Kuldeep’s Brilliance and Masterclass batting from Fraser-McGurk and Rishab ensured spectacular win For Delhi Capitals at Ekana .

**26th Match of the IPL: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals**

The clash took place at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 12, 2024, where the Lucknow Super Giants and the Delhi Capitals squared off. Winning the coin toss, the Lucknow Super Giants opted to take the bat first.

**Teams Line-up:**

**Delhi Capitals (Playing XI):**

Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed

**Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI):**

Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Arshad Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur

**Impact Substitutes for the Teams:**

**Delhi Capitals Impact Subs:**

Jhye Richardson, Abishek Porel, Kumar Kushagra, Sumit Kumar, Praveen Dubey

**Lucknow Super Giants Impact Subs:**

Krishnappa Gowtham, Deepak Hooda, Manimaran Siddharth, Amit Mishra, Matt Henry

**FIRST INNINGS:**

Throughout the initial overs, KL Rahul, the captain of Lucknow Super Giants, found himself isolated as wickets fell around him. Khaleel Ahmed wreaked havoc with his precise length, claiming two wickets for his team. Then, Kuldeep Yadav took center stage, mesmerizing the batsmen of Lucknow Super Giants with his spin, bagging the wickets of Stoinis and Pooran in a spectacular first over before eventually dismissing the formidable KL Rahul. Kuldeep emerged with the most impressive figures of the match, boasting 3 wickets for 20 runs in his 4 overs. However, the Delhi Capitals found it challenging to dominate the game fully, due to the brave batting from Ayush Badoni and Arshad Khan who forged a valuable 73-run partnership towards the end, ensuring their wickets remained intact. Their efforts hoisted Lucknow to a total score of 167-7, with Badoni contributing a swift 55 off 35 deliveries, marking his innings with 5 fours and a six.

 

 

 

**SECOND INNINGS:**

The Delhi Capitals received a solid start from Prithvi Shaw. Following Warner’s dismissal, newcomer Jake Fraser-McGurk wasted no time in adjusting, attacking from his second delivery faced. The Australian wonder, who represents the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL, launched an assault on Krunal Pandya, hitting three sixes in a row. Jake racked up 55 runs off 35 balls, including 2 fours and 5 sixes. Despite the loss of Warner and Shaw, Jake along with Delhi’s captain Rishabh Pant, unleashed their power, leaving little room for Lucknow to claw their way back into hostilities. Pant contributed 41 runs in 24 balls, enriched with 4 fours and 2 sixes. From Lucknow, Naveen-ul-Haq and Ravi Bishnoi offered economical spells, with Bishnoi taking the crucial wickets of Shaw and Pant. Courtesy of the explosive innings from Jake Fraser-McGurk and Rishabh Pant, Delhi Capitals overhauled the target in the 19th over.

Kuldeep Yadav was celebrated as the player of the match following his exceptional bowling performance. Securing a victory at the Ekana Stadium, a challenging feat for many, seemed less daunting for the Delhi Capitals, much credited to the crucial middle-order performance by Jake Fraser-McGurk, capable of executing an array of shots. His continuation in delivering vital contributions is eagerly anticipated by the team. This marked the second victory for the Delhi Capitals in this IPL season and notably their first away win on the road.

The defeat was a first for the Lucknow Super Giants at their home ground, with their middle order struggling notably against the spin of Kuldeep Yadav. Nonetheless, the partnership between Ayush Badoni and Arshad Khan emerged as a silver lining for Lucknow. Unfortunately, the injury to Mayank Yadav cast a shadow over the team’s performance. Opting to bat first at this venue was driven by the generally tough conditions for chasing scores.