Follow UsDelhi Capitals (DC) faced a formidable opponent and challenge at the Chinnaswamy — a full-of-substance Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting attack.
However, the DC leg spinners, left-armer Kuldeep Yadav and right-armer Vipraj Nigam bowled eight overs for just 35 runs between them and picked four key wickets to handicap RCB’s innings, and they could post only 163/7 in their stipulated 20 overs. DC chased down that target with 13 deliveries remaining and strengthened their position in the points table.
Speaking after the win, skipper Axar Patel praised both his wrist spinners and especially highlighted Nigam's rapid improvement.
“Kuldeep has been doing it for many years," Axar said at the post-match presentation.
"But it's not easy to be consistent - the IPL is a big stage, and has its own pressure. Talking about Vipraj, in the first two games, he was under a bit of pressure,” Axar added.
“But after that, the way he bowled in the last game [2/27 against Chennai Super Kings] and even tonight [2/18], when I asked him for the 18th over, he was confident and said he would bowl. He is improving day by day, and if someone gives you that confidence, nothing better than that for a captain.”
Axar also mentioned how the spinners were introduced early. He spotted some help for them in the powerplay itself, and it proved to be the right call for DC in the end.
“Obviously, we talk about match-ups and look at what is happening from the wicket," the DC skipper said.
"Their openers prefer facing fast bowlers, so I thought I should not bowl them much. When I started bowling, the ball was sticking in the pitch, and there was some bounce, too. I realised it was difficult to score off-spinners.
"As the match progressed, the ball started turning more for wrist-spinners. But I think I went a bit overboard with tactics for the 19th over [which went for 17 runs]. But since we won, it's all good (laughs).”
DC are the only team not to have lost a game so far in IPL 2025 and are in the second spot in the points table with four wins in as many games