Delhi Capitals script history

In what can be termed as a pre-Diwali gift to lakhs of their fans, Delhi Capitals tore the form book to shreds and defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 17 runs for their maiden entry into the final of the Indian Premier League on Sunday night.

Highs and lows, flashes of brilliance and moments of dullness, this had been the campaign of Delhi Capitals in this edition of the IPL being played in extremely hot, hard and humid conditions in the UAE.

Predictability had become a factor of uncertainty with the Delhi Capitals after their mid-season collapse in the league phase. And when they lost to Mumbai Indians once again in the first qualifier, there was despair for Delhi Capitals.

The high point about Delhi Capitals this season, despite the fluctuation in form and fortunes has been their ability to bounce back, time and again. And that is what they did in a virtual do-or-die contest against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday night.

It has been a pretty confusing pattern for captains, IPL team think-tanks and fans as well as to what one does after winning the toss. Perhaps, Delhi Capitals had planned well, with the fox-like Ricky Ponting being the guiding force at the helm. His cunning and ability to forge a good relationship with Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer saw the team once again buck the trend. They chose to bat after winning the toss.

There were a few changes in the side and more important Marcus Stoinis, the Aussie who has shown his worth before in the Big Bash League,  was pushed to the top. Stoinis and Shikhar Dhawan, nicknamed “Gabbar” for his batting style, ensured Delhi Capitals would start well. That, certainly, was the important ingredient for the Delhi franchise this time, with Shreyas Iyer and Shimron Hetmyer also doing their job.

The total of 189 which Delhi Capitals put on board in 20 overs could have been even higher had it not been for the cunning of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the death overs. And in the last over, the man who has become synonymous with consistency and nagging accuracy, T.Natarajan, once again bowled superbly. The left-arm paceman was a miser in  giving away runs in the last over.

For Sunrisers Hyderabad, a lot depended on captain David Warner firing. He could not and the other opener who had been pushed up the order, Priyam Garg, perhaps could not handle the pressure and fell cheaply.

With the top order gone early, Sunrisers Hyderabad knew it would be an uphill task. In the previous match, Kane Willismson and Jason Holder had delivered victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Williamson shone again, scoring 67, but Holder fell. Abdul Samad tried hard but against the smart DC bowling attack where Kagiso Rabada and Marcus Stoinis were penetrative and effective, they stole the show.

It was a night for Delhi Capitals to celebrate even though the final is still to be played, on Tuesday. The Delhi side knows their opponents Mumbai Indians are strong, in fluent form and have the rich experience of playing their sixth final.

The surprise element in this IPL is already on view, with DC making it to the final. They know, form and previous history is against them but then one cannot be dead sure in a  final where the stakes are very high. The desert duel on Tuesday, from 730pm (IST) will be watched by millions around the globe.