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Tag: Rajasthan Royals

  • Beleaguered Rajasthan Royals look to skipper Samson for inspiration against confident Delhi Capitals

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Coming off a heart-breaking loss and hit by star all-rounder Ben Stokes’ injury-forced ouster, a beleaguered Rajasthan Royals would hope for another inspirational knock from new skipper Sanju Samson when it faces a confident Delhi Capitals in an IPL match here on Wednesday.

    While DC made a superb start under new captain Rishabh Pant, clinching a seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in their opening contest, RR suffered a four-run defeat against Punjab Kings in a high-scoring match on Monday night.

    Chasing a mammoth 222 for win, Samson (119 off 63 balls) played a blinder of an innings in his debut as captain but couldn’t get his side over the line as he was dismissed in the final ball of the innings while going for a maximum with RR needing five runs off the last delivery.

    The loss completely shattered Samson, who single-handedly kept RR in the contest, playing some delightful strokes during his blistering knock, which included 12 boundaries and seven sixes.

    As if the loss was not enough, RR were dealt a severe blow on Tuesday when Stokes was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a broken finger.

    He sustained that injury during the agonising defeat.

    In his absence, the pressure would be on the likes of Jos Buttler, Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag to deliver the goods and provide ample support to their young skipper, who has been sensational in the first match.

    The likes of Manan Vohra (12), Buttler (25) Dube (23), Parag (25) all got starts but failed to lend the much-needed support to Samson.

    The major worry for RR team management would be the performance of its bowling unit.

    RR bowling unit looked rusty and completely out of sorts in their opener.

    Barring young Chetan Sakariya (3/31), who had a fantastic debut, all other RR bowlers went for runs and looked completely clueless against opposition batsmen.

    Mustafizur Rahman, Chris Morris, Stokes, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Tewatia — all went for big runs and need to pull up their socks quickly.

    Last edition’s runner-up side DC, on the other hand, had a perfect start to their campaign as they defeated three-time champions CSK with consummate ease.

    Opting to field, DC had allowed CSK to pile up a competitive 188 for 7 but Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw made a short walk of the target with a 138-run opening partnership, that laid the foundation for the win.

    Both Dhawan (85 off 54) and Shaw (72 off 38) played their strokes from the word go and looked in complete control during their knocks.

    Pant (15 not out) and Marcus Stonis (14) did the rest as DC comfortably reached home with eight balls to spare.

    On the bowling front, Chris Woakes (2/18) and Avesh Khan (2/23) had a good outing in the first game and would look to carry on their form but the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Tom Curran, Amit Mishra and Stoinis had a forgettable outing and would be desperate to make amends on Thursday.

    The contest will also witness test of wits of two new captains in Pant and Samson.

    Teams (From): Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Stokes, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Manan Vohra, Anuj Rawat, Riyan Parag, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomror, Shreyas Gopal, Mayank Markande, Andrew Tye, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, KC Cariappa, Liam Livingstone, Kuldip Yadav, Akash Singh.

    Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Woakes, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Lalit Yadav, Pravin Dubey, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Avesh Khan, Steve Smith, Umesh Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, M Siddarth, Tom Curran, Sam Billings.

    Match starts at 7:30 PM.

  • Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson was right in not taking a single: Sanjay Manjrekar

    By IANS
    CHENNAI: A day after Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson played the magical 119-run innings but fell just short of guiding his team past the target set by Punjab Kings, opinion was divided on whether he took the right decision to not go for a run off the penultimate ball of the innings.

    The new RR skipper declined a single to Chris Morris off the second-last ball of the innings, while chasing a mammoth target of 221.

    Samson, instead, decided to go for a big hit off the last ball from Arshdeep Singh but couldn’t clear deep cover and was caught by Deepak Hooda.

    Rajasthan Royals finally managed 217 for 7 in 20 overs.

    Former India batsman and cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said the RR captain took the right decision to not go for a single.

    “Yes, he took the right call because I am thinking, which is the greatest possibility. Samson hitting the last ball for a six with the kind of form that he was in and Morris had just come in — hitting that ball for a four and, you know, I thought hitting the six was a greater possibility than Morris hitting a four. I thought he (Samson) took the right call and almost managed it but, unfortunately, it turned out to be a great innings in a losing cause,” Manjrekar was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.com.

