Highlights DC vs RCB, IPL 2021, Match 22, Full Cricket Score: Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi by 1 run

AB de Villiers: “The shot over extra cover was certainly one of the best shots, but the one over midwicket off KG was my best one. Once you’re into the tournament, it’s more about managing yourself, make sure you’re fresh every game. You can’t go into the game feeling fatigued. We have some experienced heads and some young Indian bowlers who have done well recently. Myself, Virat and Maxi chip in with some help when we can too. We just try to have fun out there.”

AB de Villiers is the Man of the Match

Virat Kohli, RCB captain: (Did he think he was going to lose?) At one stage I did, to be very honest. The way Siraj started the last over, gave us a lot of confidence. He finished it clinically in the end. Couple of lapses, and the game wouldn’t have gone so far the way it did. The bowlers did a very professional job barring the last four overs. Other than that, I think we were right on top of this game. We certainly felt 160-165 was above par, and we got 10 runs above it. It was a bit two-paced, and there wasn’t any dew tonight that helped us, thanks to that sandstorm or dust storm whatever. If you look at our bowling lineup, Maxi is still not bowling. I have six bowling options, and I can throw it to any of them. If you look at our bowling this season, that’s been our standout feature this season. We’ve always had good batting. Now we have bowling options too. I choose to be optimistic and positive. You do feel the pressure as a captain. That’s where you need to be composed. I go with the gut feel of the bowler. If you get that much clarity in your process, you’re in a good space. (On ABD) Hat’s off to him, he keeps doing it again and again, and is such an asset for us. Doesn’t look like he hasn’t played international cricket for five months.

Rishabh Pant:

“Obviously disappointed. I think they were 10-15 runs extra on this wicket but Hetmyer played a brilliant innings, because of him we got close. When we had 14 or 16 to go, we were planning that whoever has strike has to go for it. It’s good to take positives from all matches, as a young team we want to improve each and every day.”

27 Apr, 2016 : DC lost by 1 run v GL, chasing 173 runs.

27 Apr, 2021 : DC lost by 1 run v RCB, chasing 172 runs.

After 20 overs,Delhi Capitals 170/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 58 , Shimron Hetmyer 53)

Mohammed Siraj is handed the ball for the final over, and keeps a tight leash early on, restricting Pant and Hetymer to a single off the first two, followed by a dot. Pant collects a brace off the fourth to bring up his half-century. Left with 10 off the last two, Pant only manages to collect back-to-back boundaries as Siraj doesn’t give him the room to go for a maximum.

RCB win by 1 run as Pant and Hetmyer fail to guide their team home despite both remaining unbeaten after having brought up their fifties. What a thriller we’ve been treated to this evening!

FOUR! Pant fails to get DC home, steering a wide full toss towards the backward point fence when they needed six off the last delivery. RCB win by 1 run, and move to the top of the table!

FOUR! Thick top-edge off Pant’s bat off a high full toss that is not called a no-ball. The ball flies over short third man, and away to the fence. DC 166/4; need 6 off 1

FIfty up for Rishabh Pant off 46 deliveries, getting to the milestone with a brace off the fourth delivery of the final over. Will this end in a winning cause? DC 162/4; need 10 off 2

After 19 overs,Delhi Capitals 158/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 47 , Shimron Hetmyer 52)

Hetmyer brings up his fifty as the runs continue to flow for the Capitals. 11 are added in this over, including a four to Pant off the fourth delivery. Delhi need 14 off the last over of the evening.

