STATS NUGGETS
Follow UsHere are a few noteworthy statistical nuggets - apart from the usual number-crunching - from the game between Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab:
One too many
Kings XI Punjab have always been a good team on paper, but without a good leader, that aura is missing. It has been the case for Kings XI throughout their IPL career. Prior to this season, Punjab have had 11 captains, the debut of KL Rahul as their captain marks the 12th which is the most by a team. Delhi are in the list behind them with 11 captains. In the 2016 season, David Miller was dethroned as captain of Kings XI Punjab and Murali Vijay took charge. Next season he also was decommissioned as Glenn Maxwell took over in 2017. The inconsistency in the leadership has been one of their biggest woes.
Shikhar and his running issues
Miscommunication when running between the wickets is one of the most common features of a run-out and none better than Shikhar Dhawan to evidence that. In the IPL he has been run-out far too many times. Against KXIP, he was left for dead by Prithvi Shaw in the 2nd over of the match. In the IPL, he has been dismissed run-out on 15 occasions, only Gautam Gambhir (16) has more than him.
Delhi hit a low
Delhi Capitals’ top order is an explosive one with players like Dhawan, Shaw and Shreyas Iyer in the top three. However, that wasn’t the case in the first match as they slumped to 23/3. Their score of 23/2 is their joint third-lowest score in the first six overs in IPL. Their lowest score of 21/3 was also registered against KXIP in 2016 at Dharamsala.
Shami sets the stage ablaze
With a tinge of grass on the pitch, a bowler like Mohammed Shami who is skiddy and has one of the best seam positions, tends to find success. Courtesy of his three wickets for 15 runs, he registered his best figures in the IPL. His previous best returns of 3 for 21 came against Mumbai Indians in 2019. Shami was unstoppable in the Powerplay overs, bowling three overs on the trot and picking up two wickets by conceding only eight runs.
Stoinis marks his arrival with a bang
Coming into bat at the fag end of the innings with 5 wicket down for a score of 93, Marcus Stoinis had a huge burden of giving something for the bowlers to defend. Starting off slow, he went berserk in the last two overs of the innings. First, he scored 13 runs off Sheldon Cottrell in the 19th and then bashed Chris Jordan for 25 runs in the last over. Riding on 38 runs from two overs, he went on to score a 50 off just 20 balls which is the third joint-fastest for a Delhi batsman in IPL.
Mayank registers his highest score in IPL
Kings XI Punjab were in deep trouble at 55/5 chasing 158 with the required run rate close to 10. Against a bowling attack of Kagiso Rabada, Axar Patel and Anrich Nortje few would've backed the chasing side. However, Mayank Agarwal was in the mood today, out of the blue he almost won the match for KXIP by scoring 89 runs off 60 balls. Prior to this match, against Kings XI Punjab playing for Delhi Capitals in 2015, he had registered his highest score of 68.
The first Super Over of IPL 2020
Thanks to a stupendous effort from Agarwal, Punjab were able to push this match to a Super Over. This was the tenth instance of a Super Over in IPL history and the first of this season. Both teams previously were involved in two Super Overs. Punjab had won their first in 2010 against Chennai in Chennai and the 2nd one they had won against Rajasthan in 2015 in Ahmedabad. On the other hand, Delhi had lost their first against Bangalore in Bangalore and they had won their previous one against Kolkata in 2019 in Delhi.
Nicholas Pooran and his misery in Super Overs
Renowned as a fierce hitter, his selection as one of the three batsmen in a one-over eliminator didn't come as a surprise. However, the left-handed West Indian is yet to get off the mark in a Super Over. He has faced a total of six balls, 5 he faced against Sunil Narine in CPL 2014 and failed to score a run and today he got out to the only ball faced.
Picture courtesy: BCCI
