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The IPL Pulse - Cricbuzz - Cricbuzz

Byte-sized briefings to keep you posted about everything that's happening in and around IPL 2020

KXIP collected their third win of the tournament on October 18 © BCCI/IPL Follow the space for byte-sized daily briefings on IPL MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 A total of three Super Overs were bowled across two games during the double-header on Sunday. While Kolkata Knight Riders edged home in the Super Over against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Abu Dhabi, the contest between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Dubai had to be decided through a second Super Over after the first one was tied. [SRH v KKR] [MI v KXIP] Lockie Ferguson was the star for KKR, bowling with extreme pace and aggro to pick up figures of 4-0-15-3 in his first game this season. When the scores were tied on 163, he conceded only 2/2 bowling against Abdul Samad and David Warner in the Super Over. It was the joint-lowest Super Over score in IPL equalling KXIP against Delhi Capitals earlier in the season. KKR's template for a victory was very similar to that of MI and DC: pick very quick bowlers. Brendon McCullum, in a sideline interview, confirmed that the two teams at the top of the table were indeed an inspiration. We might see more and more teams do this, when the expectation ahead of the season was for spin to dominate. But 35 games in and the six out of top seven wicket-takers are pacers who bowl over 140 plus. It was the third win for KXIP this season and it didn't come without drama. They've not had it easy so far in this season and they haven't found ways to have it easy in the near future either. It's been that sort of a season for KXIP: what should have been dramatic, has now become predictable. The art of losing isn't hard to master, apparently. KKR opener Rahul Tripathi has been reprimanded for a Level 1 breach of the IPL's code of conduct during the game against SRH The IPL media release didn't specify the reason for the code violation but stated that Tripathi was in breach of section 2.3 - which corresponds to conduct contrary to the spirit of the game. Tripathi has accepted his sanction. Why did Kane Williamson open against KKR?SRH's bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan confirmed that the batting positions of Williamson and David Warner were interchanged because of injury concerns. Williamson had left the field during the first innings with what looked like a hamstring injury. He fought through that while batting, finishing with a 19-ball 29 in a fast start for his side. Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will clash tonight. Both teams are reeling in the bottom half of the points table, with six defeats in their nine games so far. Abu Dhabi has embraced the quick bowlers like no other venue this IPL (as Mumbai Indians have shown), so Sam Curran will need to pass the Jofra Archer test tonight. Dwayne Bravo's injury against DC means CSK need to ponder their death-bowling resources. Sunil Narine has been cleared by the IPL's Suspect Bowling Action Committee and taken off the suspect action warning list. He was reported for a suspect action after the match against Kings XI Punjab in Abu Dhabi and although he could continue to bowl, he risked suspension if he had been reported for a second time. KKR, though, didn't field him against SRH despite the clearance. If you have time... We round-up the week gone by in our Social Tattle. We look at how Eoin Morgan is vice free now, where AB de Villiers should bat and what are the repercussions when R Ashwin pauses while bowling to you. (Hint: the world follows suit) You can also check out the Twitter reactions to the second Super Over and all the drama in pictures. RELATED STORIES

SRH vs KKR, 35th Match, Indian Premier League 2020 - Cricbuzz

Follow SRH vs KKR, 35th Match, Oct 18, Indian Premier League 2020 with live Cricket score, ball by ball commentary updates on Cricbuzz

