KL Rahul
KL Rahul (Image Credit: Twitter)

KL Rahul and co. went down to the Delhi Capitals in a high-scoring game as Punjab Kings suffered their second consecutive loss in IPL 2021. Shikhar Dhawan’s pristine knock of 92 helped the Delhi Capitals overcome Punjab Kings’ daunting total of 196 after putting to bat. KL Rahul, who scored an uncharacteristic 51-ball 61, lamented the dew factor and admitted that they misjudged the dew factor at the Wankhede, making the total at least 10-15 runs short.

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal went hard at the Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack, stitching a 122-runs stand as the opposition’s fielding was substandard. Nevertheless, the Capitals pulled back the innings well after Mayank Agarwal departed for a blazing 69 off 36 deliveries. Rahul, who played an anchor’s role could not entirely cut loose, perishing for 61 in 51 balls. On the other hand, Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran could not play according to their usual self either.

Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal [Image-IPLT20]
Towards the end, Shahrukh Khan and Deepak Hooda delivered some pyrotechnics to lift Punjab to 195, which earlier looked unlikely. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw responded to the steep run-chase equally well as they added 59 in less than six overs. Steve Smith departed for a scratchy 9 following Prithvi Shaw’s 17-ball 32. Marcus Stoinis tilted the scales entirely towards the Capitals in the 17th over that included an above-waist no-ball and overstepping from Mohammed Shami. Stoinis and Lalit Yadav finished it off to deliver a win by six wickets.

The first half Mayank and I were saying the same, that we’d be good if we got 180-190: KL Rahul

KL Rahul
KL Rahul (Image Credit: Twitter)

KL Rahul underlined that a victory would have been sweet on his birthday and felt disappointed; however, having many games left, he was optimistic. The 28-year old admitted that Punjab Kings were 10-15 runs short even though in hindsight, they thought that 180-190 would be enough. Rahul lamented the dew factor and suggested that the umpires could change the balls every two overs, which unfortunately is against the rules.

“Victory would’ve been sweet on my birthday. Slightly disappointing but we’ve still got a lot of games left. In the end when you look at it, it does look 10-15 short. But I felt batting in the middle 196 was really good. The first half Mayank and I were saying the same, that we’d be good if we got 180-190. But obviously at Wankhede there’s dew and credit to Dhawan. Dew did sway things, bowling second’s always a challenge at Wankhede. We always try to prepare for such conditions but it does get difficult in the situations. I think it would be fair [the ball changes every two overs, Doull’s suggestions] and I’m not just saying that because I’m on the losing side. I did ask the umpires to change the ball a couple of times but that’s not in the rules,” Rahul told in the post-match presentation.

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