FOUR! Full toss from Harshal, and Pant flicks this towards the midwicket fence, where the sweeper fails to cut the ball off. DC 155/4

Fifty up for Shimron Hetmyer off just 23 deliveries! This is the kind of impact that he is capable of bringing to the game, and a reason why franchises show a great deal of interest in him. His second half-century in the IPL, and one that looks likely to end in a winning cause. DC 151/4

After 18 overs,Delhi Capitals 147/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 41 , Shimron Hetmyer 47)

Pant grabs a single at the start of this over, before Hetmyer brings DC further closer to the finish line with three sixes off the remaining deliveries — two of them hit towards the midwicket region, while the West Indian smashes the ball over long on off the last ball. Huge over for the Capitals, with 21 coming off this one, and Delhi are ahead of where RCB were at the same stage, which certainly should give them a major confidence boost. DC need 25 off 12.

SIX! Perhaps the most impressive hit of the three sixes in this over, Shimron gets down on one knee and smacks the ball high over long on off the last ball of the over. Brings up the fifty partnership with Pant in the process! DC 147/4

SIX! Hetmyer’s muscling his way towards a match-winning knock! Full delivery from Jamieson this time, and the Guyanese southpaw once again targets the midwicket fence. DC 139/4

SIX! Huge hit over midwicket, as Hetmyer takes full toss of a juicy full toss from Jamieson! DC 133/4

After 17 overs,Delhi Capitals 126/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 40 , Shimron Hetmyer 27)

Harshal’s given the 17th, and will presumably also get the crucial penultimate over. It’s an over of two halves — just two singles off the first three balls, followed by a boundary and two doubles off the next three, as Hetmyer clearly gets the better of the seamer. 10 off this over, with DC needing another 46 off 18.

Harshal Patel has taken 11 wickets at the death overs (16-20) in this IPL so far – the most by any bowler.

FOUR! Hetmyer smacks this full toss from Patel inside out over extra cover for a much-needed boundary! DC 124/4

After 16 overs,Delhi Capitals 116/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 39 , Shimron Hetmyer 18)

Padikkal puts down a chance near mid on after a miscued pull by Hetmyer off a full toss from Jamieson, who returns to the attack in Sundar’s place. Good piece of fielding by Sundar at backward point, as he intercepts the ball and throws it at the striker’s end, all in one motion. Good over from the tall Kiwi, under the circumstances, giving away just five singles. Plenty for both camps to discuss now as umpire signals timeout one final time today.

After 15 overs,Delhi Capitals 111/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 37 , Shimron Hetmyer 15)

Hetmyer has the reputation of being a mean striker of the ball, and it shows in this over, as he smashes Siraj for a six and a four off the second and third deliveries of this over, going on the offensive after getting his eye set in. A single collected off each of the other balls. 14 off Siraj’s third, leaving DC another 61 to win off 30 balls.

FOUR! Pulled away towards the square leg fence by Hetmyer this time, and Siraj’s not quite hitting the right lengths at the moment. DC 108/4

SIX! Hetymer gets going! Clears his front foot and goes for a slog over long on, just about getting enough distance for it to go over the leaping fielder. DC 104/4

After 14 overs,Delhi Capitals 97/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 35 , Shimron Hetmyer 3)

Sundar bowls out his final over, giving away four off it to sign off with figures of 0/28. Meanwhile Shimron Hetmyer, the new batter at the crease, is off to a steady start, getting three runs off five balls. Pant will look to lead the charge from here and the burden of Delhi’s fate in this game lies mainly on his shoulders. DC need 75 off the last six overs.

After 13 overs,Delhi Capitals 93/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 33 , Shimron Hetmyer 1)

Expensive start to Harshal Patel’s second over as Pant smacks him for back-to-back boundaries, which gets even worse as he concedes consecutive wides thereafter, but more than makes up for it by getting Stoinis caught-behind off the fourth delivery, and giving away just one off the last two balls. DC need 79 off 42 with six wickets in the kitty.

