dhruv Jurel stays deep in his crease and swipes it to the left of deep mid-wicket for his first boundary.

Mukesh Kumar (2-0-19-1) is back into the attack. Also, Abishek Porel comes in as the Impact Player for Delhi, replacing Khaleel Ahmed.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 15 overs : 108/4

R Parag40 (30)

D Jurel3 (4)

K Ahmed4-0-24-1

14.60

Shorter and slower, outside off. Parag mistimes the cut into covers. 15 off the over.

14.54

FOUR MORE! BANG! Pitches it full in the slot, just outside off. Parag goes inside out and smacks it to the deep extra cover fence for back to back boundaries.

14.44

FOUR! Smart batting! Low full toss, outside off. Parag gets low, opens the bat's face and slices it through backward point for a boundary.

14.36

SIX! WHAT A SHOT! Short of a length, angling down the leg. Parag picks it early and whips it over fine leg for a maximum.

14.21

Back of a length, on middle and leg. Jurel nudges it awkwardly into the leg side for one.

14.10

Pitched full and coming in sharply around off. Jurel prods and looks to have gotten an inside edge onto the pad. A loud appeal from Khaleel for LBW but Pant is not convinced enough to take the review. The replays confirm that Jurel had gotten an inside edge.

Strategic break! Delhi continue to dominate the proceedings with the ball and they just have not allowed the Rajasthan batters to have it their way. They cannot afford to be complacent though and need to keep doing what has worked for them to finish strongly. As for Rajasthan, Ravichandran Ashwin did breathe some life into their innings but after his departure, the onus is now on the set Riyan Parag to up the ante. They also have Shimron Hetmyer in the shed who can go big right from ball one. Khaleel Ahmed (3-0-9-1) has been brought back into the attack and he will bowl out now.

Runs Scored 5 Runs

Score after 14 overs : 93/4

D Jurel2 (2)

R Parag26 (26)

A Patel4-0-21-1

13.61

Arm ball on the leg peg. Jurel turns it through mid-wicket for one more.

13.51

Tossed up on off, eased to long-off for a single.

13.41

Flatter on the leg peg. Nudged through backward square leg for one.

Dhruv Jurel walks in at number 6.

13.3W

OUT! HOLES OUT! Axar Patel has his man! Flatter on middle. Ashwin looks to hack it out of the park but does not get enough and is caught at the deep mid-wicket boundary by Tristan Stubbs. Rajasthan lose their fourth as Ashwin departs for a breezy 29.

13.21

Shortish on off. Parag pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

13.11

Shortish on off. Ashwin pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Runs Scored 11 Runs

Score after 13 overs : 88/3

R Parag24 (24)

R Ashwin28 (17)

K Yadav3-0-26-1

12.60

Slider, goes across the batter. Parag goes for the push but is beaten on the outside edge. Delhi have reviewed this for caught behind. The UltraEdge shows no spike and Delhi lose a review.

12.52

Bowls it full, wider outside off. Parag slaps it through extra cover for a couple more.

12.40

Flatter on off. Parag defends it to short extra cover.

12.41wd

WIDE! Fired down the peg. Parag plays and misses. Wide signaled.

12.36

SIX! BOOM! Drops it a fraction short on off. Parag rocks back and hammers it hard over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.

12.21

Flatter, outside off. Ashwin lifts it off toe-end to long-off for one.

12.11

Tossed up on middle. Parag turns it through mid-wicket for one.

Kuldeep Yadav (2-0-15-1) returns to the attack.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 12 overs : 77/3

R Parag15 (19)

R Ashwin27 (16)

A Patel3-0-16-0

11.61

Attacks the stumps, on a nagging length, Riyan Parag wrists it to wide long on and will have to be content with a single. A miserly over from Axar, just 4 runs off it.

11.51

Shorter and quicker, on off, Ravichandran Ashwin punches it square to deep point for a single..

11.41

On a nagging length, around off, Riyan Parag pushes it towards long off for one.

11.31

Shortish, around off. Ashwin chops into the off-side for one.

11.20

Darted on the middle and leg, Ashwin walks across for the pull but misses and wears on the pad. A stifled appeal but turned down.

11.10

Arm ball, just outside off. Ashwin chops it to backward point.

Runs Scored 15 Runs

Score after 11 overs : 73/3

R Parag13 (17)

R Ashwin25 (12)

A Nortje2-0-17-0

10.60

Bangs it short, just outside off. A swing and a miss from Parag. 15 runs coming off the over. Just what Rajasthan needed.

10.51

Pitched full, at the stumps. Ashwin makes room and drives it uppishly to long-on for a single.

