Delhi Capitals (DC) continued to display their masterclass this season, as they tamed former champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 23 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Being played in Sharjah, DC won by 46 runs, as they have again risen to the top spot in the table. Meanwhile, we take a look at the crucial talking points from the game.
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Match report: Winning the toss, RR skipper Steve Smith elected to bowl first, as the decision did not go well. While DC were initially shaky, it was Shimron Hetmyer's 24-ball 45, along with Marcus Stoinis's 30-ball 39, that allowed them to post an above-par total of 1848. RR pacer Jofra Archer claimed 324.
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In reply, the RR openers did try to give a strong start. However, following their dismissal, the middle-order just could not sustain the pressure, as they collapsed like a pile of cards. Although Rahul Tewatia did fight back with a strong knock of 38, it was not enough to see RR through, as Kagiso Rabada's 335 did the job for DC.
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End of the line for David Miller? South African finisher Miller could only play a game this season, where he was run out, without facing a ball. However, he was not selected for tonight's game. Also, with Ben Stokes arriving for the next match, it would be interesting to see where Miller could be fit in. Provided Stokes impresses, along with the other overseas players, Miller's campaign could come to a premature end.
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Shikhar Dhawan under pressure: Dhawan has had a poor IPL so far. In six matches, he has managed to score just 132 runs at a paltry average of 22.00, which happens to be the worst for the side among batsmen, this season. Failing to accelerate in the coming games could put his Twenty20 (T20) career in jeopardy, including T20Is.
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Tewatia's love story with Sharjah continues: Tewatia has become a popular name for RR this season, especially after he pulled off a miracle against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), in Sharjah. Since then, he has developed a love for the venue, as he has been performing here, consistently. His figures of 120 tonight happen to be the most economical spell at the venue this season (Economy: 5.00).
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Too much expectation from Tewatia could be harmful: As said earlier, Tewatia might have become a hero following a game. However, expecting him to fire in every game is not an ideal thing from the side. This is likely to put extra pressure on him, which could eventually lead to his morale being hurt. As for today's innings, he did try hard, especially against a tough bowling attack of DC.
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Robin Uthappa as an opener for RR? RR are right at pushing young-gun Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, he might not always be the best-choice opener for them. Instead, pushing veteran Robin Uthappa could work for them, as he was a renowned openertop-order batsman while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Meanwhile, Jaiswal can be pushed down to number threefour, where he can still perform equivalent to an opener.
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