Sigh! What a cliffhanger! SRH needed 18 off the final over and a half-fit Andre Russell somehow managed to tie the game for his side as Warner failed to punish a leg-stump length delivery off the last ball of the game. The excitement went up a million notches though as the game went into superover, but it came crashing down at a rapid pace for SRH as they lost 2 wickets in 3 balls in the superover. This game had a lot of hype with both these sides looking to be a possible contender for the fourth spot in the points table, but this win will do a world of good for KKR on two counts: A) They will have a cushion where they can afford to lose one or two games here and there and B) Lockie Ferguson. If that name doesn't give you confidence, I wonder what will. KKR fans will be absolutely delighted to see the raw pace and smart variations from the Kiwi quick who single-handedly won the game for his side with a brilliant superover and as Baz, mentioned during his interview, he could well be a very key component for KKR for the rest of the season. That's that from this game then. It's been quite huffy-puffy the last few moments, but thanks for tuning in and sticking by. The second game of the double-header is already up and running with Mumbai struggling, having lost three wickets inside the powerplay. Switch tabs and catch all the action from that game. Until next time, it's a goodbye from Sriram AS, Raju Peethala, Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Hariprasad Sadanandan, Kumar Abhisekh Das and our scorer, Siva. Cheers!! Ball 4: Rashid Khan to DK, leg byes, 2 runs. All over for SRH. This was the quicker googly from Rashid, DK misses the flick but manages to steal a couple of leg byes as the ball deflects wide of the fielder at short square. A better effort from the fielder (Sandeep Sharma) would have made things interesting, but wasn't to be. KKR win the superover and continue to fight for a spot in the playoffs. This is KKR's first win in the superover and what better game to get that Ball 3: Rashid Khan to DK, no run, pushed through quicker on middle and leg, DK strides across and pushes it towards mid-on. KKR - 1 for 0 Ball 2: Rashid to Morgan, 1 run, flighted on off, Morgan kneels down and sweeps it along the ground to deep mid-wicket. Just a single. KKR - 1 for 0 Ball 1: Rashid Khan to Morgan, no run, full and drifting away outside off, Morgan goes for the reverse sweep and hits it straight to backward point. There was a temptation to go for the single but the duo decide against it KKR - 0 for 0 Warner looks tired and frustrated as Rashid Khan limbers up to bowl. It's Eoin Morgan and DK to open for KKR, Gill will be their third batter. Looks like it's Morgan who will take strike. Right then, we are set to go... KKR just need 3 to romp home. Should be a cake-walk unless something dramatic happens. Lockie, the game-changer for Kolkata, who has been outstanding today. First in his regular four overs and now this surreal SuperOver. Rashid and Sandeep are warming up for SRH while I type. The former should be the obvious choice. I can see Gill padded up, who'll be the other two batters? Will confirm shortly. Hyderabad are in a huddle and now they disperse. Can Rashid work his magic and pull a rabbit out of the hat? Right, Morgan and Karthik have come out. So, Gill will come if a wicket falls. 2/2 is the joint-lowest Super Over score in IPL equalling KXIP against DC earlier in the season Ball 3: Ferguson to Samad, bowled!! It's all over for SRH. Lockie just kept it simple; full and at the stumps, Samad swings blindly and gets nowhere near the ball. SRH 2 for 2 Ball 2: Ferguson to Samad, 2 runs, back of a length, Samad mistimes it down the ground and they will charge back for the second. A direct-hit at the bowler's end and Bairstow would've been gone. SRH - 2 for 1 Abdul Samad, right handed bat, comes to the crease BALL 1: Ferguson to Warner, bowled!! Ferguson continues to impress. A wicket off the first ball in the SuperOver. Length, nipped away a fraction after pitching. Warner made room and slashes but couldn't make any contact. The LED stumps light up and Lockie is thrilled. What a start to KKR. SRH - 0 for 1 Warner and Bairstow are opening for SRH; Lockie Ferguson with the ball for KKR. Not sure who would be the third batsman for SRH 18:02 Local Time, 14:02 GMT, 19:32 IST: What did we just witness? We have a third superover in this season's IPL, the most in any season. Didn't look like going that way when SRH needed 18 from the final over. But then Morgan had the choice of either Kuldeep Yadav or a limping Andre Russell to bowl the 20th. He went for the latter and it nearly backfired big time - Warner took him for three boundaries, but couldn't apply the finishing touches. With 2 needed from the last ball, they sneaked in a leg-bye and didn't show any inclination to at least attempt the second run. Not sure what could be the reason. Going back to the chase, it started well with Bairstow and Kane Williamson (promoted to open) taking 58, but Lockie Ferguson, playing in his first match, struck twice to derail the chase. Warner stood firm even as wickets tumbled at the other end - he stayed till the end to enforce a super-over. Russell to Warner, leg byes, 1 run, yes, start the tuk-tuk. We are going into the SuperOver. Back of a length, Warner is beaten for pace and it runs off the pads to point. Scores are level 2 runs from 1 ball. Are we in for a SuperOver here? Morgan has a chat with his bowler. Russell to Warner, 2 runs, 128.2kph, fullish and straight, Warner dumps it down to long-on and comes back for the second Russell to Warner, FOUR, hat-trick of fours for Warner. It's going bad to worse for Russell and KKR. A full delivery on middle and leg, Warner gets across and hacks it over square leg 8 needed off 3. Russell to Warner, FOUR, two in a row! Warner is taking SRH home? A shortish delivery outside off, Warner gets under it and slaps it straight down the ground

