In a thrilling encounter during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Delhi Capitals orchestrated a remarkable comeback, climbing out of the last spot in the standings. Their six-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants was fueled by stellar performances from three key players: Kuldeep Yadav, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and skipper Rishabh Pant.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Inspirational Return
Kuldeep Yadav, making his comeback from injury, provided the much-needed inspiration for the Capitals. His spell of 3 for 20 ripped through the Lucknow Super Giants’ top order, leaving them reeling at 77 for 5. The left-arm spinner’s precision and guile set the tone for what would be a memorable chase.
Amid Capitals’ struggles, Pant has carried a particularly heavy burden: captain, wicketkeeper and star batter, and all this after more than a year out of the game after a car crash. His anguished chat with umpire Rohan Pandit during the LSG innings, having unsuccessfully tried to review a wide – Pant seeming to say he hadn’t reviewed it in the first place – summed up how things have been going.
But after Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Shaw, via a superb diving catch in the deep from Nicholas Pooran, Pant played an astute hand. After ticking along initially, and with Fraser-McGurk becalmed, he skipped out to his 12th delivery to launch Bishnoi down the ground for an enormous straight six, following it up with a smash through the covers for four. Two more boundaries came in Marcus Stoinis’ over, including an audacious reverse-scoop, to keep DC up with the rate before Fraser-McGurk unleashed.
The requirement was below a run a ball by the time Fraser-McGurk carved to deep third and although Pant was stumped in the next over, charging at Bishnoi, the hard work had been done.
Fraser-McGurk’s Dazzling Debut
Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk, making his IPL debut, announced his arrival in style. The 22-year-old unleashed a flurry of big hits, including a wallop for six over deep midwicket. His sparkling half-century from just 31 balls turned the tide in favor of the Capitals. Fraser-McGurk’s fearless approach and clean striking left the crowd in awe.
Skipper Rishabh Pant, leading from the front, played a crucial role. His aggressive captaincy and astute field placements kept the pressure on the Super Giants. With the bat, Pant contributed a valuable 41 runs, anchoring the innings alongside Fraser-McGurk. Their partnership of 77 off 46 balls ensured that the Capitals stayed on track.
It is only six months since Fraser-McGurk grabbed headlines worldwide by breaking AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest List A hundred when he reached the mark off just 29 balls while batting for South Australia. Remarkably, that was his first century in professional cricket, but he enjoyed a breakthrough summer that culminated in him being capped during Australia’s ODI series against West Indies. He hit his third ball on debut for four, his fourth for six, and then was out to his fifth.
Coming in at No. 3 in Lucknow, following the dismissal of David Warner by Yash Thakur, he stayed true to first principles. His second ball was swatted insouciantly off the front foot over midwicket – a shot his DC coach, Ricky Ponting, would doubtless have enjoyed – and he then launched an even bigger hit over wide long-on from his fifth.
Super Giants’ Fightback
Lucknow Super Giants, despite a stuttering innings, managed to post a competitive total of 167 for 7. Ayush Badoni’s 31-ball fifty and an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 73 with Arshad Khan gave their vaunted spin attack something to defend. However, it wasn’t enough to stop the Capitals’ charge.
Chasing 168 for victory, Prithvi Shaw’s punchy start settled the nerves. Fraser-McGurk’s fireworks and Pant’s composed innings ensured that the Capitals reached the target with 11 balls to spare. The win lifted them off the bottom of the IPL 2024 table, breaking the Super Giants’ stranglehold on 160-plus defenses.
As the IPL season unfolds, the Delhi Capitals will draw confidence from this hard-fought victory. Kuldeep Yadav’s heroics, Fraser-McGurk’s audacity, and Pant’s leadership have set the tone for their campaign. Cricket fans can expect more thrilling clashes as teams battle for supremacy in the world’s premier T20 league.