OUT! Trust Harshal to not stay quiet for long! Induces an outside nick that ensures Stoinis is on his way back to the dugout just when he was starting to look real ominous. DC 92/4

Stoinis c de Villiers b Patel 22(17)

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Pant, this time slashed behind square off Harshal! DC 89/3

FOUR! Pant pulls behind square, and the man at long leg makes a serious misjudgement of the trajectory of the ball, which ultimately lands behind him and just short of the boundary. DC 85/3

After 12 overs,Delhi Capitals 81/3 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 24 , Marcus Stoinis 22)

Big over for the Capitals, as 12 runs are added to the total in Sundar’s latest over, including a couple of boundaries to Stoinis. Could he make the kind of impact AB did with the bat earlier? DC need another 91 off 48.

FOUR! Stoinis is doing a lot of damage to the RCB spinners tonight! Another short delivery from the offie, and Stoinis once again rocks back and smacks it down the ground. DC 81/3

FOUR! Half tracker from Sundar, Stoinis rocks back and hammers this down the ground with authority! Blazes down the ground like a rocket. DC 75/3

After 11 overs,Delhi Capitals 69/3 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 22 , Marcus Stoinis 12)

Chahal errs at the start of his second over, bowling full along leg that is lapped away towards the fine leg fence by Stoinis for a four. The leg-spinner’s much tighter for the remainder of the over though, giving away just three singles off the remaining deliveries. Delhi need another 103 to win off 54 balls.

FOUR! Pitched outside leg, Stoinis deftly guides this towards the fine leg fence to collect his first boundary. DC 66/3

After 10 overs,Delhi Capitals 62/3 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 21 , Marcus Stoinis 6)

Spin from both ends as Sundar replaces Patel. Pant meanwhile, has decided to speed up his running between the wickets, collecting three consecutive doubles, in order to keep the required run rate under check. Nine from the over, with three singles also being collected. At the halfway stage in their chase, Delhi’s run rate is a shade above six an over, though they’ll have to score a lot more quickly if they are to chase 172 down tonight.

After 9 overs,Delhi Capitals 53/3 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 14 , Marcus Stoinis 4)

Chahal introduced in the ninth over, and he deceives Stoinis completely with a googly first up. Turns out RCB missed out on an LBW appeal as the ball had hit the top of Stoinis’s back pad bang in front of middle and leg, though HawkEye shows wickets as ‘Umpire’s Call’. Another LBW appeal four deliveries later, Stoinis once again the batter in question, and this time Kohli goes upstairs after the umpire turns it down. This time it’s impact that’s Umpire’s Call as it’s over 3 metres down the pitch. Tidy over from the leggie, with three runs coming off it, and the umpire signals the first timeout of the innings.

After 8 overs,Delhi Capitals 50/3 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 13 , Marcus Stoinis 2)

Harshal Patel, the current purple cap holder, is introduced into the attack in the eighth over, and is somewhat lucky to get a wicket off what would’ve surely been called a wide off the second ball, instead getting a wicket as Shaw throws his bat at it, and gets a bottom edge to depart for 21. Marcus Stoinis walks in next, and the situation’s getting increasingly tense for the Capitals. Just four off this over along with the wicket.

OUT! Harshal Patel makes an instant impact, getting rid of the dangerman Prithvi Shaw off his second delivery of the evening. Was a wide delivery that Shaw could’ve just left alone — except he chose to poke at it, and ended up paying the price. DC 47/3

Shaw c de Villiers b Patel

After 7 overs,Delhi Capitals 46/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 21 , Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 11)

Spin introduced after powerplay as Kohli turns to Sundar, who successfully appeals for leg-before against Pant before the latter overturns the decision using the review — UltraEdge confirming a nick. Tidy start for the Tamil Nadu offie as he gives away just three off his first over.

After 6 overs,Delhi Capitals 43/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 20 , Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 9)

Shaw miscues while attempting to flick towards deep midwicket, nearly resulting in a catch for the man running to his left from deep square leg. Pant collects his first boundary two balls later, stretching his arms to fetch the ball from outside off and slog-sweep it towards cow corner. He nearly gets run out next ball, getting sent back while looking for a quick single. A brace and a single to Pant off the last two deliveries of the over. Eight off the over. Decent start for Delhi in the powerplay as they’re scoring at nearly nine-an-over, though they’ve also lost two wickets along the way.