Injury-hit Delhi Capitals aim to regain top spot - Cricbuzz - Cricbuzz

Chennai Super Kings, fresh from a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, will hope their batting line up is able to ace the Rabada-Nortje challenge

There's no clarity over Iyer's availability for the clash. © BCCI Having run into each other early in the season, the paths of both Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings have been contrasting. Delhi have double the points (12) that Chennai has in as many games (6) and are eyeing a spot in the play-offs, which Chennai is in danger of missing out if they continue to slip further. Delhi managed to scrape a victory through against Rajasthan Royals but not a lot has changed for them from that win. The positives of the bowling attack being exceptional and Shikhar Dhawan upping his game apart, a lot of their problems that existed before the start of that game still remain. And all of them focus towards their injury concerns which was only exacerbated by Shreyas Iyer injuring his shoulder mid-game. With no clarity on the availability of Rishabh Pant as well, the injury plague that haunts Delhi Capitals will be their biggest trial of the season. Chennai, on the other hand, have come closer to correcting their combinations and tactics through the season. It helped them win an important clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad which saw almost all of their key players meeting expectations. The challenge against Delhi will be how they manage the match-ups. Last time around, Delhi were able to get a couple of important ones in their favour like using Axar Patel in the powerplay to get Shane Watson. But a lot has changed since then. When: Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 19:30 IST Where: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah What to expect: The pitches in Sharjah have become considerably slower through the course of the tournament. The small boundaries will still favour the batsmen, but there's more than a semblance of an even contest. But yet again, this could mean that the team that bats first will be at a significant advantage in the absence of dew. The toss could play a crucial factor. Team News Delhi Capitals Injuries have put paid to a lot of their best laid plans so far this season. To their credit, Delhi have managed to ride past these setbacks so far. But do they have enough of a back-up if they miss out on both Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant? Unlikely. Pant, with protective bands around his thigh, did a few fitness tests ahead of their previous game and looked in good spirits. If Iyer does miss out, there could be just a straight swap from the previous game. Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane/Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey/Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, R Ashwin, Anrich Nortje, Tushar Deshpande Chennai Super Kings Why would you want to change a winning combination, especially after the group put in a win that pleased the captain a lot? Match-ups and the ground dimensions at Sharjah could be a factor, if CSK do go on to change. With Delhi potentially having four left-handers in the line-up, the extra leg spinner could make way for a batsman. Probable XI: Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Kedar Jadhav/Piyush Chawla, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Karn Sharma Did you know - An economy rate of 6.31 makes the spinners of Delhi Capitals the cheapest in IPL 2020 - Deepak Chahar has dismissed Prithvi Shaw four times in five innings. The only time he didn't manage to do so came earlier in the season when Shaw was Man of the Match. What they said "I told the boys I just want to keep them switched on for another week - we have got to keep pushing hard for these next couple of games. We've got CSK and then KXIP. I don't want us to get complacent and take things for granted at this stage of the tournament because things are going well. I think when things are going well, it's time to push that little bit harder, so that's what we will be doing for the next week but right now all of us are looking forward to every challenge that comes our way, and we feel that if we play our best cricket, then we're going to be hard to beat every game" - Ricky Ponting, Head Coach of Delhi Capitals. RELATED STORIES

Jayawardene pleased with Mumbai's positive start in IPL 2020 - Cricbuzz - Cricbuzz

Mumbai Indians worked towards making sure they were not left to claw back in the tournament