    Former South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn, whose last stint in the IPL was with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2020 season too felt it was the right call but felt Morris too is capable of ‘clearing the ropes’.

    “When you’re in and you feel like you can hit any ball for a six and that’s the situation that he (Samson) was in, you can’t blame him (for not taking a single),,” said Steyn.

    “I think, he knew where (Arshdeep) Singh was going to bowl… (but) you know when someone like Chris Morris on the other side can also clear the ropes, it’s probably the wrong decision. Well, it’s such a tight (decision) to make..,” added Steyn.

    On his part Samson said, “When I am in the zone, and watching the ball well, the sixes come out naturally. I don’t think I could have done better than that. I thought I timed it well for a six but unfortunately couldn’t clear the man in the deep.”

  • Rajasthan Royals bowler Riyan Parag latest to use ‘perpendicular’ action

    By IANS
    MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Riyan Parag raised eyebrows when he used an unusually low-armed release in the 10th over during their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Punjab Kings.

    Parag bowled just one over in the explosive Punjab Kings innings and had his arm almost perpendicular to his body when he bowled the third ball of the over to Chris Gayle.

    Ravichandran Ashwin had used a similar action earlier this season while Kedar Jadhav is known to use a slinging release quite frequently.

    The IPL’s Twitter handle asked fans what names they can think for the action while itself calling it a “right-arm perpendicular”.

    “That is right-arm perpendicular. What name can you think of for this unique action?” said the tournament’s tweet.

    The commentators were taken by surprise. “How low is a legal sidearm delivery? Underarm deliveries are not allowed any more, as the Australians know well,” joked Harsha Bhogle, referring to the infamous underarm delivery bowled by Trevor Chappell in an ODI against New Zealand in 1981 on the instruction of his captain and elder brother Greg Chappell.

    Michael Slater said that Parag may have got away with it and the umpire was seen having a word with the bowler afterwards.

    Gayle took a single off that ball and got back on strike after the next ball. Parag ended up dismissing the former West Indies captain with a more conventional delivery off that ball.

    Punjab Kings scored a mammoth 221/6 with captain KL Rahul scoring 91 off 50 balls. However, RR almost pulled off the epic chase with their captain Sanju Samson scoring an extraordinary 119 runs off just 63 deliveries. However, they fell just four runs short with Samson being dismissed off the last ball of the match and RR’s innings ended on 217/7.

  • Rajasthan Royals pacer Chetan Sakariya: From struggling to meet cricket expenses to IPL stardom

    By IANS
    NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals pace bowler Chetan Sakariya has overcome many hurdles in his life like working at his uncles stationery shop while in school in lieu of money to cover his cricket expenses as his father couldnt afford equipment and coaching fees. Earlier this year, he and his family overcame the death of his younger brother, who had committed suicide. These have been harsh enough tests to endure early in life, especially for someone whos just turned 23.

    So it wasn’t surprising to see him maintain composure and calmness while bowling a series of slower balls in the last over on Monday night against Punjab Kings bowling innings and deceiving the batsmen while conceding five runs and picking two wickets.

    RR director of cricket operations Kumar Sangakkara was all praise for the left-arm youngster from Saurashtra.

    “I think he (Chetan Sakariya) was just brilliant. His skill was on display. It was really wonderful to watch a bowler in such a high-scoring match always smiling, always in the game. He took an amazing catch at short fine leg. He managed to come back well with the new ball. He bowled at the death, when everyone was taking punishment,” Sangakkara said while speaking to the media after the match on Monday.

    “It speaks a lot about his skill, his attitude. It is great to have him in the side. He is a simple guy. He has had his ups and downs in life. He is here to enjoy his cricket. Our job is to support that. It was really good to see the control that he had, the change-ups. He picked the moments to bowl them,” added Sangakkara.

    Sakariya was picked for Rs 1.2 crore in the IPL mini-auction on February 18 this year.

    Coming from a village, 10 kilometres from Bhavnagar in Gujarat, life wasn’t easy for him.

