IPL 2024: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals, 26th Match - Who Said What?

The Lucknow Super Giants posted a commendable first innings total of 167/7, with Ayush Badoni emerging as the standout performer for the hosts, securing the third half-century of his IPL career. From a dire position of 94/7 in 13 overs, Badoni and Arshad Khan took the game deep with a record-breaking eighth wicket stand of 73 runs off just 42 deliveries. Kuldeep Yadav dazzled for the Delhi Capitals, claiming a three-wicket haul during the middle phase of the game, stifling the likes of big-name players such as Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, and KL Rahul in his trap.

The visitors started brightly, forging 62 runs in the powerplay. There came a period where the bowlers of LSG came back well, conceding just 13 runs between overs 7 and 10, however, Aussie youngster, Jake Fraser-McGurk, had other intentions, slamming a maiden IPL half-century in his first game in the IPL, just a day post his 22nd birthday, giving the perfect return gift DC could ask for. Rishabh Pant also joined the party, contributing a crucial 41 off 24, before Tristan Stubbs and Shai Hope guided DC to their second win of the season with six wickets in the bag and 11 deliveries to spare.

Talking Points

1. Ayush Badoni finally comes good with the bat

After a disappointing string of scores reading 1, 8, 0, and 20, the Delhi-born batter stepped up to the occasion against the Delhi-based franchise, rescuing them after coming in to bat after the dismissal of the well-set KL Rahul, scoring his third fifty of the IPL, ending up on 55* off 35.

2. Death bowling a worry for DC

Although starting decently well with the new ball, the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, and Mukesh Kumar, have more often than not, leaked runs aplenty, with the three of them in the thick of things yet again, conceding 15, 13, and 11 runs in the 18th, 19th, and 20th over, respectively.

3. Another youngster comes to the fore for DC

The South African, Tristan Stubbs, has been in glorious touch, scoring a swift 54 against the Kolkata Knight Riders and a blinder of a 71-run outing against the Mumbai Indians. Jake Fraser-McGurk, the young Australian, in his maiden IPL game, looked as good as Stubbs seemed during his previous couple of outings, with the 22-year-old scoring a stellar 55 off 35.

Who Said What?

Losing skipper KL Rahul:

"We were 15-20 short, should've capitalised to get 180. There was a bit of help for seamers, the odd-ball was keeping low, and Kuldeep put the brakes on our batting group. We fought till the end. McGurk, the new guy when he come in, was very unknown. We've watched a lot of videos of him but he hit the ball really well, credit to him. We walked in with the same kind of mindset, assess what the good areas, what pace works on this wicket and execute as well as we can. We got Warner, and a couple after the powerplay. We were in the game till the 10th over, then a dropped catch, and then Rishabh-McGurk took it away from us. In hindsight, can wonder if we could've done something differently [with Pooran's batting position]. Not much spin for Axar, so I thought Nicky P with the shots he has can put the opposition under pressure. We knew they had to bowl their spinners in that phase. Mayank is not too bad, he looks good, feeling good, but we also want to make sure we don't rush him back in too early. He's young, we need to protect his body. He's itching to go, we just have to pull him back a little, maybe a couple of more games before he comes back."

Winning skipper Rishabh Pant:

"Relieved! Told the boys we need to think like champions, keep fighting hard. There have been phases where we've not been upto the mark with the ball but some individuals have to take responsibility. We have to stick together as a team. Problem we had is so many injuries in the camp. With 10 teams, difficult to get players. We can either make an excuse or learn. Most probably [we've found our No. 3], haven't thought a lot yet. Take it one match at a time."

Player of the Match Kuldeep Yadav:

"Wasn't fit for a couple of games, got injured in the first game. Was difficult to see the team struggle in the middle overs. Credit to Patrick for maintaining me. All those were good wickets, when you get three in the middle overs and control the run rate as well as chasing the target, it's good. I liked the first wicket, played a lot against Pooran. Execution was right, that was a good ball. I was clear with my plan, length matters a lot as a spinner. Irrespective of format, good length is good length."