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Tag: Shreyas Iyer

  • KKR Captain Shreyas Iyer Likely To Miss IPL 2024's First Phase Due To Same Back Injury Which Ruled Him Out Of 2023 Season | cricket news

    In what could be a huge blow to the hopes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of Indian Premier League's next season (IPL 2024), captain Shreyas Iyer could miss the few initial games due to back injury. It is the same back injury because of which Iyer had missed the complee IPL 2023. Iyer recently played a knock of 95 runs in the Ranji Trophy final and a report in Times of India says that it is this knock which has led to the injury resurfacing. .

    Also Read | IPL 2024: MS Dhoni To Retire At End Of This Season? AB de Villiers Makes A Big Statement On CSK Captain's Future

    Iyer had undergone a back surgery last year before making a comeback just before the World Cup. He played four months of international cricket before complaining of the back pain again. Confusion remained over why Iyer was not picked in the last 3 Tests squad. India coach Rahul Dravid had said that Iyer had missed out on the selection while the batsman has reportedly told BCCI he had back issues and that was the reason why he did not even play a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai.

    Medical team of National Cricket Academy, reportedly, informed BCCI that there was no issue with Iyer. BCCI dropped him from the central contracts post which Iyer was seen playing the final of the Ranji Trophy.

    Let's get started! _ pic.twitter.com/i2l0M9dP8x — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) February 22, 2024

    A BCCI source has been quoted as saying to Times of India that Iyer's injury is not looking good and is in danger of missing the first few games of IPL.

    “It is not looking good. It is the same back injury which has got aggravated. It is unlikely that he will take the field on Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy final. He is in danger of missing the initial matches of the IPL,” said the BCCI source.

    Not to forget, during his 95-run knock for Mumbai, Iyer took medical assistance twice as he was clearly uncomfortable. He did not take the field for Mumbai on Day 4 and likely to be missing on Day 5 as well due to the same injury.

    KKR play their first match of IPL 2024 on March 23 and if Iyer does not reach full fitness in the next 8 days, he is likely to miss the team's opening game. If that happens, it will be interesting to see KKR's stance on this as if Iyer was not completely fit, then how did NCA clear him to play the Ranji final. That is the big question.

  • Ranji Trophy 2024: Shreyas Iyer Fails To Impress But Mumbai Book Finals Berth Win Against Tamil Nadu | cricket news

    Indian middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer continued his poor long-format form, scoring just three runs before being dismissed during the semifinals of Ranji Trophy for Mumbai against Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Iyer was recently dropped from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Central Contract List for 2023-24 following his recent non-participation in domestic red-ball cricket, could manage just three runs in eight balls before he was clean-bowled. by pacer Sandeep Warrier.

    The attacking right-handed batsman has had a tough few months. From October–November, Iyer had a monumental ICC Cricket World Cup in India, scoring 530 runs in 11 matches at an average of 66.25 and a strike rate of over 113, with two centuries and three fifties. As the seventh-highest run-scorer in the tournament, Shreyas Iyer was the backbone of the Indian batting line-up which played a crucial role in the team's 10-match unbeaten streak to the finals, where they lost to Australia.

    Coming to the match, Mumbai secured the victory against Tamil Nadu to book their berth in the finals of the Ranji Trophy 2024 season. Skipper R Sai Kishore's inner voice has played a big role in bringing Tamil Nadu this far but his decision to bat on a seaming wicket against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal was wrong, said Tamil Nadu coach Sulakshan Kulkarni on Monday.

    In what turned out to be a surprising call which prompted reactions including those from R Ashwin and Saurashtra's Jaydev Unadkat, Sai Kishore put his side in to bat first on a seaming wicket which had Tamil Nadu reeling at 42/5 inside the first session.

    Tamil Nadu could never recover as they were shot out for paltry totals of 146 and 162 in the two innings as Mumbai stormed into the final for the 48th time in the Ranji Trophy.

    “The moment I saw the wicket I knew exactly what we were going to get,” Kulkarni told the media after the match. (Ranji Trophy 2024: 'Lord Is Back,' Internet Goes Wild As Shardul Thakur Sizzles With Century For Mumbai In Semifinal Against Tamil Nadu)

    “When I saw that they had played on a different pitch in the quarterfinal and what wicket they gave, (that) moment I realized that this is a seaming-friendly wicket and it was going to be a very tough match, we would have to play really well to win this game. I always speak straightforward — we lost the match at 9'o clock on Day One. Everything was set, we won the toss, as a coach, as a Mumbaikar, I know the conditions well. We should have bowled but the captain had some different instinct.”

