IPL 2023: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Match 50 - Talking Points and Who Said What?

The 50th game of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 featured a clash between the David Warner-led Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday, May 6. After winning the toss, Bangalore elected to bat first.

Through brilliant knocks by Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Mahipal Lomror, Bangalore managed to post 181 runs on the board for Delhi to chase. However, Delhi opener Phil Salt came with all guns blazing during the run chase, and his excellent knock of 87 runs in 45 deliveries, helped Delhi win the game by seven wickets.

Here are the Talking Points from the DC vs RCB clash-

Mahipal Lomror’s blitzkrieg

Indian all-rounder Mahipal Lomror was sensational for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first innings of the game. He came in to bat during a crucial time in the first innings and the 23-year-old scored an unbeaten 54 runs in just 29 deliveries, and his knock proved to be integral to Bangalore posting 181 runs on the board for Delhi Capitals to chase.

Phil Salt’s explosive knock

English batter Phil Salt was in a league of his own during the run chase in the game. Opening the innings with David Warner, Salt amassed 87 runs in just 45 deliveries and was undoubtedly the biggest factor in Delhi registering their fourth win of the IPL 2023.

Virat Kohli scores his 50th IPL fifty, completes 7000 IPL runs

Ace Indian batter Virat Kohli continued his excellent form against Delhi Capitals as well. Opening the innings for Bangalore alongside Faf du Plessis, Kohli amassed 55 runs in 46 deliveries. His sixth half-century of the ongoing season was also his 50th in the history of the IPL. Furthermore, the 34-year-old also crossed the 7000-run mark in the tournament.

Losing skipper Faf du Plessis said:

I felt it was pretty close, I thought 181 was a pretty good score. The dew took the spinners out of the game, but credit to them (DC batters) as well. You like your spinners in the game, but you need to bowl in the right areas despite of the dew. A few bad balls and a few mistakes, we were short, but yeah, they really batted well. We didn't maximise towards the end. We felt like 185 was a par score, we needed one big over that could take us to 200, that would have made a difference. But that's what happens when you apply pressure. Maxi (Maxwell) has been going well for us at 4. We thought we could have him early (at no.3 ) because he is going well. I was really pleased to see Lomror at 5 and he played really well, still really a good positive for him. That's the nature of the slow pitch, you always try to come in the first six overs and try to get on top of the game.

Winning skipper David Warner said:

Amazing. I thought it was a par score, the ball was skidding. But the way we came out led by Phil Salt paved the way. Our intention was to take on Siraj, he's been bowling well and taking wickets early. His wickets have been bowled or LBW so we wanted to drag his length back. Credit to the way the bowlers bowled, Anrich is not there but Ishant is leading the pack with Khaleel. And Kuldeep and Axar as well have been brilliant. It is all about momentum, we are finding the right balance at the right time. Now we go to Chennai and try to get a performance there, I know it will be tough

Player of the Match Phil Salt said:

I spoke before the game about being positive. We knew the wicket was slow and low, and we spoke about playing off the backfoot. I thought 180 was par, I felt we would have to bat really well to get there. (On Mitch Marsh) He came in and hit the second ball for six or something like that, it put bowlers on the backfoot. Loving the support, specially here in Delhi.