KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka of Delhi Capitals (ANI Photo) A commanding batting display from KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka overshadowed Riyan Parag’s spirited effort as Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in a high-scoring IPL clash on Friday. Parag had earlier lifted Rajasthan to a robust 225 for 6 with a 50-ball 90, silencing critics after a difficult run of form and recent off-field controversy. However, Delhi responded with authority and finished at 226 for 3 to complete one of the biggest chases in IPL history. The Royals skipper was unable to contribute in the field for much of the second innings due to a hamstring injury, with Yashasvi Jaiswal stepping in to lead the field. Delhi’s chase got off to a flying start as Rahul and Nissanka put on 102 runs in just 9.3 overs. Rahul took a few deliveries to settle before showing his full range, hitting a mixture of elegant drives and powerful pulls, including back-to-back sixes from Ravi Bishnoi. Nissanka matched him blow for blow and relied heavily on him picking up three sixes. Rahul reached his half-century in 27 balls, shortly after Nissanka brought up his own fifty before falling to Ravindra Jadeja as he attempted a turn. Rahul then added 61 runs with Nitish Rana (33) keeping the chase firmly on track. However, both batsmen departed in the space of six balls, leaving Delhi needing 49 off 26 deliveries. The finishing work was handled calmly by Ashutosh Sharma and Tristan Stubbs who ensured there were no further hiccups as Delhi sealed victory. Earlier, Rajasthan found themselves in early trouble at 12 for 2 after the quick dismissals of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal. Parag, under immense pressure, looked shaky at first but soon turned things around with a counter attack. The decider against Kyle Jamieson, where he hit 6, 4, 6, proved to be the turning point. His confidence grew and he began to dominate, bringing up his fifty in 32 balls and adding a crucial 102-run partnership with Dhruv Jurel (42). Paraga’s stroke play featured innovation and power, including T Natarajan’s striking forehand six. Even after Jurel’s dismissal, he continued to push the score and added another useful stand with Jadeja. A brief slowdown followed, but Parag broke it with a flurry of boundaries, including a crisp over at Jamieson. He eventually fell trying to accelerate further, with Mitchell Starc removing him. Late fireworks from Donovan Ferreira, who smashed 47 off just 14 balls, gave Rajasthan a strong finish. Despite the Parag redemption story, it was Rahul and Nissanka’s brilliance that defined the night, lifting Delhi to sixth with eight points, while Rajasthan remained fourth with 12.