    His maternal uncle took care of his expenses for education, cricket equipment, and training at the Sir Bhavsinhji Cricket Academy, a go-to place for budding cricketers in and around Bhavnagar, and from where the likes of Saurashtra players Sheldon Jackson, Harvik Desai, and Sandip Maniar have emerged.

    In return, Sakariya had to help him in his business.

    Sakariya’s dad, who owned and drove a tempo, took care of the family with his meagre income.

    “When I was in school, I had to balance studies and cricket. But after completing my 12th I focussed on cricket. I would train in the evening and in the first half, I would work for my uncle,” Sakariya had told IANS just after getting picked at the auction.

    Sakariya was initially encouraged by his school coach when he was in 10th and immediately enrolled into the Bhavsinhji Academy. From there, he got a chance to play under-16 for Saurashtra.

    He was then picked for MRF Pace Foundation and spent five months there on his action and fitness.

    “I played for the Saurashtra under-19 and also the under-23 teams. Soon, I was called up for the senior team’s probables and was put in the loop. The coaches said that with experience I would improve,” he had told IANS.

    Having bowled at the senior Saurashtra team nets, he made his Ranji Trophy debut in November 2018 against Gujarat and he picked a five-wicket haul in first innings as Saurashtra won points on first innings. He picked 29 wickets in eight matches in his debut Ranji season.

    But it was his bowling in T20 format that was to catch everyone’s eye.

    During the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he impressed the Royal Challengers Bangalore scouts.

    “I was approached by the RCB scouts when I was playing a T20 match against Jharkhand. They called me for trials in January, just before Covid-19 broke out. Coach Mike Hesson was impressed. They gave me match scenarios at the nets and I impressed them. Unfortunately, a lockdown happened. But they kept in touch and signed a contract with me,” Sakariya had told IANS.

    Sakariya soon flew to the UAE for IPL 2020 as a net bowler for RCB and that is where his brush with someone from the big league came.

    South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn and Umesh Yadav were at the nets.

    “Steyn taught me a lot of things related to planning out batsmen. He taught me how to come round the wicket to a left-handed batsman and bowl wide outside off-stump. It is a very difficult job for a left-armer. I got Moeen Ali out in an intra-RCB practice game,” added Sakariya.

    “Umesh bhai also taught me how to plan. My skills in variation were developed at the RCB nets during IPL 2020.”

    The brush with the Steyn & Co at the RCB nets bore fruit at the Rajasthan Royals trials.

    “I bowled extraordinarily well at the Rajasthan Royals trials just recently. One of the coaches came up to me and praised me for having different types of deliveries. I think I have six different variations — back-of-the-hand, bouncer, yorker, cutter, and slow bouncer etc, but I bowl two-three perfectly. That performance and in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is what I think got me a big contract,” said Sakariya.

    He bagged 12 wickets in five matches that put him sixth in the wicket-takers’ list of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

  • Punjab Kings is not for the light-hearted, says KL Rahul after thrilling win against Rajasthan Royals

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: After registering a thrilling four-run victory over the Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul said that his team is not for the light-hearted as they have a knack of producing nail-bitters.

    Sanju Samson’s fighting hundred went in vain as Arshdeep Singh held his nerve in the final over to help Punjab Kings register a thrilling win over Rajasthan Royals here at the Wankhede on Monday. KL Rahul’s calm and composed knock, aided by Deepak Hooda’s belligerent hitting, helped Punjab Kings post 221 in the allotted 20 overs. In response, Rajasthan Royals fell just four runs short of the target.

    “As a captain and as a player, I wouldn’t want to keep being part of such games. But Punjab Kings is not for the light hearted, it was not the case last year and I do not think it will be this year as well. Fingers crossed, we will win some games comfortably. This was a great win and very important for us to start like this,” Rahul told Arshdeep in a video posted on the official website of the IPL.

    Talking about his 91-run knock, Rahul said: “It felt good obviously, to start off the IPL with a good innings and with a win is very very crucial.”

    Arshdeep Singh had to defend 13 runs in the final over against a well set Samson and big-hitter Chris Morris. The youngster managed to defend it to give Punjab a win by four runs.