FOUR! Pant gets down on one knee and stretches his arms to fetch the delivery from outside off, and slog sweep it towards the cow corner fence. DC 40/2

After 5 overs,Delhi Capitals 35/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 19 , Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 2)

Jamieson continues to impress in the powerplay, bowling a tidy over that adds just two runs to the Delhi total. Shaw, meanwhile, is fairly settled on 19 off 13, and will hope to convert this into a big score, one that hopefully comes in a winning cause.

After 4 overs,Delhi Capitals 33/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 18 , Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 1)

Siraj gets rid of Smith off the third ball, getting a healthy nick with a delivery that straightens after pitching along off, resulting in an easy catch for de Villiers. Skipper Pant walks out to bat next, and gets off the mark with a single right away. Shaw punishes Siraj for bowling a full toss off the last ball, smacking it through the cover region for his third boundary. Six off the over.

FOUR! Poor delivery to end the over, a rank full toss outside off that Shaw has no problems smacking through the cover region. DC 33/2

OUT! Beautiful delivery from Siraj that straightens along the off stump, and gets a healthy nick off Smith’s bat, resulting in a simple catch for ABD behind the stumps! Bangalore are well and truly on top in the powerplay! DC 28/2

Smith c De Villiers b Siraj 4(5)

Youngest players to score 1,000 runs in IPL:

20y 218d: Rishabh Pant
21y 169d: Prithvi Shaw*
21y 183d: Sanju Samson

After 3 overs,Delhi Capitals 27/1 ( Prithvi Shaw 13 , Steven Smith 4)

Virat brings Jamieson in place of Sams from the other end, and the lanky Kiwi bowling all-rounder takes three deliveries to make an impact, as Dhawan holes out to fine leg as Bangalore bring the opening partnership to an end. Steve Smith walks out next, suspending Delhi’s left-right advantage temporarily. Smith prevents Jamieson from collecting a wicket-maiden by pulling the short ball off the last delivery towards deep midwicket for a four.

FOUR! Pulled away towards the midwicket fence off a short ball from Jamieson! What a way for Smith to get off the mark. DC 27/1

OUT! Kyle Jamieson strikes as Dhawan falls for the trap! Jamieson uses his height to his advantage as he shortens his length while angling it down leg. Dhawan’s tempted into the pull, but unfortunately for him, Chahal’s standing guard at fine leg for the opportunity, and grabs it with both hands. DC 23/1

Dhawan c Chahal b Jamieson 6(7)

After 2 overs,Delhi Capitals 23/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 13 , Shikhar Dhawan 6)

Siraj from the other end. Starts off with a yorker-length delivery along middle and leg that is gracefully flicked through midwicket by Shaw, fetching him his first boundary. Single off each of the next two deliveries. Four leg byes off the fourth as the ball brushes above Shaw’s front pad before going past ABD, and all the way to fine leg. An authoritative straight drive by Prithvi off the fifth ball as he drills an overpitched delivery down the ground, before running back for a second off the last ball. Expensive start for the Hyderabad seamer, with 16 coming off it.

FOUR! Drilled down the ground with authority! Shaw completes 1,000 runs in the league in style, dispatching an overpitched delivery from Siraj down the ground. DC 21/0

FOUR! Full and aimed at his feet, Shaw brings his bat down in time to drive the ball through midwicket. Poor start for Siraj. DC 11/0

After 1 over,Delhi Capitals 7/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 2 , Shikhar Dhawan 5)

Shaw drives the ball through the cover region off the second delivery, collecting a single to get the team off the mark. Single off each of the next two deliveries, with Dhawan getting off the mark in the process. Dhawan tries uppercutting a short ball from the Aussie off the fifth delivery, but misses. ‘Gabbar’ ends the over with a pull towards the midwicket fence for a boundary.

