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#VIDEO #enjoy #finisher #team #DCs #Ashutosh #win">VIDEO | I enjoy being a finisher for my team, says DC’s Ashutosh after win vs RR Delhi Capitals batting all-rounder Ashutosh Sharma said he relishes his role as a finisher after his side snapped a three-match losing streak with a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match here.
Ashutosh struck an unbeaten 25 off 15 balls, hitting four boundaries, as Delhi successfully chased down a daunting 226-run target with five balls to spare on Friday.
“I enjoy being a finisher for my team. The team has trusted me to bat in these situations and I enjoy playing in these moments. I always feel that as long as I am at the crease, I can win the game for my team,” Ashutosh said at the post-match press conference.
Chasing a stiff total, Delhi was laid a solid foundation by KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka, who stitched together a 110-run opening partnership.
“In T20 cricket nowadays, a lot depends on the opening partnership and the powerplay. Our openers played really well and because of that we were in the game throughout and could take it till the end,” Ashutosh said.
Delhi’s overseas pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Kyle Jamieson had earlier set the tone by removing Rajasthan’s explosive openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi inside the first two overs.
“We wanted to get their opening partnership out early, as they have been doing well in previous matches. That was our plan and it worked, which was good for us.” Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour admitted that poor execution with the ball cost his side the match.
“The bowlers couldn’t execute their plans again today. 226 we felt was enough on this surface, they should have been able to defend that.
“When you are defending that kind of total it is important to have a good powerplay. We gave away lots of runs and didn’t take any wicket,” he said.
Despite the defeat, Rathour drew positives from the batting effort, particularly the response after the early loss of openers. Skipper Riyan Parag led from the front with a 90 off 50 balls, while Dhruv Jurel contributed 42.
“We were consistently getting good starts. Both our openers were doing well for us in every match. So, this was the first time that both got out early. So as a team, I think it was important how we came out of that situation and how we played.
“The way Riyan and Jurel batted at that time, the partnership they built, and the way Donovan finished it, it was really good to see,” Rathour said.
Published on May 02, 2026
Delhi Capitals batting all-rounder Ashutosh Sharma said he relishes his role as a finisher after…
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#VIDEO #Catching #bowling #PowerPlay #improvement #Director #Cricket #Venugopal">VIDEO | Catching, bowling in PowerPlay need improvement: DC Director of Cricket Venugopal
Venugopal Rao, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket, lamented his team’s poor catching and bowling in the first six overs after a demoralising six-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday. Despite posting its highest-ever total of 264 for two, courtesy K.L. Rahul’s career-best unbeaten effort of 152, DC contrived to go down with seven balls to spare.
Among the flaws laid bare, the fielding lapses were particularly galling. Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer, who form the fulcrum of PBKS’ power-packed batting line-up, were all offered reprieves that they gleefully capitalised on.
“Fielding let us down. We dropped almost six catches today. When you are dropping catches at a crucial time, especially of players like Prabhsimran, Priyansh and Shreyas, we won’t win these kind of matches,” Venugopal told the media on Saturday.
Another aspect where the host faltered was its bowling in the PowerPlay. The DC attack allowed Kings to waltz to 116 for none in six overs, with Priyansh and Prabhsimran depositing the ball into the stands as nonchalantly as they would in a range-hitting training session. Venugopal highlighted Lungi Ngidi’s enforced absence due to an injury in the third over of the chase as a decisive factor.
“There were lots of good bits. If you look back, (not having) four overs of Ngidi and (spilling) six catches made a big difference. We all know what Ngidi can do with his experience. We missed that. Where we can improve is PowerPlay bowling and catching,” the former India batter assessed.
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Venugopal Rao, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket, lamented his team’s poor catching and bowling in the first six overs after a demoralising six-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday. Despite posting its highest-ever total of 264 for two, courtesy K.L. Rahul’s career-best unbeaten effort of 152, DC contrived to go down with seven balls to spare.
Among the flaws laid bare, the fielding lapses were particularly galling. Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer, who form the fulcrum of PBKS’ power-packed batting line-up, were all offered reprieves that they gleefully capitalised on.
“Fielding let us down. We dropped almost six catches today. When you are dropping catches at a crucial time, especially of players like Prabhsimran, Priyansh and Shreyas, we won’t win these kind of matches,” Venugopal told the media on Saturday.
