Having a proven match-winner like Starc is a big boon for Delhi Capitals, says McClenaghan

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc made an instant impact for Delhi Capitals as they pulled off a thrilling chase to defeat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets in a high-scoring encounter in TATA IPL 2026 in Jaipur on Friday night.

Starc, who was playing his first game of the season for Delhi Capitals, had a three for 40 haul as Delhi restricted the strong Rajasthan Royals to 225 for six. The pacer got half of the wickets that fell and it shows the kind of an impact he made on the game.

“Mitchell Starc brings that presence of a proven match-winner, and even if he’s not at his absolute peak straight away, his quality shows very quickly. Like other elite bowlers, he just needs a few deliveries to find his rhythm, and once he does, you can see the pace and execution come through. Bowling in the mid-140s and hitting those key areas makes a big difference. For Delhi Capitals, having someone like him is invaluable, a bowler you can rely on in crucial moments and expect a breakthrough when it matters most,” said Mitchell McClenaghan on JioHotstar’s Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live.

Mitchell Starc brings that presence of a proven match-winner, and even if he’s not at his absolute peak straight away, his quality shows very quickly, says Mitchell McClenaghan. Pics: BCCI

Reacting to Kyle Jamieson’s fiery celebration after dismissing Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, he said: “It was a big moment in the game, and you could see the emotion in that celebration. When you’re up against a young batter who has been dominating bowlers throughout the tournament, getting his wicket early brings that natural reaction. There’s a bit of Kiwi flair in it as well, being fired up in a key moment. And to be fair, when you go in expecting to be under pressure and instead get the breakthrough quickly, that surprise and intensity often comes out in the celebration.”

Rahul has worked on his strike rate: Pujara

Former India player Cheteshwar Pujara assessed KL Rahul’s improved strike rate and clarity in role. He said: “KL Rahul has clearly worked on his strike rate, and that improvement has been visible over the last couple of seasons. The big change now is the clarity in his role, especially with him opening the batting, which gives him more control over the innings. He looks more relaxed and confident, and that’s reflected in his performances across formats. That confidence, combined with better intent, has elevated his overall T20 game.”

The big change now is the clarity in KL Rahul’s role, especially with him opening the batting, which gives him more control over the innings, says Cheteshwar Pujara

Another former India player Mohammad Kaif broke down Pathum Nissanka’s destructive innings at the top of the order for Delhi Capitals. Kaif said: “Pathum Nissanka will take a lot of confidence from this 62-run knock. Earlier in the tournament, he was getting starts but failing to convert them. When you have an international opener in your side, you expect him to play big innings. This match against Rajasthan was the perfect time for Nissanka to deliver. He dominated Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, who have been a lethal new-ball pair for Rajasthan this season. They usually put opposition batters under pressure early on. But Delhi’s openers didn’t let that happen. They put up a strong total in the powerplay, which set the tone for the chase. That opening partnership was the key reason why Delhi successfully chased down the target.”

Rana made hitting sixes look easy: Kaif

On Nitish Rana’s cameo in the middle overs, Kaif said: “Delhi’s batters showed great skill against spin in this game, especially Nitish Rana. He walked in and took on Ravindra Jadeja, hitting sixes with ease. He attacked from the very first ball and made full use of his good form. Rana has been doing this for years. His 91 against Punjab Kings was outstanding, even though Delhi lost. His confidence is high, and he has been producing solid knocks recently. His arrival was perfectly timed, with Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi yet to bowl their overs. Rana is a proven player of spin and loves hitting over mid-wicket. He scored only 33 against Rajasthan, but in a game where spinners were expected to control the middle overs, his quickfire knock shifted the momentum. That was the key reason Delhi dominated the middle phase.”

Chennai Super Kings have only had Sanju Samson firing so far. They are relying heavily on his performances to win games, says Mohammad Kaif

Kaif feels Mumbai Indians have the upper hand in their clash against Chennai Super Kings. “On paper, Mumbai Indians look stronger than Chennai Super Kings because they have a lot of match winners and experienced campaigners in their side. But when you look at recent form, a lot of questions get raised because MI haven’t been winning many games. That said, on their day, if they play a dominant brand of cricket, they can be very hard to stop. Chennai, on the other hand, have only had Sanju Samson firing so far. They are relying heavily on his performances to win games. That is why Mumbai head into this crucial match with the upper hand,” he added.