Watch: Mitchell Santner's dream delivery ends Karun Nair's fairytale knock on IPL return

Mitchell Santner, on Sunday (April 13) delivered a breathtaking delivery to get rid of Karun Nair during the match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

With Faf du Plessis injured, Delhi Capitals finally handed Karun Nair the chance to play a game for the first time this season. And the out-of-favor India batsman grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It was also his first game in the IPL since 2022 when he played three games for Rajasthan Royals.

Karun Nair had also not scored a fifty in the IPL since 2018. Unsurprisingly, all eyes were on him when he walked out to open the innings for Delhi Capitals. With the home side chasing a huge total of 206 runs, many expected Jake Fraser-McGurk to attack and Nair to play the role of the second fiddle.

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However, Fraser-McGurk was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball of the innings and the onus was on Nair to not only steady the ship but also bat at a good pace to ensure that the required run-rate remained in reach. Well, Nair did not disappoint as he played one of the best IPL knocks of his career to put Delhi Capitals in the driver's seat.

Mitchell Santner ends Karun Nair's fairytale knock:

Karun Nair raced away to his fifty in just 22 balls and helped Delhi Capitals end the powerplay on 72/1. Even after the fielding restrictions ended, he kept playing the big shots at regular intervals and was looking destined to score his first IPL century.

However, his hopes were dashed by a dream delivery from Mitchell Santner. The New Zealand captain clean-bowled Nair in the 12th over to give Mumbai Indians a huge wicket. The left-arm spinner bowled a good length delivery that was angled in and Nair pressed back to play a defensive shot.

However, he was completely bamboozled by the delivery as the ball ripped away at the last moment after hitting the deck and completed squared up the Delhi Capitals opener. The ball went on to hit the top of the off-stump. Nair had to depart for a well-made 89 runs on his comeback. His knock came off just 40 balls and was studded with 12 fours and 5 sixes.

Watch the delivery from Mitchell Santner:

pic.twitter.com/RHH9OjjjcO

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) April 13, 2025