New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) In a match brimming with drama, emotion, and razor-thin margins, Delhi Capitals edged past Rajasthan Royals in a Super Over thriller that saw Mitchell Starc and Tristan Stubbs rise to the occasion under Arun Jaitley Stadium floodlights here on Wednesday.
The stadium bore witness to heartbreak and heroism as Dhruv Jurel’s valiant effort dragged Rajasthan to the brink, only for Delhi to snatch it away in the super over.
The regulation 20 overs ended in a tie, thanks to Jurel’s fearless strokeplay and a moment of brilliance that saw him run out going for an impossible second run. With just two needed off the final ball, Mitchell Starc speared in a full delivery on off, which Jurel clipped to deep mid-wicket. Axar Patel was quick to the ball and fired in a flat throw to KL Rahul, who whipped off the bails with Jurel well short. The batsman wasn’t even in the frame, his dismissal (26 off 17) ensured a pulsating finish. The fans roared, and the air crackled with anticipation, pushing the game into a super over.
Earlier, Jurel had played a blinder. Mohit Sharma was carted over deep square for six, Sameer Rizvi's near catch turned into a scrambled two, and a soaring loft over long-off gave RR hope. But Starc's late brilliance, especially the magical inswinging yorker that crushed Nitish Rana’s stumps at 51, tilted the momentum Delhi’s way.
Sent in first in the Super Over, Rajasthan faltered. Mitchell Starc started with a dot, tailing it in from around the wicket to Hetmyer. The Caribbean left-hander responded with a muscular heave over mid-wicket for four, and then a powerful single. Then chaos took over.
On the fourth delivery, Riyan Parag slashed a low full toss for four, but it was ruled a back-foot no-ball—worse still for Delhi, it brought a free-hit. But joy was short-lived. Parag was run out the very next ball, a brain fade where Shimron Hetmyer called him through after the ball had barely ricocheted off the pad. KL Rahul lobbed it to Starc, who calmly removed the bails.
Two balls later, Hetmyer tried to steal a second after muscling a full toss at deep mid. Jaiswal, now out to bat, was too casual, didn’t dive, and Starc again broke the stumps. Just 11 on the board. Delhi had their chance. And they seized it.
Rahul took strike and immediately ran a risky two, Jaiswal’s throw to Jurel was high, and the keeper missed the flick onto the stumps. Next ball, Rahul calmly stepped across and flayed a short ball over backward point for four. He followed it up with a drive to the right of backward point to keep the strike. 7 off 3.
Then came Stubbs. Sandeep Sharma, a trusted death bowler, looked rattled. His slower-ball predictability was exposed as Stubbs danced down the track and pulled one mightily into the night sky. It soared over deep mid-wicket. The Delhi dugout erupted.
Stubbs and Rahul punched gloves. Delhi had chased 12 in just four balls to win the Super Over.
Delhi’s win was not without cost, Kuldeep Yadav grimaced with a shoulder niggle after a boundary dive, and there were moments of sheer luck for RR: Hetmyer’s inside edge beating the stumps, Nitish Rana being dropped by Stubbs, and even surviving a close LBW thanks to a good review. But ultimately, cricket proved to be the great leveller.
Rajasthan’s brave effort, led by Jaiswal’s 51 and Rana’s classy 51, fell just short. Delhi now have a win to remember, and for Rajasthan, a night of "what ifs."
Earlier, a late onslaught from Axar and Stubbs powered Delhi to 188/5, after early blows had threatened to derail their innings. Opting to bowl, Rajasthan struck early, with Jofra Archer removing Jake Fraser-McGurk and triggering a run-out that sent Karun Nair back without facing a ball.
Abishek Porel (49) and Rahul (38) rebuilt steadily but fell just as they looked poised for big scores, leaving DC at 105/4 in the 14th over.
From there, Axar (34 off 14) and Stubbs (34* off 18) turned the tide with a fiery counterattack, capitalising on sloppy fielding and wayward bowling at the death. Maheesh Theekshana was taken apart by Axar, while Stubbs punished Sandeep Sharma in the final over—despite being dropped twice, including a sitter by Theekshana.
Delhi added 83 runs in the last 6.1 overs, aided by cameos from Ashutosh Sharma and some inventive strokeplay, as Rajasthan's fielding lapses undid their early discipline.
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