IPL 2020 DC vs KXIP: Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat
IPL 2020 has just begun but it has already started to create a lot of Buzz with both first two matches being close contests. The second match between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals went right down to the wire and it required a Super Over to decide the outcome. Neither team dominated the entire match and it was all about ups and downs throughout. But the match was also controversial due to the one short run decision from the umpire on the ground when the match was at a stage where it could have gone either way.
Poor Start From Kings XI Batsman
Kings XI skipper KL Rahul won the toss and opted to Bowl first. Delhi had a disastrous start as both the openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi were dismissed cheaply. After that West Indies hitter Shimron Hetmyer also did not last long and the score was only 13 runs for the fall of 3 wickets. At that stage, Punjab was on top and it looked very difficult for Delhi to bounce back from here.
Late Heroics From Stoinis
But then, the left-right combination of Rishabh Pant and Skipper Shreyas Iyer revived the innings. But unfortunately both of them could not convert their starts to a big score and both were dismissed in their thirties. It was only due to some heroics from Australian cricketer Marcus Stoinis which helped Capitals post a decent total in the end. Stoinis scored 53 runs from just 21 balls and that included 7 massive sixes. The point to be noted here is that this innings came when he was under pressure as Delhi team had lost most of their main batsman quite early and it was upto him to take the side to a respectable total. Stoinis was also adjudged Man of the Match for his splendid performance.
Like Capitals, Kings XI Punjab also did not have the best start to the innings. After they lost the wicket of Captain KL Rahul for 21 runs, they suffered a collapse. They lost four wickets quick succession and the score read 55 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. But Opener Mayank Agarwal was at still at the crease and their was still some hope among Punjab fans as he was set and the required run rate was also not out of the equation. Agarwal did not disappoint the fans and took Punjab team closer to victory while hammering Delhi bowlers including Kagiso Rabada all over the ground. But when Delhi required 1 run from 3 balls, Agarwal made a very poor shot selection. He tried to finish the innings with a six but could only manage to give a simple catch to the only fielder outside the circle on the off side. He could have easily played it in the gap and take the required single.
Blunder from On Field Umpire
One of the most controversial moments in this year’s IPL took place in the second match itself when the on field umpire surprised everyone with his decision and had a big role to play in deciding the outcome. During the final moments of the match, the umpire had given one run short to Kings XI Punjab while the replay showed that Aggarwal had put his bat past the popping crease but Umpire could not see that. This blunder from the umpire meant that the match went down to the Super Over. Umpire’s decision also got a lot of criticism on Social Media-
I don’t agree with the man of the match choice . The umpire who gave this short run should have been man of the match.
Short Run nahin tha. And that was the difference. #DCvKXIP pic.twitter.com/7u7KKJXCLb— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 20, 2020
I travelled enthusiastically during a pandemic,did 6 days of Quarantine & 5covid tests with a smile but that one Short Run hit me hard. What’s the point of technology if it cannot be used? It’s time @BCCI introduces new rules.This cannot happen every year. #DCvKXIP @lionsdenkxip https://t.co/uNMXFJYfpe
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) September 21, 2020
Cost Kings XI Punjab the game. Third umpire should have rectified it.
This is a glaring error. #IPL2020 #DCvKXIP pic.twitter.com/WIQiPWB0wF
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) September 20, 2020
Quality players alone can’t make tournament great. Quality umpiring also needed. 😤😤 #DCvKXIP #Umpires pic.twitter.com/R06xDAeB6M
— Shivansh Rai (@Shivans70891570) September 20, 2020
Agarwal did not come out to bat in Super Over
Kumble bhai after the match: Only one team played in the spirit of the game#DCvKXIP pic.twitter.com/5wXtwm71xi
— Manya (@CSKian716) September 20, 2020
Now surprisingly Agarwal did not come out to bat during the Super Over. Instead it was KL Rahul and Nicolas Pooran who came out to bat. The decision backfired and Rahul got dismissed after putting up just 2 runs on the board. The very next delivery Pooran also got bowled by a superb delivery from Rabada. This meant that Delhi had to get only 3 runs to win the Super Over and the 2nd match of IPL 2020. It was a cake walk for them and one can imagine how disappointed Mayank must felt at his choice of shot selection.
Not the result we wanted last night, but we will be back stronger.
Together we rise, @lionsdenkxip 💪#SaddaPunjab pic.twitter.com/LErhlF94jN
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) September 21, 2020
IPL without Crowd for first time
Well, every season of IPL has its share of thrilling matches and controversies. This season is no different. Despite the Pandemic and no crowds in the stadium, Fans are enjoying the contests, for which the credit has to be given to BCCI as well as all the members of the organizing team who made sure that the fans don’t get bored. The Fake crowd noise and allowing fans to join via Zoom meet have been able to keep the interest of the fans this season. Hopefully, we also get to see more such close contests which keeps everyone entertained in the mid of this Pandemic which has kept people frustrated. Due to the Pandemic, even the IPL had been postponed and now even the players are kept in bio bubble and a lot of precautions have to be taken by the players and staff.