    “Ultimately he is the boss. I can give my feedback and inputs (as to) what kind of wickets and Mumbai's mindset also. (From) 106/7, I knew before the match that this (Mumbai's fightback) may happen.” Kulkarni said Mumbai has the best lower-order in India.

    “They are the best (Nos) 9, 10 (and) in India. I told this in the dressing room that their batting starts after (No) 6. I can take the horse to the water, the horse has to drink.” Kulkarni said Tamil Nadu's plans were set for both outcomes of the coin toss.

    “We were mentally prepared that whoever wins the toss would bowl first. We knew that we would bowl first. The moment they (TV broadcast) said we would bat first, whatever you say, it goes in the batsmen's minds. That first half an The hour (before play) got in the batsmen's minds,” he said.

    “When you get into the first over, third ball, your international player gets out and you see the situation… in the first hour we lost the game and the plot. It was very difficult to come back even though they were 107 for seven ( 106/7). Kulkarni said 'instinctive' decision by Tamil Nadu skipper Sai Kishore has worked both ways.

    “Again, the instinctive decision, that inner voice, has played a big role. If you can say (it in) the positive way, the inner voice has helped also in reaching the semifinal,” he said.

    “In the previous match against Saurashtra, he went at No 3 and scored 65. That was again the inner voice, which has played (out) the positive way. Every captain has a different mindset, then I would say 'why not, I won't blame the captain'.”Other captains in the last 7-8 years must have tried but they did not reach the semifinal. I looked at it from a positive way,” he added.

    “Kishore can certainly take 200 wickets.”

    The former Mumbai player and coach however praised left-arm spinner Kishore as a prospect to take 200 wickets in Test cricket if given an opportunity.

    “I have seen many left-arm spinners in last many years. As far as a left-arm spinner is concerned, he is a high quality bowler because he has all requisites to be a successful international player,” Kulkarni said.

    “He has height, overspin, arm ball, and bounce like Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja). If you play on these kinds of wickets, the way India is playing currently, I think he can certainly take 200 wickets.”

    Kulkarni, meanwhile, backed Ajinkya Rahane to lead Mumbai to their 42nd title win in the final starting on March 10.

    “I am a big fan of Ajinkya Rahane. He has made a big difference to this team though he has not performed as a batter. But as leader he gelled with the team. He is like my student from U-15 days, he was a successful captain of India,” he said.

    “He captained the team when things were not going in favor for India. He has handled the team in a way that they will now win the trophy under Ajinkya Rahane.”

  • ‘If Hardik Pandya Does Not Want To Play Red-Ball Cricket…’, Irfan Pathan Raises Questions Over Ambiguity In BCCI Central Contracts. cricket news

    Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has raised pertinent questions regarding the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to exclude Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from central contracts, juxtaposing it with the treatment of players like Hardik Pandya. Pathan’s inquiry into the BCCI’s rationale centers on the disparity in standards applied to different players concerning their participation in domestic cricket, particularly the Ranji Trophy.

    Also Read | Not Just Ishan Kishan And Shreyas Iyer, THESE Players Also Not Retained In BCCI Annual Player Contracts; In Pics

    Pathan’s skepticism is evident in his statement, “If players like Hardik don’t want to play red ball cricket, should he and others like him participate in white-ball domestic cricket when they aren’t on national duty?” He emphasizes the need for consistency in assessing players’ commitments to different formats, stressing that without uniform standards, Indian cricket’s progress could be hindered.

    The exclusion of Kishan and Iyer from central contracts marks a pivotal moment, signaling the BCCI’s stance against players prioritizing white-ball cricket and lucrative IPL contracts over first-class cricket. Pathan’s belief in the talents of Kishan and Iyer shines through as he expresses hope for their resurgence, stating, “They are talented cricketers, both Shreyas and Ishan. Hoping they bounce back and come back stronger.”

