In pursuit of 273 runs, the home team encountered a turbulent start as their opening pair, Prithvi Shaw and David Warner, stepped onto the field. Shaw’s bat failed to spark any fireworks this time, as he departed in just the second over.
The tension escalated further as Mitchell Marsh and Warner were dismissed without troubling the scorers, both falling prey to their fellow countryman Mitchell Starc.
Adding to the disappointment, Delhi’s substitute Abhishek Porel also made a swift return to the pavilion without adding any runs, leaving the hosts in a precarious position at 51/4 by the conclusion of the powerplay.
However, amidst the gloom, the Delhi squad managed to stabilize somewhat when Tristan Stubbs and captain Rishabh Pant constructed a composed partnership, contributing 54 runs and steering their team to 87/4 after 10 overs.
The atmosphere at Visakhapatnam was charged with anticipation as Pant, displaying shades of his vintage brilliance, unleashed an onslaught on KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer, accumulating 28 runs in the 12th over, including a remarkable no-look six.
On the fourth delivery of the 12th over, Venkatesh sent down a length ball aiming at the leg stump, hoping to entice the DC batter into a big shot.
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However, Pant seized the opportunity presented by the substandard delivery, gracefully crouching and flicking the ball over short fine leg for a maximum. Exhibiting a blend of authority and finesse, Pant refrained from casting a glance back at the spectacular shot he executed, signifying a notable resurgence in this season’s competition.