    “It feels good when the captain backs you and gives you the ball in pressure situations. The kind of confidence the support staff gives, it really helps. Looking forward to deliver for the team in the future and doing well for the captain whenever he gives the ball,” Arshdeep told Rahul.

    Earlier, Punjab Kings posted a total of 221/6 against Rajasthan Royals. Rahul scored 91 runs off just 50 balls while Hooda set the Wankhede on fire with his 64-run knock from just 28 deliveries with the help of 4 fours and 6 sixes. Chris Gayle also chipped in with a valuable 40.

    Punjab Kings will next lock horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday.

  • Sanju Samson’s century goes in vain as Punjab Kings win this last-ball thriller match by 4 runs

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals’ new captain Sanju Samson’s one man show met with last ball disappointment as Punjab Kings win the match by 4 runs in this high scoring thriller on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai on the 12th April 2021. 

    With pacer Arshdeep Singh bowling the last over, Samson turned down Chris Morris’ call for a run in the penultimate ball and went for all in the last ball.

    With 5 runs required of the last ball, he went for a six but only to be caught along the boundary line.

    KL Rahul (91 off 50) and Deepak Hooda (64 off 28) powered Punjab Kings to an imposing 221 for six after being put in to bat on a batting beauty.

    Samson, who effortlessly struck seven sixes and 12 fours, was so confident of taking his team home that he refused a single to Chris Morris on penultimate ball of the game when Royals needed five runs off two balls.

    ALSO READ: Have no words to tell, don’t think I could have done anything more, says RR captain Sanju Samson

    In the end, it was not to be for Royals as Punjab scraped through.

    Chasing 222, Rajasthan lost opener Ben Stokes (0) early.

    Arshdeep then removed Manan Vohra (12) as he lobbed a regulation return catch, leaving Royals in trouble at 25 for two.

    Samson and Jos Buttler (25), who struck four successive boundaries off Riley Meredith, tried to take the game deep with a 45-run stand.

    Pacer Jhye Richardson pegged Rajasthan back by cleaning up Buttler.

    Samson, who was dropped twice, completed his fifty with a boundary and kept playing his shots to keep his team in the game despite losing partners at the other end.

    Royals fetched 26 runs from the 14th and 15th over and then Murugan Ashwin conceded three sixes in the 16th over, as Royals amassed 20 runs, to bring down the equation to 48 runs from the last four.

    Samson hammered Richardson for two boundaries and a six in the 18th over, in which Royals got 19 runs and took his team on the cusp of a fine win before falling short.

    Despite the win, Punjab will be worried that their expensive fast bowling recruits from Australia, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, leaked 55 and 49 runs respectively in their four overs.

    Earlier, Rahul smashed seven fours and five sixes while Hooda, playing his first game since the last IPL, plundered six maximums and four boundaries to fire Punjab past 200.

    They lost opener Mayank Agarwal (14) early, who edged it back to Samson for IPL debutant Chetan Sakariya’s first wicket.

    He ended being the pick of the bowlers, conceding only five runs in the 20th over.

    Rahul, who got his first four with a glance to the fine-leg fence, and Chris Gayle (40 off 28) gave the team a good start with their 67-run stand.

    Rahul got a ‘life’ after Ben Stokes dropped him at the fence in the seventh over even as Gayle, looked in his elements.

    The duo then took on Stokes, as Gayle hit his 350th IPL six, a pull over deep square in the 8th over with Punjab racing to 70 for one.

    Gayle was dropped by leggie Rahul Tewatia (0/25) off his own bowling and the very next ball, the left-hander smashed a six.

    However, in the 10th over, Riyan Parag (1/7) removed Gayle, who was holed out to Stokes in the deep.

    Rahul then changed gears and got to his fifty with a six over Shivam Dube’s (0/20) head in the 13th over.

    Hooda then smashed two maximums in the same over and then struck three sixes off Shreyas Gopal (0/40) in the next as Punjab went ballistic.

    It was Rahul and Hooda’s show at the Wankhede that made the difference to their total as the duo tore into the opposition attack on way to to their 105-run stand.

