RR vs DC Highlights, IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals demolish Delhi Capitals by 57 runs

Mukesh Kumar is back in the attack. He starts off well and concedes five runs in his first four balls, before Jos Buttler whacks him for two consecutive fours. RR: 143/3 (16 overs)

Kuldeep Yadav completes his quota as he concedes just four runs in his final over. RR: 130/3 (15 overs) | Kuldeep: 4-0-31-1

Rovman Powell strikes in his first over. He cleans up local boy Riyan Parag for 7(11). 

The batter shuffles across the crease and tries to smash it over mid-wicket but misses it completely as the ball knocks the stump. RR: 126/3 (14 overs)

Jos Buttler smokes Axar Patel for a six to bring up his half-century. He reaches the milestone in 32 balls as RR reach 122/2 in 13 overs.

Axar Patel then bowls a tight over and concedes just four singles.

Kuldeep Yadav also keeps thing tight from his end as five runs come off his over. RR: 112/2 (12 overs)

Delhi Capitals strike in quick succession as Kuldeep Yadav removes Sanju Samson for 0(4). 

He had the opportunity to remove Riyan Parag too in the final delivery after the batter got a leading edge but falls short of the bowler. RR: 103/2 (10 overs)

Mukesh Kumar is reintroduced in the attack and he provides Delhi Capitals with much-needed breakthrough. Yashasvi Jaiswal's explosive innings comes to an end as he falls for 60(31). A short ball, which takes a leading edge as Yashasvi tries to pull. The ball flies high in the air and is caught by the bowler. 

RR: 98/1 (9 overs)

Kuldeeep Yadav is introduced in the attack as the runs keep coming. He gets a bottom edge against Buttler, which races towards the fence behind the wickets.

Yashasvi then hits the spinner for a maximum. Connects it from the middle of the blade and sends the ball over the long-on fence. 

Buttler goes on to hit the spinner for another boundary. 17 runs come off the over. RR: 96/0 (8 overs)

Axar Patel comes to bowl his second over and starts with a couple of singles. He is then hit for a boundary by Yashasvi in the fourth and fifth ball, following which he also reaches his half-century. The youngster completes the milestone in 25 balls. RR: 79/0 (7 overs)  

Axar Patel comes to bowl the fifth over and as expected Yashasvi Jaiswal smashes him for a hattrick of boundaries. 

Anrich Nortje then comes to bowl the final powerplay over but concedes just five runs, which include a boundary by Jos Buttler. DC: 68/0 (6 overs)

A change of end for Khaleel but Yashasvi Jaiswal welcomes him with a four. 

He is not taken for runs following that four but ends up bowling two wides, one which also results in an extra single.

Buttler lofts him wide off mid-on in the final delivery. Didn't time it well as Anrich Nortje chases after the ball. He somehow manages to reach but fails to control his balance as he goes for the catch. RR: 50/0 (4 overs)

David Warner brings in Mukesh Kumar after expensive start by Khaleel and Nortje.

Mukesh does get hit for a boundary by Buttler but just seven runs come off it. RR: 39/0 (3 overs)

Anrich Nortje will share the new ball duties with Khaleel and the pacer is whacked for three boundaries by Jos Buttler.

RR race to 32/0 after 2 overs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal starts with consecutive 4s.

The first one is pulled towards the mid-wicket, the second one is cut over the point fielder towards the third-man region, which should have been stopped by Mukesh Kumar the fielder stationed there.

The carnage continues and this time he drives it past covers for another boundary.

Plays a dot before hitting another four towards the long-on region. 

He then hits another four as 20 runs come off the over. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler walk out to bat in the middle. 

Khaleel Ahmed will lead the attack for Delhi.

The big news is Prithvi Shaw has been dropped from playing XI. Mitchell Marsh is unavailable as he flew back to Australia for personal reasons.

Jos Buttler, who was doubtful, is included in the playing XI.

Delhi Capitals: David Warner(c), Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw, Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Abishek Porel(w), Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Delhi Capitals win toss, invite Rajasthan Royals to bat first.

“The pitch that's been used today was used for the India-South Africa T20I where 450+ runs were scored. It's the centre pitch, 65m on both sides and longer straight boundaries. The pitch is brilliant, it might not be as good a wicket to bat on though, it's darker which means a bit more moisture, there are indentations and ridges which run parallel to each other because of the process of scarification, which has ensured a few marks. It's still a very good pitch to bat, but it might help the spinners to get some grip. Batting first might be the way to go about today.”

Well we don't know about others but Sanju Samson has definitely impressed a cricketing legend with his captaincy.

AB de Villiers: "Sanju Samson is an incredible player, but as a captain, it is his cool composure that always stands out. He never seems to be fussed by anything, and as a captain, that is a good sign.

“I think he's got all the credentials to be a wonderful captain. Who knows, possibly even one day in a year or two or three's time, in one of the formats in the India team.”

Despite having a reputation of being a power-hitter, Delhi Capitals' Rovman Powell still might not be considered for the XI. The Windies star has struggled against spin and with Rajasthan having the likes of Ashwin and Chahal, Delhi might give Rilee Rossouw a chance to continue.

If we look at ‘Impact Player’, Delhi Capitals have used Aman Khan for this role. Despite good backing from head coach Ricky Ponting, the Mumbai youngster has hardly created any impact so far.

It will be interesting to see if Delhi Capitals use Axar Patel with the ball as well. The all-rounder has delivered his services with the bat, but he has hardly been employed with the ball. The main reason behind this being David Warner's reluctance to use him against the left-handers.

With the form Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shimron Hetmyer has displayed, chances of Axar combining with Kuldeep Yadav looks a bit slim.

Delhi Capitals star batters Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan are yet to live up to their reputation and this certainly has hurt their side a lot.

Sarfaraz has managed 34 from two matches, while Shaw amassed a paltry 19 from the same number of matches.

Even if the management decides to give others a chance ahead of the duo, the team has Yash Dhull, Ripal Patel and Lalit Yadav to fall back upon. However, none of the are players who would perhaps score at a strike-rate of 150.

Although Delhi Capitals have never played at the venue but they should take one lesson from the encounter between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, which was played at this venue earlier this week.

Team winning the toss should ideally opt to bat first given there are high chances of dew coming in the evening, which makes it difficult for spinners.