Mukesh Kumar’s four-wicket burst sparked a remarkable turnaround for Delhi Capitals, who cruised to an eight-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium. Despite LSG’s promising start, they were limited to 159/6 after being put in to bat. Delhi’s chase was anchored by fluent fifties from Abishek Porel and KL Rahul, guiding them home in just 17.5 overs to strengthen their hold on second place in the standings.
The momentum of the match shifted decisively during the latter half of LSG’s innings. At 82/0 in 9 overs, they looked set for a big total, but DC clawed back impressively in the next six overs—snaring four wickets and allowing only three boundaries. In contrast, Delhi began their innings more cautiously, reaching 69/1 in 9 overs, but shifted gears effectively thereafter.
Although they hit just two fours between overs 10 and 15, DC made up for it by smashing five sixes during the same phase. By the end of the 15th over, they had hit nine more sixes than LSG had at that stage. The stark difference in boundary-hitting proved decisive—while LSG managed just three sixes in total, DC tripled that tally, dominating the chase with power hitting.
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LSG Openers Lay a Strong Foundation
Looking to counter Delhi’s left-arm spin early, Axar Patel opened the bowling against the right-handed LSG openers and kept it tight, conceding just three runs in the first over. However, the momentum soon shifted as Aiden Markram kickstarted the scoring by hooking Mitchell Starc for a six, while Mitchell Marsh followed up with a boundary off Axar.
Markram then went after Mukesh Kumar, slashing one for four before unleashing a classy on-drive for six. Axar returned for another over during the powerplay but was dispatched for a four by Marsh, who also took on Dushmantha Chameera—brought in for Mohit Sharma—launching him for a six as LSG raced past the 50-run mark.
Delhi Capitals Strike Back After LSG’s Flying Start
After a brisk beginning from the Lucknow openers, Delhi Capitals clawed their way back into the contest with a flurry of timely wickets. Axar Patel bowled his full quota in one stretch, finishing with figures of 0 for 29, despite Aiden Markram picking up a boundary in his final over. Vipraj Nigam had a costly introduction, conceding a six to Markram and a four to Mitchell Marsh, as the South African went on to register his fourth fifty-plus score in six innings, reaching a 30-ball half-century.
Just when LSG looked set for a big total, DC triggered a collapse. Markram’s attempt to go big against Dushmantha Chameera saw him caught at deep cover. Nicholas Pooran, after hitting a couple of crisp boundaries off Kuldeep Yadav, chopped on to a Mitchell Starc delivery—marking his fifth dismissal to the left-arm pacer in seven innings.
Surprisingly, LSG sent in Abdul Samad next, but his slow start was cut short by Mukesh Kumar. Marsh, who had also slowed down, was undone by a pinpoint yorker from Mukesh, falling for 45 off 36. Ayush Badoni entered as the impact substitute, with Rishabh Pant once again held back in the batting order. David Miller eventually broke the boundary drought, sweeping Kuldeep for a four, but by then, DC had regained control.
Mukesh Kumar’s Four-For Caps Off DC’s Bowling Revival
Mukesh Kumar led from the front with a superb four-wicket haul to ensure Delhi Capitals kept Lucknow Super Giants to a modest total. He nearly had his third earlier, but Tristan Stubbs dropped a catch that gave Ayush Badoni a lifeline. The youngster made the most of it momentarily, striking a boundary in the same over and adding more off Dushmantha Chameera and Mitchell Starc. However, the innings lacked fluency, with David Miller struggling to find his rhythm.
Badoni provided a late flourish with three consecutive boundaries off Mukesh in the final over, but the pacer responded brilliantly—dismissing Badoni and then Rishabh Pant, who came in right before the penultimate delivery and departed for a duck. While Kuldeep Yadav went wicketless, the pace unit—spearheaded by Mukesh—engineered an excellent fightback to limit LSG to 159, setting Delhi a manageable chase.
DC Off to a Strong Start in the Chase
Chasing a target of 160, Karun Nair continued his stellar return to the IPL, blasting two fours off Shardul in the opening over. Abishek Porel joined in with a boundary of his own. The left-hander then added more boundaries, striking one each off Digvesh Rathi and Prince Yadav. Karun further showcased his attacking intent with a six off Markram before being bowled soon after.
KL Rahul got into his stride, collecting fours off Yadav and Avesh Khan, while Porel also found the boundary off LSG’s leading pacer, propelling DC past 50 during the powerplay.
DC Maintain Steady Progress in the Chase
After the powerplay, the next three overs saw no boundaries, but Delhi Capitals continued to make steady progress. Abishek Porel broke the boundary drought with a four off Markram in the 10th over, taking DC to 80 at the halfway mark. The following over proved to be a turning point as Porel smashed a six off Bishnoi, reaching his first fifty of the season, while Rahul also launched a six off the legspinner. In the 12th over, Rahul added another six off Markram to push DC past 100.
However, their 69-run partnership came to an end in the same over when Porel was caught at deep midwicket. Avesh Khan followed up with an economical over, but Axar Patel responded with two sixes off Bishnoi and a four off Avesh, keeping the pressure on LSG.
Rahul and Axar Power DC to Emphatic Victory
The 16th over proved crucial for Delhi Capitals, as Rahul struck a four and Axar Patel cleared the fence off Shardul, reducing the required rate to under 5. Axar was given a second chance when Yadav dropped him off Rathi, and he made the most of it by hitting his fourth six.
Rahul then reached his third half-century of the season, and in the process, became the fastest player to 5000 IPL runs, achieving the milestone in just 130 innings. He capped off his performance with a six, guiding DC to a comfortable win with plenty of overs to spare.
What’s Next for Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals?
LSG will enjoy a four-day break before their away clash against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on April 27. Meanwhile, DC will also be in action on the same day, as they host Royal Challengers Bangalore in the evening fixture.
FAQs
What was the result of the Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants match?
Delhi Capitals secured a dominant eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Stadium, thanks to a stellar four-wicket haul by Mukesh Kumar and fifties from Rahul and Porel.
How did Mukesh Kumar perform in the match against LSG?
Mukesh Kumar was the standout performer for Delhi Capitals, taking four crucial wickets and helping restrict LSG to a total of 159/6.
Who were the key contributors for Delhi Capitals in the chase?
Karun Nair and Abishek Porel set a strong foundation, while KL Rahul and Axar Patel’s explosive batting led DC to a comfortable victory, with Rahul reaching his third half-century of the season.
What was the turning point in the match?
The turning point came during the middle overs when Delhi Capitals restricted LSG’s progress, picking up quick wickets and limiting their boundary-scoring opportunities.
What’s next for Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants?
Delhi Capitals will host Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 27, while Lucknow Super Giants will play Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on the same day.
