IPL 2021: Twitter Reacts As Shikhar Dhawan's Masterclass Knock Seals Delhi Capitals' Sixth Win

Delhi Capitals sealed yet another comfortable win at the Narendra Modi Stadium, this time against the Punjab Kings, chasing 167 in 20 overs. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw yet again got the Delhi Capitals off to a confident start, laying the foundation for a solid opening stand. Dhawan stayed unbeaten at 69 and played a calculated knock and snatched the Orange Cap from KL Rahul. Mayank Agarwal, who filled in for KL Rahul as captain in this game, struck an unbeaten 99, but it went in vain as the Delhi Capitals coasted to their sixth victory.

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Kagiso Rabada showed the way out to Prabhsimran Singh and Chris Gayle in his first two overs to deliver the Capitals a promising start. Mayank Agarwal and debutant Dawid Malan struggled to get away easily, with the latter surviving a close LBW shout against Axar Patel. After a few confident starts, the southpaw lost his leg-stump to Patel in his third over, followed by Deepak Hooda perishing, thanks to an ugly mix-up with Agarwal.

Punjab Kings reached their 100 in their 15th over, with Shahrukh Khan and Chris Jordan departing in the 17th and 18th, respectively. Mayank Agarwal, who got to his half-century in the 16th over, had already begun cutting loose and did further in the last couple of overs. The last five overs yielded 75 runs, including 23 in the final, as Mayank fell one short of a well-deserved hundred, laced with eight fours and four sixes.

Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw were on song once again as they made batting look much more comfortable against the likes of Mohammed Shami and Riley Meredith. Off-spinner Harpreet Brar, who starred in the previous match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, broke the 63-run stand by knocking over Shaw’s off-stump. Dhawan joined hands with Steve Smith and both provided the perfect example of strike rotation, milking the ones and two against spinners without much risks. The 48-run partnership between the two came to an end, with Smith picking out Dawid Malan at deep square leg off Riley Meredith’s bowling. The next over saw Dhawan bring up yet another fifty off Ravi Bishnoi off 35 balls.

Rishabh Pant also got in the business straight away as he got off the mark with a boundary, playing a reverse sweep and with Shikhar Dhawan now set, Punjab bowlers could not control. By the 16th over, The runs required came down significantly as the Delhi Capitals were motoring along exceptionally well. Pant’s bat went flying in the 17th over bowled by Chris Jordan and was caught by Mayank Agarwal. Hetmyer, who struck a fifty in a losing cause against RCB, stayed till the end with Dhawan, who stayed not out at 69, to finish the match with seven wickets to spare.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the 29th match of IPL 2021 between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals:

Sorry how can you play that shot @<!---->R<!---->i<!---->s<!---->h<!---->a<!---->b<!---->h<!---->P<!---->a<!---->n<!---->t<!---->1<!---->7 played. First ball you face, slip in place and backward point. Ridiculous!!! #<!---->D<!---->C<!---->v<!---->s<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

The rise in @<!---->D<!---->e<!---->l<!---->h<!---->i<!---->C<!---->a<!---->p<!---->i<!---->t<!---->a<!---->l<!---->s over last 2 seasons has been mainly due to @<!---->S<!---->D<!---->h<!---->a<!---->w<!---->a<!---->n<!---->2<!---->5 . The guy is so consistent. Keeps playing match winning knocks consistently.#<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S<!---->v<!---->D<!---->C #<!---->I<!---->p<!---->l<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

— Himanshu Bhardwaj (@Himanshu4038581) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

#<!---->D<!---->e<!---->l<!---->h<!---->i<!---->C<!---->a<!---->p<!---->i<!---->t<!---->a<!---->l<!---->s pacing this innings perfectly. Hasn't it been so good watching @<!---->S<!---->D<!---->h<!---->a<!---->w<!---->a<!---->n<!---->2<!---->5 play this year.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Unbeaten in 99* runs (IPL)

Suresh Raina vs SRH (2013)
Chris Gayle vs RCB (2019)
Mayank Agarwal vs DC (Today)*#<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S<!---->v<!---->s<!---->D<!---->C

— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

OUT

A lovely ball from @<!---->t<!---->h<!---->i<!---->s<!---->i<!---->s<!---->b<!---->r<!---->a<!---->r who gets one to grip from middle and off and clip the off peg to remove a dangerous looking Shaw. He really has the Midas touch at the moment.h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->R<!---->m<!---->0<!---->j<!---->f<!---->Z<!---->K<!---->X<!---->X<!---->T #<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S<!---->v<!---->D<!---->C #<!---->V<!---->I<!---->V<!---->O<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->M<!---->V<!---->0<!---->a<!---->d<!---->D<!---->d<!---->c<!---->r<!---->C

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Oh Mayank,,,,,,,,99*????

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Highest Powerplay scores in #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

67/0 – DC v KKR
65/0 – DC v CSK
65/2 – RCB v CSK
63/0 – DC v PBKS (today)
62/1 – DC v PBKS

Domination by Dhawan & Shaw!! #<!---->D<!---->C<!---->v<!---->s<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

#<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S<!---->v<!---->D<!---->C
Deepak Hooda and Mayank Agrawal at the non strikers end ….. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->C<!---->E<!---->s<!---->l<!---->t<!---->X<!---->Q<!---->J<!---->9<!---->y

— El Niño?? (@suppandiiii) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Massive blow for Punjab Kings, captain and batting mainstay @klrahul11 missing tonight’s match. Hospitalised for appendicitis, will have to undergo surgery so could miss some more games

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

You have the world’s No 1 T-20 player David Malan in the team. And you open with Prabhsimran. That’s bad strategy @<!---->P<!---->u<!---->n<!---->j<!---->a<!---->b<!---->K<!---->i<!---->n<!---->g<!---->s<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L #<!---->D<!---->C<!---->v<!---->s<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

I would like to see any batsman play that ball Rabada bowled to Gayle….

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

What a knock @<!---->m<!---->a<!---->y<!---->a<!---->n<!---->k<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t , unfortunate not to get to triple figures but a knock that was fabulous! Felt @<!---->P<!---->u<!---->n<!---->j<!---->a<!---->b<!---->K<!---->i<!---->n<!---->g<!---->s<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L were short by 10 but they can certainly make it up with some disciplined bowling! Looks like an interesting chase for @<!---->D<!---->e<!---->l<!---->h<!---->i<!---->C<!---->a<!---->p<!---->i<!---->t<!---->a<!---->l<!---->s ! #<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S<!---->v<!---->s<!---->D<!---->C

— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Take a bow @<!---->m<!---->a<!---->y<!---->a<!---->n<!---->k<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t Superbly paced innings and showed a lot of character as a skipper. #<!---->D<!---->C<!---->v<!---->s<!---->P<!---->B<!---->K<!---->S #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 @<!---->P<!---->u<!---->n<!---->j<!---->a<!---->b<!---->K<!---->i<!---->n<!---->g<!---->s<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

This was a captain's innings, if there was one. The acceleration at the end was awesome. Last 70 from 33 balls but as always, good looking shots from @<!---->m<!---->a<!---->y<!---->a<!---->n<!---->k<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t. A 99, in the context of a match, is as valuable as a century.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1