Another aspect where the host faltered was its bowling in the PowerPlay. The DC attack allowed Kings to waltz to 116 for none in six overs, with Priyansh and Prabhsimran depositing the ball into the stands as nonchalantly as they would in a range-hitting training session. Venugopal highlighted Lungi Ngidi’s enforced absence due to an injury in the third over of the chase as a decisive factor.
“There were lots of good bits. If you look back, (not having) four overs of Ngidi and (spilling) six catches made a big difference. We all know what Ngidi can do with his experience. We missed that. Where we can improve is PowerPlay bowling and catching,” the former India batter assessed.
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Venugopal Rao, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket, lamented his team’s poor catching and bowling in…
Sports news
#IPL #Klaasen #finds #joy #steadying #boat #SRH #fussing #strikerates">IPL 2026: Klaasen finds joy in steadying the boat at SRH without fussing over strike-rates
Heinrich Klaasen’s 39-ball 59 ensured that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) maintained the momentum through the middle overs after Abhishek Sharma’s blistering start against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Even as wickets fell at regular intervals around him, the South African held firm, guiding the side to its highest Indian Premier League (IPL) total against CSK.
While runs have continued to flow from his bat, his strike rate has drawn scrutiny. This season, he has scored at 144.39 – significantly lower than his previous highs of over 170.
Notably, he has also been among the slowest starters, striking at 106.66 in his first 10 deliveries.
Earlier this month, Klaasen admitted he needed to improve his scoring rate. However, after steering SRH to a narrow 10-run win on Saturday, he emphasised that his priority was navigating difficult situations rather than focusing on strike rate.
ALSO READ | Chief selector Ajit Agarkar set to get an extension till 2027
“I have been coming in at situations where we have lost four wickets in one or two overs. So I cannot go right from the start. I need to get the job done. In difficult situations, you have to take responsibility and be mature,” he explained.
“We get paid to do the job, and I don’t care about strike rate. I know there has been a lot said about it this season, but I have been putting the team in good positions, and I am just doing my job,” he said.
“The wicket was good enough. We lost too many wickets up front, and we needed to get to that 220 mark. I thought CSK bowled extremely well at the back, and that’s why we didn’t get there.”
Klaasen also noted that the early loss of wickets led to Liam Livingstone being introduced as the Impact Player, even if it meant the likes of Nitish Kumar had to complete their full quota.
“Nitish has been bowling brilliantly. That gives us the luxury to make brave decisions like that. We know that the wicket is not going to spin a lot, so we didn’t mind him bowling the couple of overs that he did.”
Published on Apr 19, 2026
Heinrich Klaasen’s 39-ball 59 ensured that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) maintained the momentum through the middle overs after Abhishek Sharma’s blistering start against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Even as wickets fell at regular intervals around him, the South African held firm, guiding the side to its highest Indian Premier League (IPL) total against CSK.
While runs have continued to flow from his bat, his strike rate has drawn scrutiny. This season, he has scored at 144.39 – significantly lower than his previous highs of over 170.
Notably, he has also been among the slowest starters, striking at 106.66 in his first 10 deliveries.
Earlier this month, Klaasen admitted he needed to improve his scoring rate. However, after steering SRH to a narrow 10-run win on Saturday, he emphasised that his priority was navigating difficult situations rather than focusing on strike rate.
ALSO READ | Chief selector Ajit Agarkar set to get an extension till 2027
“I have been coming in at situations where we have lost four wickets in one or two overs. So I cannot go right from the start. I need to get the job done. In difficult situations, you have to take responsibility and be mature,” he explained.
“We get paid to do the job, and I don’t care about strike rate. I know there has been a lot said about it this season, but I have been putting the team in good positions, and I am just doing my job,” he said.
“The wicket was good enough. We lost too many wickets up front, and we needed to get to that 220 mark. I thought CSK bowled extremely well at the back, and that’s why we didn’t get there.”
Klaasen also noted that the early loss of wickets led to Liam Livingstone being introduced as the Impact Player, even if it meant the likes of Nitish Kumar had to complete their full quota.
“Nitish has been bowling brilliantly. That gives us the luxury to make brave decisions like that. We know that the wicket is not going to spin a lot, so we didn’t mind him bowling the couple of overs that he did.”
Published on Apr 19, 2026
Heinrich Klaasen’s 39-ball 59 ensured that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) maintained the momentum through the middle…