10.46

SIX MORE! Ashwin is on fire! Short of a good length, outside off. Ashwin pulls it over the cow corner for a smoking hit.

10.31

Pitched full, on middle. Parag works it through square leg for one.

10.21lb

LEG BYE! Hard-length, around off. Ashwin moves across the line for the ramp but fails to connect and this comes off the thigh pad, rolls away to short third for an extra.

10.16

SIX! All the way! Short of a length, around off. Ashwin picks the length early and powers it over deep mid-wicket boundary for a biggie.

Runs Scored 12 Runs

Score after 10 overs : 58/3

R Ashwin12 (8)

R Parag12 (15)

K Yadav2-0-15-1

9.61

This is bowled flat and full, on middle, Ravichandran Ashwin gets his bat out in front and plays it down to long on. Retains the strike with a single. A productive over for Rajasthan, 12 runs off it.

9.56

SIX! Excellent use of the feet! Kuldeep Yadav floats it up and bowls it on off, Ravichandran Ashwin shimmies down the track and swings cleanly to thump it over wide long on for his first maximum. Rajasthan need more of these.

9.41

Drags his length back and bowls it around the pads, Riyan Parag nudges it in front of square on the leg side for one.

9.31

A hint of turn into the batter, full and on middle, Ravichandran Ashwin gets on the front foot and pats it to wide long off for a run.

9.31wd

WIDE! Kuldeep goes quicker and shorter, around leg, Ashwin gets inside the line to help it fine on the leg side. He misses and Rishabh Pant is quick to take the bails off. The third umpire is called into action but Ashwin has his back leg planted inside the crease when the stumps were broken.

9.21

This is slower through the air, shorter and on middle, Riyan Parag hangs back and punches it to deep cover for a single.

9.11

Tosses it up, full and on the pads, Ravichandran Ashwin gets his bat out in front and works it to wide long on for a single.

Strategic Break! Rajasthan are in a spot of bother at the end of 9 overs. They have lost their big three wickets and will need a partnership to build on from here and find some momentum. The onus will be on young Riyan Parag to bat through and the others will look to provide support around him. Delhi have been excellent with the ball with tight lines and length. They have been rewarded rightly and will look to keep the pressure on the Rajasthan batting.

Runs Scored 8 Runs

Score after 9 overs : 46/3

R Parag10 (13)

R Ashwin3 (4)

A Patel2-0-12-0

8.60

Pushes it through, flat and short, on leg, Riyan Parag gets rushed as he looks to play at it and gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball comes off his pads and rolls near his feet.

8.54

FOUR! Short and punished! Axar drops it way too short, on middle and leg, Riyan Parag rocks on the back foot and nails the pull to the right of deep square leg for a boundary. A boundary after 31 balls for Rajasthan.

8.41

Flatter and quicker, short and on middle, Ravichandran Ashwin whips it from the crease to deep backward square leg for another single.

8.31

Goes a bit full and it is slower as well, around off, Riyan Parag presses forward and pushes it square to deep point for a run.

8.21

Slanting in, on the pads, Ravichandran Ashwin flicks this short delivery to the left of short fine leg for one.

8.11

Lands it on a short of a length, angling in, on middle and leg, Riyan Parag punches it down to long on for a single.

Runs Scored 3 Runs

Score after 8 overs : 38/3

R Parag4 (9)

R Ashwin1 (2)

K Yadav1-0-3-1

7.61

Drops it short and a bit quicker, on middle, Riyan Parag works it off his pads to deep square leg for a single to keep the strike.

7.50

Bowls it full now, on off, Riyan Parag pats it from the crease to cover.

7.41

This is short and on off, Ravichandran Ashwin goes on the back foot and dabs it wide of point to get off the mark with a single.

7.30

Drags his length back a bit and bowls it on off, Ravichandran Ashwin lunges but goes through his shot early and chips it in front of short extra cover.

7.2W

OUT! LBW! Instant impact for Kuldeep Yadav and he gets the big fish! Bowls it on a nagging length, at the stumps, Jos Buttler reaches out in front and goes for the reverse sweep. The ball sneaks under the bat and it goes on to ping Buttler on the front pad. A big, big shout for LBW but turned down by the umpire. It looked adjacent and the only matter of concern was did it pitch outside leg? There is nothing on UltraEdge and it is three reds on Ball Tracking. A confident review from Delhi and they are well on top here.