    They are talented cricketers, both Shreyas and Ishan. Hoping they bounce back and come back stronger. If players like Hardik don’t want to play red ball cricket, should he and others like him participate in white-ball domestic cricket when they aren’t on national duty? If this_

    — Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 29, 2024

    In solidarity with the embattled duo, former India coach Ravi Shastri lends his support, underscoring the essence of comebacks in cricket. Shastri’s message to Iyer and Kishan resonates with encouragement and belief in their ability to overcome this setback. “In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up, @ShreyasIyer15 and @ishankishan51! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you’ll conquer once. again,” Shastri stated, offering words of inspiration.

    The discourse surrounding the exclusion of Kishan and Iyer from central contracts underscores broader themes within Indian cricket, including the balance between white-ball and red-ball cricket, the significance of domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy, and the development of young talents within the Indian cricketing landscape.

  • IPL 2022: With middle-order finally clicking, Shreyas Iyer can bat freely, reckons Sunil Gavaskar

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper Shreyas Iyer can now bat freely as the middle order batters have started making contributions in IPL 2022.

    In the most exciting IPL season, the Indian core of KKR’s batting line-up looks to have finally found the form as Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh are contributing with the bat in the middle order. Even opener Venkatesh Iyer was back amongst runs the previous game against Mumbai Indians. Gavaskar believes it will bode well for captain Iyer and he can now look to bat with freedom.

    Speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Shreyas Iyer is a premier player for KKR, he’s been a premier player for whichever franchise he’s played for. It’s good to see that Shreyas doesn’t have to share all the burden in the batting department. The recent exploits of Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh will give him the confidence to bat freely and play those big shots early in the innings.”

    Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif while praising Iyer said the talented Mumbai batter knows how to deal with the pressure and he can take KKR in the right direction.

    Speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star Sports, Kaif said, “Shreyas Iyer is a class batsman. He loves to play under pressure and knows how to score runs consistently. He likes playing long and impactful innings. He is a brilliant captain and can put KKR in the right direction with his batting.”

    Kaif, however, also expressed his concern over Iyer’s struggle against leg-spinners and claimed it is one area where the right-handed batter needs to work on.

    Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Kaif said, “Shreyas has one weakness though. He doesn’t play leg spinners well and tends to get deceived by the turn and flight from the leggies. It is surprising to see an Indian batter struggle consistently against leg-spin.

    “He’s been dismissed by leg-spinners quite a few times in this season too. Be it Ravi Bishnoi or Rahul Chahar or Kuldeep Yadav, everyone has troubled him but he never looks to see their overs through. Instead, he continues to play those attacking shots and gets dismissed. I think there is a lot of improvement required in this department. But at the same time, there are several qualities about Shreyas which make him a special batter,” he added.

  • IPL 2022: With middle-order finally clicking, Shreyas Iyer can bat freely, reckons Sunil Gavaskar

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper Shreyas Iyer can now bat freely as the middle order batters have started making contributions in IPL 2022.

    In the most exciting IPL season, the Indian core of KKR’s batting line-up looks to have finally found the form as Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh are contributing with the bat in the middle order. Even opener Venkatesh Iyer was back amongst runs the previous game against Mumbai Indians. Gavaskar believes it will bode well for captain Iyer and he can now look to bat with freedom.

    Speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Shreyas Iyer is a premier player for KKR, he’s been a premier player for whichever franchise he’s played for. It’s good to see that Shreyas doesn’t have to share all the burden in the batting department. The recent exploits of Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh will give him the confidence to bat freely and play those big shots early in the innings.”

    Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif while praising Iyer said the talented Mumbai batter knows how to deal with the pressure and he can take KKR in the right direction.

    Speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star Sports, Kaif said, “Shreyas Iyer is a class batsman. He loves to play under pressure and knows how to score runs consistently. He likes playing long and impactful innings. He is a brilliant captain and can put KKR in the right direction with his batting.”

    Kaif, however, also expressed his concern over Iyer’s struggle against leg-spinners and claimed it is one area where the right-handed batter needs to work on.

    Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Kaif said, “Shreyas has one weakness though. He doesn’t play leg spinners well and tends to get deceived by the turn and flight from the leggies. It is surprising to see an Indian batter struggle consistently against leg-spin.

    “He’s been dismissed by leg-spinners quite a few times in this season too. Be it Ravi Bishnoi or Rahul Chahar or Kuldeep Yadav, everyone has troubled him but he never looks to see their overs through. Instead, he continues to play those attacking shots and gets dismissed. I think there is a lot of improvement required in this department. But at the same time, there are several qualities about Shreyas which make him a special batter,” he added.