    Courtesy their monstrous hitting, Punjab added 111 runs in the final eight overs.

    Hooda, who had made a 62 against CSK in his last competitive game in November, had stormed out of the Baroda camp ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after claiming that Krunal Pandya misbehaved with him.

    Hooda was subsequently suspended.

  • Have no words to tell, don’t think I could have done anything more, says RR captain Sanju Samson

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Sanju Samson’s magnificent 119 on his captaincy debut for Rajasthan Royals came in a losing cause but he said the second part of his innings was the best he ever played.

    Samson hit 12 fours and seven sixes in his astonishing 63-ball innings but in the end failed to send Arshdeep Singh’s final ball for the maximum runs as RR lost the match by four runs.

    “The second part of the innings was the best I ever played. In the first part, I was not timing it very well.

    I took my time, respected the bowlers, took singles and got into a rhythm and then I started to play my shots in the second half,” he said at the post-match presentation. 

    “I enjoy my shots but I come back to the present after I play those shots. It automatically happens, when I focus on my skills and watch the ball and react. Sometimes I lose my wicket also, so I just play the same way.”

    He said it was about trusting his processes and being honest to his abilities.

    “I did that, and it came off tonight. The coin (at the toss) looked really nice so I pocketed it, asked the referee if I can have it, but he said no.”

    Samson also said he could not have done better than that though he rues failing to clear the ropes on the final ball.

    “I don’t have words to tell, very close game, came close but unfortunately. I don’t think I could have done anything more.

    “I timed it well, but unfortunately couldn’t clear the man in the deep. It’s all part of the game. We thought the wicket was getting better and we could chase the target down. Despite the loss, I think the team played really well.”

    Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul said he didn’t stop believing in the team and knew that a couple of wickets will give his side the win.

    “The game went deep only because me included, we dropped some sitters. We bowled well until about 11-12 overs. We’re used to this, and it’s not something new for us, but a win like this brings the team together.

    “We batted really well and bowled well in patches. We weren’t consistent with the lengths but the bowlers will learn. A lot of talented, skilful players, and it’s important that we back them,” said Rahul who scored 91 in his team’s 221 for 6 after being asked to bat.

    Rahul praised Deepak Hooda who hit a 28-ball 64 to lay the foundation of Punjab King’s big total, along with him.

    “It was an amazing innings from Hooda, and that’s the kind of fearless batting we want to see in the IPL.

    “We have been tentative sometimes, and it’s important for us to play fearlessly at times, so I am happy that the expectations are being understood and met. Gayle and Hooda were both good that way.”

    Talking about Arshdeep who dismissed Samson with the final ball of the match, Rahul said, “I always go to Arshdeep for crucial overs and he enjoys the pressure.

    “He loves being in the contest and I love throwing him the ball, and he trusts himself and trusts his skills, so that’s always good to see.”

  • Rahul, Hooda power Punjab Kings to 221/6 against Rajasthan Royals

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda pummelled the Rajasthan Royals bowlers into submission with their sensational stroke play, propelling Punjab Kings to an imposing 221 for six in the IPL here on Monday.

    While Rahul smashed seven fours and five sixes in his 50-ball 91, Hooda, playing his first game since the last IPL, plundered six maximums and four boundaries as he blazed his way to 64 off just 28 balls.

    Put into bat, Punjab lost opener Mayank Agarwal (14) early, who edged it back to Royals captain and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson for IPL debutant Chetan Sakariya’s first wicket.

    He ended being the pick of the bowlers, conceding only five runs in the 20th over.

    Rahul, who got his first four with a glance to the fine-leg fence, and Chris Gayle (40 off 28) gave the team a good start with their 67-run stand.

    Rahul got a ‘life’ after Ben Stokes dropped him at the fence in the seventh over even as Gayle, looked in his elements.

    The duo then took on Stokes, as Gayle hit his 350th IPL six, a pull over deep square in the 8th over with Punjab racing to 70 for one.

    Gayle was dropped by leggie Rahul Tewatia (0/25) off his own bowling and the very next ball, the left-hander smashed a six.

