IPL 2024: Riyan Parag carnage helps Rajasthan beat Delhi, retain fortress Jaipur

Rajasthan registered their second straight win in the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League, beating Delhi by 12 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday, March 28.

Young all-rounder Riyan Parag was the star for the home side, posting his highest individual score in the IPL to help Rajasthan post 185 for 5 in the first innings. They then restricted Delhi to 173 for 5 in the second innings to hand the visitors their second loss in as many matches in IPL 2024.

The win helped Rajasthan improve ther head-to-head against Delhi, having won 15 of their 28 matches, while Delhi coming out on top on 13 occasions. The match saw Parag score an unbeaten 84 off 45 balls to register his third half-century in the IPL and his first since IPL 2022. This was Parag’s highest score in the IPL, which took him into the top-two run-scorers in IPL 2024. He only trails Heinrich Klaasen of Hyderabad (143 runs) in the race for the Orange Cap.

Rajasthan took some bold calls in the game, sending Ravichandran Ashwin to bat at number 5, which paid off as the veteran spinner smashed a 19-ball 29.

The start of the second innings was also intertwined in drama as Delhi head coach Ricky Ponting complained about Rajasthan fielding with an extra overseas player. Rajastahn brough in Nandre Burger in as an Impact Player, while already having Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Jos Buttler and substitute fielder Rovman Powell on the field.

Despite getting off to a flying start in their 186-run chase, Delhi failed to up the ante in the death overs to succumb to their second straight loss of the season.

RAJASTHAN vs DELHI: AS IT HAPPENED

Pant won the toss for his side and opted to bowl first in Jaipur. Mukesh Kumar got Delhi off to a dream start, getting rid of the dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second over itself. Soon skipper Sanju Samson and hard-hitting opener Jos Buttler followed Jaiswal back to the pavilion with Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav providing the breakthroughs.

In a surprise move, Rajasthan promoted veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin up the order, sendinh him to bat at number 5. The 38-year-old repaid the faith put in him by the team management by settling their innings with a 54-run partnership with Riyan Parag.

Parag hits 3rd IPL fifty

Ashwin smashed South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje for some big sixes as he contributed with a rapid 19-ball 29 before being undone by Axar Patel. Dhruv Jurel picked up where Ashwin left off, smashing 20 runs off 12 deliveries. He played on to his stumps while trying to paddle Nortje in the 18th over.

Parag went on to score his third IPL half-century and upped the ante in the death overs. He hammered Nortje for 25 runs in the last over to help Rajasthan post 185 for 5 in the first innings. Parag remained unbeaten on 84 runs off 45 balls, hitting seven boundaries and six sixes, while Shimron Hetmyer chipped in with a 7-ball 14.

All of Delhi’s five bowlers claimed a wicket each, but Axar was the most economical of them all, leaking just 21 runs in his four overs.

In the second innings, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh provided Delhi with a fast start before Marsh was cleaned by Impact Player Nandre Burger, who struck again in the same over, removing the out-of-form Ricky Bhui for a duck.

Warner, Pant form crucial stand

Pant, who became the first player to feature in 100 IPL matches for Delhi, walked in to bat at number 4 and formed an xx-run stand with Warner. The two batters kept the scoring rate high, helping their side reach 89 for 2 at the end of 10 overs.

Warner narrowly missed out on a well-deserved 62nd IPL half-century as he edged a loose delivery from Avesh Khan to Sandeep Sharma, who took a brilliant catch at short third-man. He departed after scoring 49 runs off 34 balls, hitting five boundaries and three sixes.

Pant, who looked good in his 100th IPL match, was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal after scoring 28 runs off 26 balls. Abhishek Porel could not replicate his heroics last Delhi’s previous match and fell prey to Chahal in the 16th over.

Tristan Stubbs was dropped by Trent Boult in the 17th over and the South African made Rajasthan pay for the dropped catch, smashing Ashwin for two sixes in the over.

However, Stubbs, who remained unbeaten on 44, could not guide his side to the win as they failed to hit 17 runs in the last over, falling short by 12 runs.

Following their loss against Rajasthan, Delhi will look to bounce back when they take on Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, March 31. Meanwhile, Rajasthan will lock horns with Mumbai Indians on Monday, April 1.