Karun Nair, playing his first IPL game of the season, played a breathtaking 89 as DC’s impact player and clinching a win looked like a cakewalk for DC. But losing five wickets in six overs, including of Karun, after the tenth over got MI back in the match.
Despite Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam threatening to pull off another heist for DC, their sub-par batting and MI’s excellent fielding plus bowling, along with ball change after the 13th over, ensured the hosts’ were all out for 193 in 19 overs. It also meant that DC’s winning juggernaut has been brought to a halt on return to their home turf.
Chasing 206, DC lost Jake Fraser-McGurk on the first ball when he chipped to cover off Deepak Chahar. After Abishek Porel opened his account with a cracking cover drive off Chahar for four, Karun took on Trent Boult by hitting three delightful fours – a cover drive was followed by a crunchy cut shot and another glorious drive.