When Delhi Capitals opted to bowl in their first match of the 2024 IPL at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, they expected dew to play a role later in the evening. That would have meant a target of around 220 would have been achievable. But the absence of dew in the chase helped Sunrisers Hyderabad, who got the balls to stick to the surface, register a 67-run victory to move up to second on the points table.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Capitals captain Rishabh Pant said:
"The only thought process behind [opting to bowl at the toss] was we thought there would be a bit of dew, which did not come. If we could have restricted them to 220-230 we still had a chance. [The ball] stopped more [on the surface] in the second innings than what we anticipated. But when you have 260-270 to defend, it gives bowlers confidence."
Sunrisers once again rode on the brilliant power-hitting of openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma to post a record 125 for 0 in the powerplay, the highest in all men's T20s. Abhishek fell for a 12-ball 46 while Head scored 89 off 32 after his maiden IPL century in the last outing as Sunrisers posted 266 for 7, their third 250-plus total in the 2024 IPL.
SRH captain Pat Cummins had mixed feelings as he watched his openers smash the opposition:
"Part of me is very excited and elated, but the other part thinks I have to bowl on this later. Amazing, every game they keep delivering and keep playing the way we want them to."
The match saw 213 runs scored in the powerplay in both innings combined, another record in T20 cricket. Capitals romped to 88 for 2 in their chase of 267 and Cummins said the pitch came into play when the ball got old.
T Natarajan led Sunrisers' charge with the ball, taking 4 for 19, his best figures in T20s. Mayank Markande and Nitish Kumar Reddy also picked up two wickets apiece and Cummins was pleased with the discipline shown by the bowlers.