FOUR! Short and angling along middle and leg, Dhawan pulls this in front of square to send the ball racing away to the midwicket fence. DC 7/0

Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan walk out to the centre as the start of the Delhi chase is delayed by a sandstorm, with the players having to wait for about 10 minutes. Still a very strong breeze at Motera right now, which should have an impact on the game. Daniel Sams to bowl the first over, with Shaw on strike.

After 20 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 171/5 ( AB de Villiers (W) 75 , Daniel Sams 3)

Ab de Villiers has done it again. What a knock from the legend. He remains unbeaten on 75 off just 42 balls. Three sixes in the final over and 23 runs off it. Marcus Stoinis’ one over in the death could prove to be costly for Delhi. RCB have got the runs on board and it could be a challenging chase for their opponents.

Another one. Wide and short from Stoinis, ABD moves across and reaches for it. He swings his bat hard and the ball flies over extra cover.

This time Stoinis bowls a slow bouncer. ABD picks it up and smashes it over fine-leg.

In the slot and ABD sends this one over bowler’s head. The ball hits the cushion so that’s a maximum.

After 19 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 149/5 ( AB de Villiers (W) 53 , Daniel Sams 3)

Avesh Khan’s first ball is a superb yorker. The bowler takes a catch from ABD’s block. They appeal for a catch but that’s clearly a bump ball. The four from ABD takes the sheen away from this over. Otherwise this is a solid one from Avesh. He executes the blockhole length deliveries to perfection. Nine off it and one more over remaining in this innings.

Another fifty for the mighty ABD. Back of a length ball from Avesh, de Villiers drags it through deep mid-wicket. The ball does enough to beat the fielders.

After 18 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 139/5 ( AB de Villiers (W) 47 , Daniel Sams 0)

Solid yorker from Rabada to ABD who is off balance but manages to drill it to mid-wicket and collects two. Another quick delivery in the blockhole, and just a single by de Villiers. After conceding a six, Rabada comes back well. Bowls a good yorker again and then ends the over by taking a wicket. 11 off this one.

Chest height ball. Sundar is in no position to play a pull. He gets a top edge and a simple catch for the bowler. Washington Sundar c and b Rabada 6(9)

Short from Rabada. ABD makes room and drags it over deep mid-wicket. Too much power on that one.

No. of players in IPL:

with 1000-plus runs : 76

with 2000-plus runs : 39

with 3000-plus runs : 17

with 4000-plus runs : 10

with 5000-plus runs : 6

with 6000-plus runs : Virat Kohli

Fastest to 5,000 IPL runs:

135 innings : David Warner
157 innings : Virat Kohli
161 innings : AB de Villiers*
168 innings : Shikhar Dhawan
173 innings : Suresh Raina
187 innings : Rohit Sharma

After 17 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 128/4 ( AB de Villiers (W) 37 , Washington Sundar 5)

Avesh Khan starts off with a leg-stump delivery. Sundar clips it down the fine-leg and takes a single. A short ball to ABD, who tries to pull it over square but is beaten. He follows it with a quick one on the full, ABD tries to get underneath it but doesn’t get the connection. This is a very good over from the pacer, just four off it.

After 16 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 124/4 ( AB de Villiers (W) 35 , Washington Sundar 3)

Good start from Rabada but then ABD finds a boundary with a clever hit. There’s a overthrow in the final ball which allows the batsmen to take an extra run. Washington Sundar is the new batsman. Nine off this over.

Yorker from Rabada but ABD opens the face of the bat and guides the ball on half-volley through third-man. A genius!

After 15 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 115/4 ( AB de Villiers (W) 28 , Washington Sundar 1)

Axar goes for 10 runs in his last over but he gets a wicket. Patidar will be pleased with his knock today and will hope that he will keep his place in the XI for the next match. The catch from Steve Smith is a good one. Awkward height but he maintains his balance to grab it. Five overs remaining.

