Twitter Reactions: Mitchell Starc's stunning five-fer helps DC bundle out SRH for 163
Mitchell Starc in his 3.4 overs, picked five wickets and conceded just 35 runs against a strong SRH batting line-up.
Delhi Capitals' ace speedster Mitchell Starc produced an impressive spell to dismantle Sunrisers Hyderabad, restricting them to a mere 163 during their IPL 2025 clash at Visakhapatnam on Sunday afternoon. The left-arm pacer bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, finishing with figures of 5/35 in 3.4 overs. With this performance, Starc now holds the Purple Cap, leading the wicket-taking charts with eight wickets in just two matches.
SRH, having one of the strongest batting line-ups in the tournament, got off to an underwhelming start after opting to bat first. Their aggressive approach looked promising initially, but Starc soon wreaked havoc with his opening spell. The Aussie began by dismissing Ishan Kishan (2) with a short ball, forcing the left-hander to hit straight to deep backward point. Just two balls later, Nitish Kumar Reddy (0) fell prey to an off-cutter, mistiming a shot that landed safely in Axar Patel’s hands at mid-on.
The 35-year-old then delivered the biggest blow by removing his Australian teammate, Travis Head (22), who had started with four boundaries. The pacer forced the batter to glove the ball to KL Rahul behind the stumps. This was the sixth time Starc had dismissed Head across all formats.
With SRH struggling at 58/4 in six overs, young Aniket Verma and Heinrich Klaasen started to stabilise the innings. Verma, in particular, played a brilliant knock of 74 off 41 balls, smashing five fours and six sixes. Klaasen contributed with a 19-ball 32, and together, they stitched a crucial 77-run stand in just 40 deliveries. However, just as SRH was getting things right, Capitals struck again. Kuldeep Yadav (3/22) played a crucial role in breaking SRH’s backbone, dismissing Verma and skipper Pat Cummins in quick succession.
Returning for his final spell in the 19th over, Starc ensured there were no late comebacks. He picked up two more wickets, first removing Harshal Patel (5) with a spectacular low catch by Axar at mid-off, and then wrapping up the innings by getting Wiaan Mulder (9) caught brilliantly by Faf du Plessis. SRH were bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs.
"We know how such a powerful side Sunrisers are. We knew powerplay wickets were key. All-round, it was a fantastic performance in the first innings of this game. It's nice to be in a new franchise. Our second game, it's been great to settle in with the guys and get to know a few people. I am 35 and I am not young, but hope there's still little life left," Starc told the broadcasters during the mid-innings.
"(On dismissing Head six times in T20s) I think that's why he doesn't face the first ball anymore. I haven't played too much T20 cricket across those 15 years. I am an older one, there's a chance to talk to the young guys, try and help where I can. I still enjoy my cricket," he added.
Here's how the fans reacted to Mitchell Starc's brilliant five-wicket haul against SRH:
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