Mahela said the problem of slow starts had been addressed © IPL Half-way through the tournament, Mumbai Indians find themselves with five wins to their credit -- and a place at the top of the points table (which was later usurped by Delhi Capitals after their eighth match). Only twice in all these years have they had a better start to an IPL season. It's almost an alien territory for Mumbai Indians to be in. Mahela Jayawardene, the team's head coach, said that this was a problem identified, addressed and worked upon coming into the 2020 season. "As a coach, you will never be at ease in such a tournament," Jayawardene admitted despite his side getting off to a good start. "But it [the issue of starting slow] was something we were conscious about at the start of the tournament, where we always start slow and then we claw our way into the tournament. So it was something we spoke about. "We knew the guys going into the tournament were in good form, they had prepared well but it's all about getting into that awareness, the intelligence for the situations out there. Trying to get them to understand the situations quickly enough and adapt, that's where we came back strongly after the first few games where we learnt a lot very quickly, how to play in Abu Dhabi, which is going to be our main venue, having to play eight games there. That has been the key, players understanding how we need to adapt to the change. That whole identification as well, whether they are batters or bowlers - what are the situations they are going to be in and winning those little battles out there with the oppositions. So far, I'm very happy the way the guys have responded to that." A good reason for Mumbai Indians's success so far has been due to the high-performing pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult and James Pattinson. However, with the pitches in UAE turning slower and aiding slower bowlers, a few teams have already benefited with the performances of their spinners. However, Jayawardene doesn't feel a need to change the combination that has been winning them games just as yet. "Last year as well, we made that adjustment at the backend of the tournament when we played in pitches that suited the spinners," he said. "So far, the fast bowlers have had a bigger role to play in the tournament, whether it is the powerplay, the middle overs or the back end. We're trying to keep that balance. As long as they are making the contributions and they are penetrating the opposition batting line-ups, it doesn't matter what kind of surfaces we play on. The quality of the fast bowling line-up that we have, they are always going to create opportunities. "We have a couple of good spinners operating right now in the playing XI. And there are a couple of guys who are in the wings, who we might look at depending on the opposition and match-ups. Depending on the conditions, we might, but right now I'm happy with the combination that we have, seeing the way we have operated." Even though the tournament is past its half-way mark, Mumbai Indians remain possibly the only side with a settled XI. It's a core they have continued with from their last year's title-winning run. With all the players hitting form and making match-winning contributions at some point or the other already, there isn't a lot to cover with the on-field battles. However, they are also a team that hasn't tested its bench too much, and that brings with it, its own set of headaches of dropping motivations within the team. However, Jayawardene is confident that the team culture is strong enough to make the receive players feel important in the setup. "It's about creating a culture within the group where everyone understands that there are players who are going to go out in the middle but the other guys are also as important as anyone else in that group," he said. "They are the ones who keep the guys on the field on their toes because these are very good players who we have got on our bench. At any time, they are ready to go out on the field and perform. It makes a healthy rivalry within the group. Everybody is focussed, they are prepared for each and every game. "If we feel they (the players in the XI) are physically not capable or whether they are not mentally fresh. We will make sure we manage those workloads. So that is one of the things for which we have got a lot of good players on the bench to make sure they are ready to go at any given time. It's a great headache to have but it's also a good, healthy competition that we've created. What we try and do is try to keep them fresh and prepared, not push them too much but not let them relax too much either. It's a two-month tournament, it's not too much of an ask from these professionals. We just have to make sure they are at the top of their game. It's also communication between the management and the players, trying to figure out issues and resolve it before it can be a problem for the two." RELATED STORIES

Washington Sundar's power play - Cricbuzz - Cricbuzz

How a conventional off-spinner, minus the frills, thrives in the toughest phase against the best hitters