Patidar stays in his crease and goes for the big hit over Steve Smith at long-on but can’t beat the fielder. Rajat Patidar c Smith b Axar 31(22)

ABD smashes it over bowler’s head for a 79m six. On one knee and times it to perfection against Axar.

After 14 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 105/3

Ishant into the attack. Starts off with a 130 kph delivery and then bowls a slower one. ABD then charges down and slices it over point for a single. He fails to read the slower one from Ishant and it could’ve been costly as the ball goes up in the air but falls before the deep point fielder. A six and a double to end the over.

Well done! Bouncer from Ishant but Patidar quickly swings his bat and hits the ball over fine-leg.

After 13 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 94/3 ( Rajat Patidar 21 , AB de Villiers (W) 18)

Axar bowls his third over. Keeps it tight, mixing it up with arms ball and quicker ones. de Villiers looks for a boundary though extra cover but can’t beat the fielder. Seven off this one.

After 12 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 87/3 ( Rajat Patidar 20 , AB de Villiers (W) 12)

Good running between the wickets by ABD and Patidar. There’s a direct hit at bowler’s end. Third umpire takes a look but Patidar is safe. Good bouncer to end the over. Patidar has no idea how negotiate it as the ball hits the bat, rises up and falls just short of sprinting Steve Smith.

Slow ball, back of a length and width on offer. AB de Villiers smashes it to the left of mid-off fielder.

After 11 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 79/3 ( Rajat Patidar 17 , AB de Villiers (W) 7)

That six against Amit Mishra will give Rajat Patidar a lot of confidence. He needs to play a good knock today. Kohli has spoken highly of him and maybe today we’ll know why. 11 off this over.

Oh lovely. Patidar reads the leg-spin from Amit Mishra and deposts the ball into the stands behind the long-on fielder.

After 10 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 68/3 ( Rajat Patidar 8 , AB de Villiers (W) 5)

Rajat Patidar not showing the intent for now. He knows he needs to give company to ABD so he’s just dealing in singles. In the final ball, de Villers then cuts through covers but can’t beat the boundary fielder. Two taken. Six off Axar’s over.

Bowlers dismissing Maxwell most times in IPL:

5 : Ravindra Jadeja
5 : Amit Mishra*
4 : Jasprit Bumrah

After 9 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 62/3 ( Rajat Patidar 6 , AB de Villiers (W) 1)

They take a time out after Maxwell’s dismissal. AB de Villiers is the new batsman out in the middle. The first ball to ABD is a googly. The batsman fails to read it but he hits the ball on his pads for no run. A very good over for Delhi and Amit Mishra. Just five runs and a big wicket of Maxwell.

Tossed up ball from Amit Mishra. Maxwell goes for the big shot again but this time he sends the ball into the hands of Steve Smith at long-on. He got the start but doesn’t convert it. Maxwell c Smith b Mishra 25(20)

After 8 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 57/2 ( Rajat Patidar 4 , Glenn Maxwell 23)

Axar Patel’s first over. Maxwell takes a double after clipping the ball to mid-wicket region. Axar then concedes a big six but then extracts a leading edge off Maxwell but it doesn’t get carried. The bowler who also fumbles after the bounce and lets the ball go through his legs. 10 off the over.

900-plus runs against a team in IPL:

Rohit Sharma v KKR

David Warner v PBKS

David Warner v KKR

Virat Kohli v DC*

This time Maxwell targets the long-on boundary and he clears it. Pure power!

After 7 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 47/2 ( Rajat Patidar 3 , Glenn Maxwell 14)

Amit Mishra into the attack. And before he could start bowling, he has been warned by the umpire for using saliva on the ball. A big hit was on the cards and Maxwell successfully executes it. Nice tossed up delivery outside off stump and Maxwell doesn’t miss such opportunities. A six and five singles in the over.