7.11

Begins with a flighted delivery, full and turning in, on middle, Riyan Parag eases it with a straight bat to long off for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav comes on now.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 7 overs : 35/2

J Buttler11 (15)

R Parag2 (6)

A Patel1-0-4-0

6.60

Attacks the stumps, short in length, Jos Buttler can only push this one back to the bowler. A tidy first over from Axar Patel.

6.50

Spears it on a short length, on the pads, Jos Buttler misses out on the clip and gets hit high on the front pad.

6.41

Fires it in, on a nagging length, on middle, Riyan Parag works it off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for one.

6.31

Slows it up a bit and bowls it on a nagging length, on middle and leg, Jos Buttler turns this one in front of square on the leg side. Buttler wants to come back for the second but Riyan sends him back. Buttler has to put in the dive and a direct hit at the bowling end would have made it interesting.

6.21

Pushes it through, fuller as well, on off, Riyan Parag plays it with a straight bat to long off and gets to the other end.

6.11

Starts from around the wicket and bowls it on a short length, on middle and leg, Jos Buttler hangs back and nudges it in the vacant mid-wicket region for a single.

Runs Scored 2 Runs

Score after 6 overs : 31/2

R Parag0 (4)

J Buttler9 (11)

K Ahmed3-0-9-1

5.60

Serves it on a good length, on the off-stump line, Riyan Parag moves to the off side and tries to innovate by going for the scoop over short fine leg. He fails to get any bat on it and that ends a successful over from Khaleel Ahmed. At the end of the Powerplay, Rajasthan are 32/2.

Time for some spin. Axar Patel gets the ball now.

5.61wd

WIDE! Goes short again but this goes over the batter's head, around off, Riyan Parag withdraws his bat and lets it go for a wide.

5.50

Length delivery, around off, Riyan Parag leans on it and drives it straight to cover.

5.40

Beaten! Digs it in short, on off, Riyan Parag goes for the pull but fails to get any bat on it as the ball zips past him.

5.30

Goes full, on middle and leg, Riyan Parag clips it off his pads but picks out the man at mid on.

Riyan Parag walks in at 4.

5.2W

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! The move to bring Khaleel Ahmed back into the attack has paid off for Rishabh Pant and Delhi! Khaleel is thrilled to bits and he gets the reward for disciplined bowling. Comes from around the wicket and hits the deck hard, over middle, Sanju Samson moves to the leg side to give himself room. The ball skids offf the deck and Samson only gets a feather on it as he looks to play the cut shot. Rishabh Pant does the rest and this has been a fine start by Delhi with the ball.

5.11

Serves it on a fullish length, on off, Jos Buttler gets his bat down and squeezes it out to deep backward point for a single.

Runs Scored 3 Runs

Score after 5 overs : 29/1

S Samson15 (13)

J Buttler8 (10)

A Nortje1-0-3-0

4.60

Beaten! Anrich Nortje serves it short and over off this time. Sanju Samson is beaten for pace and that ends a very tight over by Anrich Nortje. The last delivery was 142 clicks and that is common for this bowler.

4.50

Fiery! Bangs it short outside off. Sanju Samson leaves it alone and Rishabh Pant collects it well behind the stumps.

4.41

Slow and on a length around off. Jos Buttler flicks it to mid-wicket for one more run.

4.31

Full and on middle. Sanju Samson punches it to mid on for another single.

4.20

Short again, outside off. Sanju Samson tries to play it on the back foot but gets beaten for pace.

4.11

Short and quick over off. 141 clicks that one. Jos Buttler punches it to point and runs an easy single.

Anrich Nortje comes into the attack now.

Runs Scored 14 Runs

Score after 4 overs : 26/1

J Buttler6 (8)

S Samson14 (9)

M Kumar2-0-19-1

3.61

Serves it on a length and on middle. Jos Buttler walks towards it and clips it to fine leg. The batters end this over with a single. This is the only over so far where Rajasthan have looked comfortable. They need to keep this momentum going.

3.50

On the good length and outside off. Jos Buttler tries to attack it but gets beaten for pace.

3.41

Well stopped! Mukesh Kumar goes full now on middle. Sanju Samson drives it past him. Anrich Nortje does well to dive and stop the ball. The batters run a single.

3.34

FOUR! PURE TIMING! Three in a row! Goes for the good length and keeps it around off. Sanju Samson hangs back and punches it through covers. The ball runs away to the fence for the third boundary of this over. That is some confident batting on display by the Rajasthan skipper.

3.24

FOUR! Better shot this time! Mukesh Kumar bangs it short and over off. Sanju Samson pulls it well and sends it over mid-wicket. The ball is hit well and it bounces away to the cushions for four more runs.