RCB have finally started to use Sundar effectively in the powerplay. ©BCCI When Rising Pune Supergiant coach Stephen Fleming first informed Washington Sundar of his IPL debut at the Bengaluru airport, the 17-year-old immediately sought the company of Prasanna Agoram, the team's analyst, to identify the batting patterns of David Warner. Sundar prepares meticulously and holds on to crucial pointers. He taps into his memory bank at the top of his run-up, is ready to dynamically tweak his plans through the short sequence of steps to the bowling crease. He remembers his battle with Rohit Sharma from earlier this season rather vividly. An offspinner is not someone match-up analysts prescribe against Rohit. When the Mumbai Indians captain faced Sundar in the 2017 Qualifier, he had tried to paddle sweep and was unfairly adjudged LBW off an inside edge. Sundar knew that but went about setting a different kind of trap. A long-on was in place while a deep mid-wicket hugged the boundary ropes on the longer side of the boundary. The lines were obviously going to be straight. The lengths, though, had to be immaculately hard - neither too full to drive nor too short for him to get the best out of his pull shot. The first ball, on a good length, turned into Rohit from off-stump. Having seen the first one spin, Rohit hung on his backfoot and blunted the next. The third one stayed on the hard length, that Rohit stepped out to meet. The master batsman was playing the old one-two with the young spinner, but it was what the offie wanted too. Next ball landed on that good length again and at 95 kmph. Rohit rocked back to play his pull but got no room for the shot or enough leverage to get under the dart arriving from a good height. The deep mid-wicket fielder settled under it. "It [The pull] is one of his favourite shots, he sweeps really well as well. He's honestly someone who hits all round the ground," Sundar recollects. "I wanted to hit the hard lengths which I knew for a fact that he might [still] be able to hit a four or a six. [But] I wanted to hit the right areas again and again. I bowled three dots to start with which was very good. It helped me take the wicket of the fourth. The moment he hit that shot, I felt it came off the middle of the bat. But it didn't. Thankfully we won that game, we couldn't have lost that game at all." That was Sundar's first over in the PowerPlay in RCB's third game of IPL 2020. He'd bowled just seven overs across the previous two seasons. At the end of the game, in which 400 runs were scored, Sundar finished with figures of 1 for 12. India coach Ravi Shastri tweeted: "The best performance of the IPL so far." By his own admission, Sundar practices PowerPlay bowling for 25 minutes in a 30-minute net session. "I will tell the batsman what the field is going to be like. I will also think about where I am going to bowl. Maybe Five to ten minutes, I will give myself the time to bowl in the back end, but most of the time I prepare myself to bowl in the PowerPlay," he says. Conventional off-spin is an art form endangered by modern white-ball cricket. Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammad Nabi are the only two other practitioners of the craft in this competition and the Afghan hasn't played enough. Unlike Ashwin, Sundar doesn't bowl the carrom ball or rely on drift but packs in enough cat and mouse play in an over. He's bowled to varied batsmen with just two fielders in the boundary and has returned an economy rate of 4.90. This includes eight balls to Quinton de Kock for four runs. Six balls to Shane Watson for five runs, four balls to Faf du Plessis for five runs and 10 balls to Prithvi Shaw for 12 runs courtesy a top-edged four. "So far I've not seen any batsman on the field where I didn't have any idea or didn't have any clarity to bowl to, since I have already planned and already done my homework," he says. But carefully curated plans, hitting those hard lengths at pace, are just one part of his arsenal. The other involves problem solving on the fly as Sachin Tendulkar spotted on Twitter. "I think it's about releasing the ball as late as possible," he says. "And when you have to see the batsmen's legs and his movements, you also have a better chance of suspecting what he's going to do, where he's trying to get you, you'll have a better chance to react to what he's going to do." It was the other Indian legend Rahul Dravid who told the travelling Indian journalists at the Under-19 World Cup of 2016 that he foresaw his all-rounder to have a more productive career as a bowler. But having that batting pedigree has helped. "I also think from a batsman's point of view," he says. "It has a lot to do with different batsmen and what sort of angles they wouldn't want to face. Also variation of speed and what kind of revolutions you have to bowl to different batsmen. It's more to do with the batsmen that I am going to come against and not really the grounds." When the field spreads out, there is a greater freedom for Sundar to attack. That facet of his game was on display against Kolkata Knight Riders when he began going wide of the crease to Eoin Morgan and moved away from his cramping lines, cut down on his pace to have the England captain caught at short third man with an attempted inside-out loft. "In the middle overs, you can play with angles, bowl different lines and different speeds as well because you know there are five fielders outside the circle," he says. Contrary to popular opinion, Sundar isn't a different bowler now than when he first broke through at the T20 level in 2017. If anything, he has become a better version of himself by repeating his methods over and over again. It was for RCB to realise how best to get the best out of him. When they have, he has flourished once more.