    MUMBAI: Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper Shreyas Iyer can now bat freely as the middle order batters have started making contributions in IPL 2022.

    In the most exciting IPL season, the Indian core of KKR’s batting line-up looks to have finally found the form as Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh are contributing with the bat in the middle order. Even opener Venkatesh Iyer was back amongst runs the previous game against Mumbai Indians. Gavaskar believes it will bode well for captain Iyer and he can now look to bat with freedom.

    Speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Shreyas Iyer is a premier player for KKR, he’s been a premier player for whichever franchise he’s played for. It’s good to see that Shreyas doesn’t have to share all the burden in the batting department. The recent exploits of Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh will give him the confidence to bat freely and play those big shots early in the innings.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif while praising Iyer said the talented Mumbai batter knows how to deal with the pressure and he can take KKR in the right direction.

    Speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star Sports, Kaif said, “Shreyas Iyer is a class batsman. He loves to play under pressure and knows how to score runs consistently. He likes playing long and impactful innings. He is a brilliant captain and can put KKR in the right direction with his batting.”

    Kaif, however, also expressed his concern over Iyer’s struggle against leg-spinners and claimed it is one area where the right-handed batter needs to work on.

    Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Kaif said, “Shreyas has one weakness though. He doesn’t play leg spinners well and tends to get deceived by the turn and flight from the leggies. It is surprising to see an Indian batter struggle consistently against leg-spin.

    “He’s been dismissed by leg-spinners quite a few times in this season too. Be it Ravi Bishnoi or Rahul Chahar or Kuldeep Yadav, everyone has troubled him but he never looks to see their overs through. Instead, he continues to play those attacking shots and gets dismissed. I think there is a lot of improvement required in this department. But at the same time, there are several qualities about Shreyas which make him a special batter,” he added.

  • Shreyas Iyer praises Delhi Capitals’ Prithvi Shaw for his knock against KKR

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: After facing a defeat against Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer praised his rival batter Prithvi Shaw and called him a player who can the change the game in the powerplay.

    Delhi Capitals registered a comprehensive 44 run win against Kolkata Knight Riders here at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.

    “Prithvi Shaw is a type of batsman who can change the game in the powerplay. I’ve played with him before, obviously. He hits the good shots and even as a captain, I can’t figure out how to set the field for him,” Shreyas said in the post-match press conference.

    “Prithvi is someone who doesn’t go really big against spinners. Since he got a really good start, I tried to restrict the momentum that they got. I thought Varun and Sunil are really experienced bowlers, and they could have restricted at that point of time and give us a good hold,” he added.

    The skipper further said that his side need to focus on their batting, in order to win in games with such high targets.

    “Absolutely not worried about the starts we’re getting. But when you’re chasing 214-215 you need to get off to a really good start. And, you know, you can’t think twice about what the bowler is going to bowl because you have to have that attacking mindset right from ball one and one mistake can get you out as a batsman,” said Shreyas.

    “I wouldn’t blame anyone in this particular chase. But, yes, we have this history in the last few games that we didn’t get really good starts and obviously that is also something we need to work on. And this is just the early stage of the tournament. So, you know, once we start practising more, start executing stuff really well on the field, I think, things will be really taken care of pretty well,” he added.

    Delhi Capitals not only excelled with the bat but they also were brilliant with the ball and the standout performer was chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav who bagged four wickets and also for the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

    Rishabh Pant led Delhi registered their second win of the season and now they have two wins from four matches.

  • Shreyas Iyer praises Delhi Capitals’ Prithvi Shaw for his knock against KKR

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: After facing a defeat against Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer praised his rival batter Prithvi Shaw and called him a player who can the change the game in the powerplay.

    Delhi Capitals registered a comprehensive 44 run win against Kolkata Knight Riders here at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.

    “Prithvi Shaw is a type of batsman who can change the game in the powerplay. I’ve played with him before, obviously. He hits the good shots and even as a captain, I can’t figure out how to set the field for him,” Shreyas said in the post-match press conference.

    “Prithvi is someone who doesn’t go really big against spinners. Since he got a really good start, I tried to restrict the momentum that they got. I thought Varun and Sunil are really experienced bowlers, and they could have restricted at that point of time and give us a good hold,” he added.

    The skipper further said that his side need to focus on their batting, in order to win in games with such high targets.