    However, in the 10th over, Riyan Parag (1/7) removed Gayle, who was holed out to Stokes in the deep.

    Rahul then changed gears and got to his fifty with a six over Shivam Dube’s (0/20) head in the 13th over.

    Hooda then smashed two maximums in the same over and then struck three sixes off Shreyas Gopal (0/40) in the next as Punjab went ballistic.

    It was Rahul and Hooda’s show at the Wankhede that made the difference to their total as the duo tore into the opposition attack on way to to their 105-run stand.

    Courtesy their monstrous hitting, Punjab added 111 runs in the final eight overs.

    Hooda, who had made a 62 against CSK in his last competitive game in November, had stormed out of the Baroda camp ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after claiming that Krunal Pandya misbehaved with him.

    Hooda was subsequently suspended.

  • Rajasthan Royals win toss, opt to field against Punjab Kings

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson on Monday won the toss and opted to field first against Punjab Kings in game four of the Indian Premier League (IPL) here at the Wankhede Stadium.

    At the time of the toss, RR skipper Samson said: “We are going to bowl first. We had challenges while picking the XI. Morris, Stokes, Buttler, and Fizz are our overseas players. Very excited about the role.”

    On the other hand, Rahul said: “We all know the history of Wankhede. Everyone wants to bowl first. But we would want to play good cricket. It is about the batting group helping the bowling group and vice-versa. We were really happy with the auctions. Meredith, Richardson, Gayle, and Pooran are our foreign players.”

    For Punjab Kings, there are three debutants as Riley Meredith, Jhye Richardson, and Shahrukh Khan have been named in the final playing XI. Universe Boss Chris Gayle handed out a cap to Shahrukh Khan.

    Ahead of the first game against Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara had spoken about how the side would give a long rope to its players so that they can succeed and not take too much pressure.

    Rajasthan Royals last year opted for quite a few opening pairs with Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes all opening at some stage in IPL 2020. Sangakkara did not reveal who will open the batting this time around, but he did confirm that a long rope would be provided to the players.

    Rajasthan Royals Playing XI: Sanju Samson (c), Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube, Manan Vohra, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Shreyas Gopal, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman

    Punjab Kings Playing XI: KL Rahul (c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Riley Meredith, Arshdeep Singh

  • Delhi Capitals spinner Ashwin ‘updating spin-bowling software’ ahead of game against Rajasthan Royals

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin might have been expensive in his team’s opening game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, but the Delhi Capitals bowler is “updating” himself with new variations to bamboozle the batsmen in the upcoming matches.

    Ashwin picked an all-important wicket of Moeen Ali, but gave away 47 runs in his quota of four overs. The star spinner had been in sensational form for the national side but failed to leave a mark in the Capitals’ opening game.

    Delhi Capitals on Monday shared a picture of Aswhin in which the spinner can be seen pondering upon while rolling the ball.

    “Just @ashwinravi99’s spin-bowling software updating itself with new variations,” Delhi Capitals tweeted.

    While Ashwin went for runs in the first game, batsmen Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw fired on all cylinders to script Delhi Capitals’ win on Saturday.

    Dhawan played a blistering knock of 85 from 54 balls, while Shaw smashed 72 runs off 38 balls to help Delhi Capitals defeat Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets.

    Dhawan said that youngster Shaw made a comeback like a champion in IPL 14 after going through a bad patch earlier in the year.

    “It was lovely to watch Prithvi bat so effortlessly and timing the ball so nicely. He went through a bad patch earlier and has come back as a champion. He did so well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scored so many centuries and a double century as well. And now, he has brought the same form in IPL. I am so happy to see him perform that well,” Dhawan said in the Delhi Capitals release.

    The 35-year-old added that a comprehensive victory in their first match of the season is a huge confidence booster for the team.

    “Starting a season on such a high note increases the team’s confidence tremendously. There’s a positive vibe in the dressing room now. We prepared well for the match and everything fell into place nicely. I am very happy with the team’s and my own performance. Looking forward to the next game,” he said.

    Delhi Capitals will next take on Rajasthan Royals here at the Wankhede Stadium on April 15.