Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: At the halfway mark, Rohit Sharma said the pitch was difficult to bat on and backed Mumbai Indians‘ bowlers to defend 162 against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.His words almost proved to be prophetic.Chasing 163, Delhi Capitals needed 90 runs in the last ten overs with well-set Pathum Nissanka back in the hut. But Sameer Rizvi, Delhi’s hero in their last match against Lucknow Super Giants, took them home again with another sublime knock. Delhi Capitals defeated Mumbai Indians by five wickets to register their second consecutive win in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rizvi struggled initially and was 11 off 17 balls at one stage. The 22-year-old broke free with a six off Corbin Bosch in the ninth over. However, the match remained in the balance as Mitchell Santner dismissed Pathum Nissanka. The Sri Lanka opener, who scored a fluent 44 off 30 balls, top-edged one, with Mayank Markande taking a good catch at short fine leg.Rizvi then shifted gears in the next over, taking 20 runs off Corbin Bosch. He handled every variation with ease, dispatching slower balls, short deliveries and fuller ones alike, even managing a maximum off a mistimed shot.He smashed back-to-back sixes off Mayank Markande to complete his second consecutive fifty this season and his third in a row for the franchise, reaching the milestone in 32 balls.Jasprit Bumrah briefly pulled things back with a one-run over, but Delhi were firmly in control by then. Rizvi continued his assault on Deepak Chahar and later combined with David Miller for a 50-run stand in just 26 balls, with Miller contributing only one run.Rizvi looked unstoppable, taking apart Shardul Thakur for 17 runs in an over. Miller then joined in with a couple of elegant boundaries off Bumrah.Rizvi eventually departed after a brilliant 90 off 51 balls, receiving a standing ovation from the Delhi crowd, his teammates and even the opposition. And by then time, he got out it was a mere formality.
A dry afternoon
On the eve of the match, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene and Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav had expressed similar views that the Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch would be batting-friendly. However, it turned out to be a two-paced surface.Mumbai Indians were without their regular captain Hardik Pandya, who missed the match due to a viral infection. Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and opted to chase.After being put in to bat, Mumbai Indians got off to a shaky start, with Mukesh Kumar removing Ryan Rickelton (9) and Tilak Varma (0) in the third over. Mukesh initially searched for swing but adjusted his length in his next over to pick up both wickets.
Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav, left, and Rohit Sharma run between the wickets (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Rohit Sharma then joined stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav, and the pair steadied the innings. Mumbai Indians were 41 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. The duo rotated strike well and added 53 runs for the third wicket before Rohit fell for 35 in the 10th over, dismissed by Axar Patel.
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After Rohit’s departure, Suryakumar continued to anchor the innings and brought up his fifty in 35 balls, but was dismissed on 51 off the very next delivery by Lungi Ngidi. Sherfane Rutherford had a brief stay, scoring five before getting caught in the deep.Next in, Naman Dhir scored a fine 28 before falling in the penultimate over. Mitchell Santner and Corbin Bosch struck a few boundaries towards the end, helping Mumbai Indians post 162 for 6.