    “Absolutely not worried about the starts we’re getting. But when you’re chasing 214-215 you need to get off to a really good start. And, you know, you can’t think twice about what the bowler is going to bowl because you have to have that attacking mindset right from ball one and one mistake can get you out as a batsman,” said Shreyas.

    “I wouldn’t blame anyone in this particular chase. But, yes, we have this history in the last few games that we didn’t get really good starts and obviously that is also something we need to work on. And this is just the early stage of the tournament. So, you know, once we start practising more, start executing stuff really well on the field, I think, things will be really taken care of pretty well,” he added.

    Delhi Capitals not only excelled with the bat but they also were brilliant with the ball and the standout performer was chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav who bagged four wickets and also for the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

    Rishabh Pant led Delhi registered their second win of the season and now they have two wins from four matches.

    MUMBAI: After facing a defeat against Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer praised his rival batter Prithvi Shaw and called him a player who can the change the game in the powerplay.

    Delhi Capitals registered a comprehensive 44 run win against Kolkata Knight Riders here at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.

    “Prithvi Shaw is a type of batsman who can change the game in the powerplay. I’ve played with him before, obviously. He hits the good shots and even as a captain, I can’t figure out how to set the field for him,” Shreyas said in the post-match press conference.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Prithvi is someone who doesn’t go really big against spinners. Since he got a really good start, I tried to restrict the momentum that they got. I thought Varun and Sunil are really experienced bowlers, and they could have restricted at that point of time and give us a good hold,” he added.

    The skipper further said that his side need to focus on their batting, in order to win in games with such high targets.

    “Absolutely not worried about the starts we’re getting. But when you’re chasing 214-215 you need to get off to a really good start. And, you know, you can’t think twice about what the bowler is going to bowl because you have to have that attacking mindset right from ball one and one mistake can get you out as a batsman,” said Shreyas.

    “I wouldn’t blame anyone in this particular chase. But, yes, we have this history in the last few games that we didn’t get really good starts and obviously that is also something we need to work on. And this is just the early stage of the tournament. So, you know, once we start practising more, start executing stuff really well on the field, I think, things will be really taken care of pretty well,” he added.

    Delhi Capitals not only excelled with the bat but they also were brilliant with the ball and the standout performer was chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav who bagged four wickets and also for the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

    Rishabh Pant led Delhi registered their second win of the season and now they have two wins from four matches.

  • Future of KKR is bright under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Friday said that two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders’ future is bright under the leadership of batter Shreyas Iyer.

    Iyer was appointed captain of the Kolkata side ahead of IPL 2022 and has left everyone impressed with the way he’s led the side so far despite facing a three-wicket loss in a low-scoring thriller to Royal Challengers Bangalore, especially after making a winning start against defending champions Chennai Super Kings.

    “Shreyas Iyer is a brilliant captain. Remember, he picked up (Delhi Capitals) captaincy midway through the season, like Rohit Sharma who was named Mumbai Indians’ captain halfway through the season in IPL 2013. For Delhi Capitals, Shreyas started well under the supervision of coach Ricky Ponting and he kept improving his decision-making skills in his first stint as captain,” said Pathan in an episode of Cricket Live on Star Sports.

    Pathan observed that since the time Iyer moved to Kolkata from Delhi, his leadership skills have got more limelight. “But his captaincy moves are coming to the fore prominently in this season and we will talk more about it as the tournament progresses. He’s a players’ captain. He backs the players at every turn and which is a good sign of a leader. The future of Kolkata is bright under his supervision and we’ve seen glimpses of it in the first couple of games.”

    Kolkata will be hoping that Iyer’s leadership will get them back to winning ways in IPL 2022 against Punjab Kings at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday.

  • Robin, Ruturaj spearhead chase, Dhoni finishes off in style as CSK beat DC to reach IPL final

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings enter Indian Premier League final after beating Delhi Capitals by four wickets in the first Qualifier here on Sunday.

    CSK reached the target of 173 with two balls to spare with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni remaining not out on 18 off six deliveries.

    Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scored with a 50-ball 70 while Robin Uthappa contributed a 44-ball 63.

    For DC, Tom Curran took three wickets while Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan got one each.

    Earlier, Prithvi Shaw top-scored with a 34-ball 60, while captain Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer contributed 51 not out and 37 respectively after DC scored 172 for 5 after being invited to bat.