Maxwell opens his sixes account. Reaches for the ball against Amit Mishra and smashes it over bowler’s head.

After 6 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 36/2 ( Rajat Patidar 1 , Glenn Maxwell 5)

Angling in delivery from Avesh Khan, Patidar pushes it to the leg-side and is off the mark. After conceding a boundary, Avesh bowls a slower one. Maxwell somehow manages to bring the bat to the ball and blocks it. The batsman then plays a drive straight down the ground but the timing is off so he can’t beat the mid-on fielder. Just a single. Six off the over and we are done with the powerplay.

Width for Maxwell and he crunches it on the backfoot through the covers.

After 5 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 30/2 ( Rajat Patidar 0 , Glenn Maxwell 0)

Glenn Maxwell and Rajat Patidar are in the middle now. Maxwell is in form but Patidar has a thing or two to prove. He will want to make his chance count today. Back of a length and width on offer to Maxwell who looks for the boundary with a cut but it is straight to the fielder at point. Ishant then bowls a fuller one, Maxwell drives it down the ground but for no run. A dot to end the over and it’s a wicket maiden.

BOWLED!

Back to back wickets for Delhi. Ishant brings the ball in as Padikkal is beaten on the backfoot. Nice sound of ball crashing the stumps. Joy for Ishant. Devdutt Padikkal b Ishant 17(14)

After 4 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 30/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 17 , )

Avesh Khan is the new bowler. Meanwhile, that risky run in the previous over could’ve been costly because Kohli was well short of the line. Avesh bowls a fuller delivery outside off stump which is bread and better for Kohli but he lets out a grunt after a mistimed shot. He knew that was a boundary ball but it ends up being a dot. It could’ve been a normal over but ends up with the wicket of Virat Kohli. Delhi will take it.

OUT!

Kohli drags on. He got a boundary playing a similar shot in the over but this time he’s a touch late. Inside edge and stumps are disturbed. Kohli b Avesh Khan 12(11)

Nicely done. Kohli opens the face of the bat very late and guides it towards the third-man.

After 3 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 25/0 ( Virat Kohli (C) 8 , Devdutt Padikkal 17)

Ishant continues. The second ball is a back of a length delivery going down as Padikkal flicks but misses. Looks like it brushes the thigh pad. Padikkal then goes big but doesn’t get the timing. The ball goes high in the air and it’s a catching chance for mid-on fielder but Axar fails to judge it. Difficult chance but he should’ve done a lot better there..A risky single from Kohli to end the over.

Short from Rabada and Padikkal pulls it through deep square leg for a boundary.

Did you know?

Ishant Sharma has not been able to dismiss Kohli in IPL so far. Kohli has scored 77 runs from 56 balls against him in IPL.

After 2 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 16/0 ( Virat Kohli (C) 6 , Devdutt Padikkal 10)

Rabada bowls the second over. Mild appeal for LBW against Padikkal but it’s pitching outside. After the boundary, Padikkal gets a big inside to a low full toss but the ball misses the stumps and they take a single. A boundary and a single due to a misfield at mid-off to finish the over. 10 off it.

WOW! 

Kohli this time with just a push down the mid-wicket region. What timing and what balance!

Shot! The wrists are in work as Padikkal flicks the ball which was coming in after pitching outside off stump. It’s in the gap and it’s a boundary.

After 1 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 6/0 ( Virat Kohli (C) 1 , Devdutt Padikkal 5)

Ishant starts off with a straight delivery targetting the pads. Kohli moves across and flicks for a single. Good second ball, the ball moves away slightly to beat Padikkal’s bat. Similar delivery again by Ishant, superb seam position as Padikkal is beaten. Ishant then gives a freebie to the batsman who scores the first boundary of the match. A single to end the over.

Wide and full from Ishant. Padikkal frees his arms and finds a boundary over point.