DC vs RR, 30th Match, Indian Premier League 2020 - Cricbuzz

Follow DC vs RR, 30th Match, Oct 14, Indian Premier League 2020 with live Cricket score, ball by ball commentary updates on Cricbuzz

Steven Smith | Losing captain: Disappointing. The wicket slowed up a bit as the game went on. We got off to a good start with Jos and Stokesy, then we lost a couple wickets and got another partnership between Stokesy and Sanju, then again lost wickets in clumps and on slow wickets it is hard to make up too many runs at the backend. We needed to take it a bit deeper from some of our batters and we were not able to do that. We thought we bowled well at the backend and restricted them to 160-odd, that was probably around par on this wicket. And the opening partnership got us ahead in the game but we couldn't extend those partnerships, boys were getting in and getting out, not going on to make 50 or 60. It has been the trend in the tournament, the boys that have the air speed have had the most success, Jofra has been great for us and same with Nortje and Rabada for Delhi. They changed things around tonight by bowling with pace, taking pace off and varying it nicely, we weren't able to deal with that. We are not in the greatest position at the moment, so need to move on from this and hopefully come back with a big game in three days time.

Live Cricket Score - DC v RR, Match 30, IPL 2020 - Cricbuzz - Cricbuzz

Catch the live updates of Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals, Match 30, IPL 2020 here

