Bhuvneshwar, Hazlewood tear through top order
Delhi collapsed to 8 for 6 in 3.5 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood shared all six wickets, sticking to a tight line outside off. Sahil Parakh was bowled by an inswinger on debut. KL Rahul top-edged a pull. Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs edged behind. Axar Patel fell for a duck, and Nitish Rana followed, caught at slip.
There was movement, but most wickets came from loose shots. Delhi kept pushing at deliveries they could have left. The length was consistent, the pressure constant.
Also, this is the first time two bowlers picked three wickets each inside the powerplay in the same IPL innings.
DC stare at lowest total as collapse deepens
At 8 for 6, Delhi are close to the lowest scores recorded in the league. They are trying hard to beat RCB’s lowest IPL total of 49. Half the side was gone inside four overs, with only Abishek Porel left to rebuild.
This is already among the lowest scores at the fall of the fifth wicket in IPL history. From a ground known for big totals, this has turned into a collapse driven by poor decisions as much as good bowling.
RCB opt to bowl, DC forced into changes
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and chose to bowl on a surface expected to favour batting. Delhi Capitals brought in Kyle Jamieson and Dushmantha Chameera to cover for Lungi Ngidi. The plan was simple, but it unraveled quickly.