A battle to look forward to this evening

Mr. 3️⃣6️⃣0️⃣ 🤜🏼💥🤛🏼 King KG #YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 #DCvRCB pic.twitter.com/B8oYEPCqJO

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 27, 2021

Right then. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal make their to the middle. Kohli takes the strike. Ishant Sharma has the new ball.

Virat Kohli:

“We would have bowled as well. Dew is a big factor here. We need to keep that intent going. Saini makes way for Rajat Patidar, he will bat at 3 to give us a bit more batting. Daniel Sams replaces Dan Christian.”

Rishabh Pant at toss

“The wicket looks dry, so we want to bowl before the dew sets in. Nothing much to talk about the previous game. We should have won the game before the Super Over. Ishant is playing in place of Ashwin.”

Teams

DC XI: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Steven Smith, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Ishant Sharma

RCB XI: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (wk), Washington Sundar, Daniel Sams, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Toss news

Rishabh Pant wins the toss and Delhi Capitals will bowl first.

DC vs RCB head to head

DC have a 10-14 win/loss record against RCB in IPL.

DC have beaten RCB in each of their last four matches against them in IPL.

Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliance may have ruined the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore’s plans in the IPL last Sunday but with one eye on this year’s T20 World Cup, the India captain was not complaining.

“After two months, he will be back playing for India and it is always a pleasure to see your premier all-rounder do well with the bat. When he plays well and is confident, it lets out many opportunitiesl,” Kohli said. 

ICYMI, RCB’s Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have withdrawn from the Indian Premier League 2021. The franchise in its statement said that the players “are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of IPL 2021”.

The Australian government last week announced a 30 percent reduction in flights from India. Australia’s National Security Committee is expected to consider further restrictions on Tuesday.

“KL Rahul-led side have moved from blowing hot to very cold, and it is therefore no wonder that this kind of inconsistency has left them currently tottering at sixth in the standings, with only Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Rajasthan Royals sitting below them,” writes Garfield Robinson in his piece analysing Punjab Kings’ defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday.

Read: Punjab Kings grapple with inconsistent batting as losses pile up

Following the pullout of several cricketers from IPL 2021, most of whom are overseas recruits, and others expressing concern as several nations begin closing air routes with India — the country that is experiencing a devastating second COVID-19 wave — the BCCI has decided to step in and assure the foreign participants their safe return to their respective nations.

“We understand that many of you are apprehensive about how you will get back home once the tournament concludes… We want to apprise you that you have nothing to worry about,” BCCI COO Hemang Amin said in a letter addressed to the players

More on that here

While the Indian Premier League (IPL) has managed to stage matches without too many hiccups so far this season, the fact that Twenty20’s biggest carnival is taking place at a time when the Indian health infrastructure is crumbling due to the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 cases, and crematoriums and graveyards are witnessing a massive rush with thousands breathing their last on a daily basis just makes the whole celebration of cricket appear in bad taste.

“It’s not the IPL, it is the spectacle. It is the cringe-inducing commerce, the perfunctory mask-wearing reminders, the inexorable march of capitalism, the orchestrated optimism, the bubble within the bio-secure bubble, the tone-deaf lot gesticulating wildly in virtual guest box, the dancing commentators, the pervading callousness, the lazy logic of it being a delightful distraction,” writes Shantanu Srivastava in his piece as he delves further into the topic.

Read the full piece by clicking here

Both teams find themselves in the top half of the IPL 2021 points table after getting off to good starts. Both teams have good opening pairs; while Delhi Capitals could certainly boast of the better bowling attack, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s middle-order comprising the likes of Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers and Kyle Jamieson is certainly one that could win you championships.

The upcoming match between the teams led by Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli certainly promises to be a mouth-watering battle of the equals.

Read the preview of Match 22 of IPL 2021 here

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Match 22 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, with Delhi Capitals (DC) taking on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. While DC are coming off a narrow victory, having beaten Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first Super Over of this season, RCB suffered their first defeat in five games when they were comprehensively thrashed by Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.