IPL 2024: 'We thought there...,' DC skipper Rishabh Pant defends decision to bowl first against SRH

Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant said that he expected the dew to play a role in second innings against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) during their Indian Premier League (IPL) match on April 20. DC had won the toss and elected to bowl first against SRH which went against them as they conceded 266 runs in 20 overs.

"The only thought process behind [electing to bowl at the toss] was we thought there will be a bit of dew, which did not come," Pant said at the post-match presentation.

Also Read:IPL 2024: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma help SRH post highest ever powerplay score

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"If we could have restricted them to 220-230 we still had a chance. (The ball) stopped more (on the pitch) in the second innings than what we anticipated. But when you have 260-270 to defend, it gives bowlers confidence," he added.

Pant admitted that powerplay was the difference between the two sides. Notably, SRH went on to score the highest ever powerplay score in all T20s - posting 125 for no loss in the first six overs.

"I think powerplay was one of the differences. They got 120-130 runs in the powerplay and we were catching up throughout the match," he acknowledged.

Notably, SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma were brutal in the powerplay as they tore apart a bowling attack comprising of Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Head reached his fifty of just 16 balls - joint fastest for SRH along with Abhishek Sharma who achieved the featfew days back.

By the time powerplay was done, SRH had posted highest powerplay score ever with Head batting on 84 off just 26 balls and Abhishek on 40. Hyderabad had also hit 13 fours and 11 sixes in the first 36 balls which translate to four balls going either for a four or a six every over.

In reply, DC had a good powerplay too, scoring 88 runs but eventually were bowled out for 199, losing the match by 67 runs.