    Josh Hazlewood was the pick of CSK bowlers with figures of 2/29 while Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo and Moeen Ali took a wicket apiece.

    Brief Scores:

    Delhi Capitals: 172 for 5 in 20 overs (Prithvi Shaw 60, Rishabh Pant 51 not out; Josh Hazlewood 2/29).

    Chennai Super Kings: 173 for 6 in 19.4 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 70, Robin Uthappa 63; Tom Curran 3/29).

  • IPL 2021: Delhi Capitals beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets, almost assured of top-two finish

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Shreyas Iyer showed steely temperament while Ravichandran Ashwin compensated his poor bowling effort with a final six as Delhi Capitals inched towards a top-two finish, beating Mumbai Indians by four wickets in an IPL match here on Saturday.

    Chasing a modest 130 on a challenging Sharjah Stadium track, DC made a rough weather of the chase but Iyer with a run-a-ball 33 anchored the innings and added crucial unbroken 39-run stand with Ashwin (20 not out).

    Needing just four runs from the last over, Ashwin sealed the chase with five balls to spare as he hit a six off Krunal Pandya as the duo shared a match-defining partnership, consuming 36 balls.

    The win took DC to 18 points from 12 games and one more win is sure to clinch a top-two finish with one more win as only twin defeats in last two games and three big wins for RCB and at least one victory from CSK will push them to third spot.

    That looks improbable at the moment with the scenario of net run-rate.

    This is the seventh loss in 12 matches this season for the five-time champions MI and their chances of qualifying for play-offs are fast fading away.

    Defending the modest total, Mumbai had a cracking start sending Delhi’s top three — Shikhar Dhawan (8), Prithvi Shaw (6) and Steve Smith (9) — back in the hut inside the powerplay.

    Kieron Pollard’s direct hit from mid-on caught Shikhar Dhawan short of his crease in the second over, while a superb review call ensured that Shaw was dismissed in a space of four balls in his comeback match.

    Smith looked in his zone and pulled Bumrah for a six but only to perish to his Australian teammate Nathan Coulter-Nile.

    Coulter-Nile cleaned up Smith around his legs with a ball that stayed low as he shuffled too much across.

    With no significant partnerships going, it was their former captain Iyer showed fine patience and rotate the strike with clever singles.

    Not under any run-rate pressure, Iyer held on cleverly rotating the strikes as he slammed just two boundaries in his run-a-ball knock.

    Earlier on a day when star bowler Ravichandran Ashwin was completely off-colour, Axar (3/21) dismissed Quinton De Kock (19), Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Saurabh Tiwary (15), ensuring that runs were hard to come by in the middle overs.

    But it was their uncapped Indian pacer Avesh Khan (3/15) who continued his dream run in the IPL and set it up for Capitals, hurrying Rohit Sharma with sheer pace.

    Avesh then returned at the death and dismissed the dangerous Hardik Pandya (17) and Nathan Coulter Nile (1) in three balls to further tighten the noose.

    World’s fastest bowler Anrich Nortje, who shared the new ball with Avesh, was also tidy with 1/19 from his four overs as DC bowlers got their length right on a slow deck.

    Such was their discipline that none of the MI batters save Surya could cross 20-run mark.

    Before that the Madhya Pradesh lad Avesh conceded just seven runs with eight dot balls in his first two overs and took the prized-scalp of MI skipper Rohit Sharma in his fifth ball of the day.

    Avesh’s run-up might not look smooth but the effort ball to bounce Rohit out was special as the India’s T20 captain in waiting couldn’t connect his pull-shot.

    The 24-year-old, who is second (21) in the list of leading wicketakers in this IPL, now has taken three Indian superstars — MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and now Rohit — in this IPL.

    Ashwin at the other end looked unsettled with Surya sweeping the star Indian off-spinner for a six, while De Kock also looked ominous, taking on his compatriot Kagiso Rabada with a lap-shot over fine-leg.

    Making a smart captaincy call, Rishabh Pant brought on Axar immediately after the power-play and the Gujarat lad delivered dismissing De Kock in his second ball.

    He smartly used his height advantage and was spot-on with his lengths, making it difficult for the Mumbai batsmen.

    Having not been in best of forms, Surya looked to be back in his element top-scoring for them with a 26-ball 33 but Patel outsmarted the Mumbai no 3 with a full toss.