3.14

FOUR! Great start to the over! Mukesh Kumar drops it short and outside off. Sanju Samson tentatively guides it past gully. The ball races away to the deep third fence for four runs to begin the over.

Runs Scored 3 Runs

Score after 3 overs : 12/1

S Samson1 (5)

J Buttler5 (6)

K Ahmed2-0-7-0

2.61

Slightly fuller and on middle. Sanju Samson punches it to mid-wicket and runs a single to end the over. Rajasthan have to get some runs under their belt.

2.50

Serves it on a length from 'round the wicket. Sanju Samson covers the line and blocks it close to his body. That is some tight bowling by Khaleel Ahmed.

2.40

On the hard length, moving away outside off. Sanju Samson opts out of playing it and leaves it alone for the keeper.

2.41wd

Wide! On a good length, swinging away outside off. Sanju Samson leaves it alone and Rishabh Pant does well to stop it behind the stumps. The umpire signals a wide ball.

2.30

On the hard length and around off. Sanju Samson hangs back and blocks it on the leg side.

2.21

Just short! Again, on a good length and moving away outside off. Jos Buttler tries to punch it but nicks it on the outer edge. The ball falls inches short of the fielder at gully and it rolls away. The batters run a single.

2.10

On a length, seaming away outside off. Jos Buttler swings his blade but only connects with air.

JUST IN - Rajasthan have named Keshav Maharaj as a replacement for the injured Prasidh Krishna for the remainder of the 2024 Indian T20 League.

Runs Scored 5 Runs

Score after 2 overs : 9/1

S Samson0 (1)

J Buttler4 (4)

M Kumar1-0-5-1

1.60

A bit short and over middle. Sanju Samson gets cramped for room and he blocks it out on the off side. That was an amazing over for Delhi and Mukesh Kumar has given them a big breakthrough.

Sanju Samson is in at number 3.

1.5W

OUT! CASTLED! RIPPER! The first blood is drawn! Mukesh Kumar bowls it quick and on a length, swinging in towards middle. Yashasvi Jaiswal is left clueless by the delivery and he gets hit on the pads. The ball deflects onto the stumps and the sticks fall apart. Yashasvi Jaiswal departs early on and Mukesh Kumar gets rid of the young sensation.

1.40

Jaffa! Sticks to the good length and swings it away outside off. Yashasvi Jaiswal attempts the drive but gets beaten by the swing.

1.30

Good comeback! On a length and angling into the pads. Yashasvi Jaiswal gets beaten and the ball rolls away onto the track.

1.24

FOUR! SWEET TIMING! Mukesh Kumar serves it on a good length and around the off pole. Yashasvi Jaiswal strides ahead and punches it with impeccable timing through covers. The ball is in the gap and meets the fence for the first boundary of the night.

1.11

On a length and around the sixth stump area outside off. Jos Buttler reaches for it, gets the inner edge and the ball rolls away to deep square leg. He runs a single.

It will be Mukesh Kumar to steam in from the other end.

Runs Scored 4 Runs

Score after 1 overs : 4/0

Y Jaiswal1 (3)

J Buttler3 (3)

K Ahmed1-0-4-0

0.60

Lovely delivery! Khaleel Ahmed goes full and swings it back into the pads. Yashasvi Jaiswal gets the inner edge and the ball hits his pads. Just 4 runs off this over and he has troubled Yashasvi Jaiswal in the process as well.

0.51

Bowls it full, around off. Buttler pushes it toward mid-off for a single.

0.42

Full on the pads. Buttler turns it to the fine leg region for a couple.

0.30

Hard-length on middle. Buttler tucks it to the mid-wicket region.

0.21

In the air....safe. Khaleel Ahmed drops it short and over off. Yashasvi Jaiswal doesn't time his pull shot well and skies it towards mid off. The ball lands safely and he takes a single. A very close call.

A halt in play as Yashasvi Jaiswal is not happy with something behind the bowler's arm. It has been resolved and we are all good to go now.

0.10

Starts off well. Khaleel Ahmed delivers it on a length and around off. Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it to the fielder at cover. Good timing on that one.

All in readiness for the action to unfold in the Pink City as the two umpires make their way out to the middle. Delhi disperse from their huddle and Rishabh Pant leads his troops out to the centre now. It will be the explosive duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler to open the innings for Rajasthan. Khaleel Ahmed will kickstart proceedings with the new ball for Delhi. The countdown is done and off we go...

On the occasion of his 100th Indian T20 League game, Rishabh Pant, the Delhi skipper is presented with a special jersey by the Head Coach, Ricky Ponting. Pant is the first player to feature in 100 Indian T20 League games for Delhi.

Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan, says that they would have bowled first as well because of the possible arrival of dew. States that the pitch of the last game and the current one look similar with an even covering of grass. Mentions that the Indian T20 League is very competitive and they will be going up against some very competitive sides. Ends by informing that they are going with the same team as the last game.

The captain of Delhi, Rishabh Pant says that they will bowl first. Adds that the wicket looks fine but they want to use it when dry and he hopes for dew to come in later. Mentions that playing his 100th game is fine but shares that keeping the current match in mind is important. Mentions that the loss of Ishant Sharma affected them in the previous game and he has not recovered. Adds that Mukesh Kumar comes in for Ishant and Shai Hope misses out due to a back spasm and Anrich Nortje comes in for him.

Impact players nominated by Delhi - Abishek Porel, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Pravin Dubey, Kumar Kushagra and Rasikh Dar.

Delhi (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Ricky Bhui, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Sumit Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje (In for Shai Hope), Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar (In for Ishant Sharma).

Impact players nominated by Rajasthan - Rovman Powell, Nandre Burger, Tanush Kotian, Shubham Dubey and Kuldeep Sen.

Rajasthan (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (C/WK), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal.

TOSS - Delhi have won the flip of the coin and they have opted to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Simon Katich and Samuel Badree are near the deck. Badree starts by informing that a fresh surface will be used for this game, and the square boundaries are 67 metres each while it is a 76-metre hit down the ground. Katich joins him and says that pitch number 5 will be used, and it is rock-hard. Adds that on pressing the cracks, there is a bit of movement and opines that there will be some lower bounce with the new ball. Ends by saying that the two teams have had issues while chasing and feels that the captain who wins the toss will opt to bat first.

Delhi, on the flip side, made a sub-par score against Punjab in the opening game. Most of their batters got starts but failed to convert it into a big score. The Delhi bowlers did make it tough but a few loose overs at the backend made the job easy for Punjab batters and they cruised through the chase with ease. Delhi will hope to bounce back in this game and get two points on board. Let’s see who comes out on top in this exciting contest. Toss and team news in a bit. Stay tuned! 

In their first game against Lucknow, Rajasthan made a solid score of 193 on the back of a fine knock from their skipper Sanju Samson while Riyan Parag also played a handy innings. The bowlers were up to the mark and did well to restrict the opposing team to 173, winning by 20 runs in the end. Trent Boult was brilliant up front with the ball while Avesh Khan and Sandeep Sharma did an excellent job in the death. Rajasthan will want to keep the winning momentum and make it two in a row in front of their home fans. 

Hello and welcome to our coverage of Match 9 in the Indian T20 League, 2024. Rajasthan are taking on Delhi at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Both sides have got off to contrasting starts in the tournament with Rajasthan winning their opening game quite convincingly while Delhi went down against Punjab.

…MATCH DAY… 

We are at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur for match number 9 of the 2024 Indian T20 League, which sees Rajasthan go up against Delhi. It has been a contrasting start to the 17th edition of the competition for the two teams, with the hosts, Rajasthan, coming off a win, whereas Delhi have started on the wrong foot with a defeat. In their season opener against Lucknow, Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag powered Rajasthan to a daunting total before their bowlers stepped up at the death to seal the win. The explosive duo of Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal would want to get a big score out of the way early on, which would put them in good stead for the rest of the competition. Sanju Samson will look to hold the innings together again, while the responsibility for quick runs will fall on Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Dhruv Jurel. With the ball, they let the game drift away from them a bit, and the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Sandeep Sharma will strive to be more clinical during the middle phase with Trent Boult and Nandre Burger setting the tone with the new ball. As for Delhi, their openers got them off to a flier against Punjab, but the rest of the batting unit was not able to capitalise on that platform. Delhi will take heart from the fact that they were able to take the game till the last over while defending a not-so-big total. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh played their part to some extent, but the onus will be on Rishabh Pant, Shai Hope and Tristan Stubbs for the desired impact through the middle overs. In the bowling department, the spin twins Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav combined well to keep the runs in check. Anrich Nortje has joined the squad, and his presence will be a massive boost for Delhi, whose fast bowling lacked the cutting edge in the season opener. However, Ishant Sharma was decent upfront, but Khaleel Ahmed and Mitchell Marsh will have to pull up their socks. They also have the option of bringing Jhye Richardson or Mukesh Kumar if Nortje is not fit enough to feature. Having managed to win only one out of their five games in Jaipur last year, Rajasthan have started this season at home with a win. Can they notch up another win? Or will it be Delhi to get their first points on the board? We shall find out.