Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar rout Capitals, set up Bengaluru’s thumping nine-wicket victory

Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were too hot to handle for Delhi Capitals who crashed to a humiliating nine-wicket loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Monday night.

On April 25, on this same ground, Punjab Kings had chased down Delhi Capitals’ 264 with seven balls to spare. 529 runs were scored in that game. Two days later, Delhi Capitals were bowled out for a paltry 75 and Royal Challengers replied with 77 for one. The highs and lows of IPL on the same ground within a span of two days. That is the vagaries of T20 cricket.

https://x.com/IPL/status/2048810645349622025?s=20

Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and invited Delhi Capitals to bat first and what followed was a carnage by the opening bowlers. One has got so used to batting carnages in the IPL that this bowling feast came out of the blue.

“It is swinging this year – don’t know why. When ball swings and you get wickets up front, it makes it easier at the back-end. It was a good batting wicket, especially the way the ball was coming on. It was one of the good days when they were nicking (or getting bowled). Fortunate to get those early wickets,” said Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

On Monday night, the Delhi Capitals batters were caught unawares, and they floundered like a deer caught in the spotlight. There was a virtual parade as the top six batters score read 0, 1, 1, 0, 5 and o.

Bhuvneshwar began the carnage by uprooting debutant Sahil Parakh’s middle stump out of the ground. The ball started on the middle and swerved back in devilishly. Parakh (0) had no clue about it and by the time he brought his bat down, the ball had crashed into the stumps.

In the next over, Hazlewood got into the act as he struck twice with his first two balls. He had KL Rahul (1), who hit a century in the previous game, caught behind by Jitesh Sharma and then repeated it to have Sameer Rizvi (0) back to the dug-out.

Probably turning up here after 500-plus runs in the last game, was not sure what was going to happen. Was just following his (Bhuvneshwar) lead, said Josh Hazlewood. Pics: BCCI

The carnage continued as Bhuvneshwar had Tristan Stubbs (5) edge to Devdutt Padikkal at wide slip and Delhi were four down with seven on the board. Three balls later, Delhi fell deep into a cavern as Bhuvneswar had Capitals’ skipper Axar Patel (0) caught behind by Jitesh Sharma. The hosts were staring down the barrel at five down for seven.

All credit to Hazlewood and Bhuvi: Patidar

“Even I am surprised (at how the game went). All credit to the bowlers – Hazlewood and Bhuvi, the way they bowled in the powerplay. The good thing was we got early wickets and it kept us in the driving seat. (On bowling out both bowlers early) We had planned that if we get early wickets, they would bowl 3-3 each,” said Bengaluru skipper Patidar.

A beleaguered Delhi brought in Abhishek Porel as the Impact Player in place of Parakh. But for Porel’s watchful knock, Capitals would have been in a far worse position.

In the fourth over, Hazlewood ended Nitish Rana’s agony of watching his teammates come and go. Rana, who came to bat at No.3, was caught by Padikkal for a nine-ball 1. Capitals hopes were evaporating faster than expected as they were down to six down for eight.

Porel and David Miller then brought some sense to the nonsense with a 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Miller (19) fell to Rasikh Dar.  Porel and Kyle Jamieson added 19 for the eighth wicket before Jamieson (12) was trapped leg before by Krunal Pandya.

It was one of the good days when they were nicking (or getting bowled). Fortunate to get those early wickets,” said Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Porel was cleaned up by Hazlewood as Capitals were bundled out for 75 in 16.3 overs. Porel made 30 off 33 balls with three fours. In all, Delhi batters hit eight fours and a six.

Hazlewood finished with four for 12 in four overs and Bhuvneshwar bagged three for five in 3 overs.  Suyash Sharma bowled a whopping 20 dot balls in his four overs, while Bhuvneshwar bowled 15 dot balls off his 18 deliveries and Hazlewood too bowled 15 dot balls. In all, Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowlers bowled 60 dots balls.

“Probably turning up here after 500-plus runs in the last game, was not sure what was going to happen. Was just following his (Bhuvneshwar) lead. There was a bit there in the first six overs – enough there to work with, and it was skidding on quickly from a short of a length. Once the ball got soft, it got more even,” Hazlewood, who was named the Player of the Match, said.

Tonight was a bad day for us, says Patel

In reply, Royal challengers had no issue in cruising along though they lost opener Jacob Bethell but not before he got a 11-ball 20. Thereafter, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, the men in form, took Bengaluru home. Kohli remained unbeaten on 23 and Padikkal on 34 as Bengaluru made 77 for one in 6.3 overs.

Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli took Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals

“I still cannot understand what happened. That is why they say you have to be on your toes at all times in cricket. Ifs and buts will be there – like if we had taken that catch or taken that run (against GT). That will keep happening. But each day, you have to be on your toes and keep doing what you have been doing well. You cannot take it easy for even one day. Rather than thinking about what has happened, think about what is to come. Even if you stay negative or positive, you still have to play. Tonight was a bad day. We have to be positive and do what we had been doing (earlier). (On the early movement on offer) I was not surprised. They (Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood) are world-class bowlers. 1-2 overs, if our openers and number three had batted, it could have been a different game,” rued a Capitals skipper Patel.

Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 75 in 16.3 overs (Abishek Porel 30, David Miller 19; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/5, Josh Hazlewood 4/12) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 77 for one in 6.3 overs (Jacob Bethell 20, Virat Kohli 23 not out, Devdutt Padikkal 34 not out).