Rajasthan Royals 148-8 (20 Ovs) Delhi Capitals won by 13 runs Delhi opt to bat first. © BCCI That's all from us tonight. Do join us tomorrow when RCB take on KXIP. Till then, ciao! Anrich Nortje is the Man of the Match. Rajasthan have only themselves to blame for this loss. Or probably, their batsmen. The bowlers set it up beautifully. That comeback in the death overs of DC innings gave them the momentum they needed at the start of their chase. But despite as many as four of their batsmen getting starts, neither of them converted it into a match-winning knock. They did manage a few decent partnerships, but losing wickets in clusters pulled them back. Smith is understandably disappointed with this show. And with this, Delhi Capitals climb to the top of the points table! DC win by 13 runs What an eventful final over this. Tewatia probably thought he's managed to do it again but an excellent boundary-line save from Rahane saves not only 5 runs but also the game for DC. Deshpande almost got his wicket again, but this time he ran into the batsman and missed the edge off Tewatia's bat. He gets Gopal off the final ball, giving away only 8 in the final over and ensuring there's no Tewatia Special #3 tonight. Rabada strikes Takes out Archer. Not the perfect yorker but still does the work for DC. Archer simply throws his hands at it, ends up slicing it straight to Rahane at Point. Only 3 off the over, which means Tewatia - if he has to do a Tewatia - he needs to score 22 off the next six. Against debutant Tushar Deshpande. Not ruling RR out yet then... Nortje removes Uthappa Fast. Yorker, at the base of leg and middle stump. At nearly 150kmph. Uthappa charges down but the ball just whizzes past him. No redemption then. Uthappa departs for 32 off 27. Down to that man now - Tewatia on 9. RUN OUT Robin Uthappa has sold Riyan Parag down the river.Calls him for a single, and Parag responds to his senior. Except Robbie is ball-watching and then decides to send Parag back. Too late for him to regain his crease. Match-winner in the last game, run out for 1 this time unfortunately. DC taking firm control of the game now. Axar joins the party Samson is disappointed with himself as he walks back. Length delivery, slid in with the angle. Quicker as well. Samson made room and exposed his stumps. The ball crashes into the mid pole. Delhi on top now, and Royals need a royal rescue. Maiden IPL wicket for Tushar Deshpande ...and what a scalp to pick! He's gotten rid of Ben Stokes! Deceives him with a slower ball, Stokes is early into his shot and he walks down the track. Straightforward catch for the substitute fielder at long-on. Breaks the threatening partnership. So, Shikhar Dhawan is leading in Iyer's absence. Shreyas Iyer seems to have hurt his shoulder trying to stop a drive from Stokes.Doesn't look as bad as Ashwin did at the start of the tournament, but is off the field. One brings another! Skipper Smith is gone!His rotten time continues. Chipped a straightforward catch back to Ashwin. RR are off to a flier with Buttler going after Nortje! Oh, hang on a minute!!And just as I say that, Nortje knocks off his poles! Just the breakthrough DC wanted! Nortje wins the battle in the end. We're back for the chase Join us back after the break. Back to back fifties for Dhawan today, and one from the ever-reliable skipper Iyer helped DC recover from the early loss of two wickets that Jofra Archer snapped up in his fiery opening spell. But full credit to Tyagi and Archer, who have helped halt DC's charge at the backend. After Dhawan's fireworks, and then Iyer deciding to cut loose, DC were well on their way to 175-plus but credit to RR bowlers for a good comeback to restrict them. They'll be the happier side heading into this break. DC finish with 161/7 This is good comeback by Royals in death overs. And here's another wicket for them! After his three wickets, here's second catch of the day for Archer. Difficult to keep him out today, isn't it? Slows it up, outside off and Carey fails in his attempt to clear long-off. Unadkat gets a wicket, and then one more - of Axar of the final ball of the innings. OUT Third wicket for Archer! Stoinis pulls, and pulls hard. But it's caught well within the boundary ropes, at deep midwicket by Tewatia. Royals coming back hard at DC with wickets at the backend. Tyagi finishes with 2/30 Two overs in death, for eight runs and the big wicket of Shreyas Iyer - take a bow young man! WICKET Kartik Tyagi to the rescue! Length ball. Iyer decides to go down town again but skies it to the man at long-off. Jofra takes the catch. HALF-CENTURY Spectacular catch or a six? Six it is, after multiple replays and that's fifty for Shreyas Iyer! Two sixes off that Unadkat over to get to the milestone, in 40 deliveries. Wouldn't have been so had Stokes, who caught the ball at deep midwicket, thrown it up in the air just a second earlier. He caught it, realised he's gonna step across the boundary rope, threw it back in the air and caught it again after jumping back but his one foot at touched the ball just the second he attempted to throw it up. Six then. Iyer raises his bat to acknowledge. Dhawan departs Dhawan attempts a switch hit and it goes horribly wrong. Top edge flies straight to Tyagi at short third man and Dhawan's entertaining knock comes to an end. Gopal gets the breakthrough and it's end of a successful partnership for DC. FIFTY ...for Dhawan. Back to back half-centuries for the Delhi opener! Follows it up with a six first ball off Gopal's next over - 12th of DC's innings. 100 coming up for them. Powerplay Dhawan has lead DC's recovery in the powerplay after those two early blows. He's made a quick 30 at a SR of 200! DC 47/2 after 6 ov. Another one for Jofra Rahane falls this time. Miscues his pull and it's catching practice for Robin Uthappa at mid-on. Jofra reaping rewards for excellent line and lengths. DC in a spot of bother early on. Here's their captain, Shreyas Iyer. WICKET Cleaned him up! Golden duck for Shaw as Jofra strikes on the very first ball. Short of length, just outside off, Shaw pushes at it but with no footwork. Inside edge and onto the stumps... Delhi lose their first wicket even before opening their account. Rahane joins Dhawan in the middle. All set then.Shaw and Dhawan to open. Shaw takes first strike; facing Jofra Archer. Team changes IPL debut for Tushar Deshpande, who comes in for DC. Harshal sits out. Meanwhile, RR are unchanged. TOSS: Delhi opt to bat first TOSS coming up In Dubai, the pitches have already started to slow down as the tournament has progressed. Add to it the expected dew, and you don't want to be the captain who calls incorrectly at toss. HELLO and WELCOME to out live blog for Game 30 of IPL 2020 - where 2nd place Delhi Capitals take on seventh placed Rajasthan Royals? Delhi clear favourites then? Not entirely, writes Ganesh C in his preview here. Rajasthan come into today's contest with a Ben Stokes sized boost. And a come-from-behind win against SRH. For Delhi, the top spot was within grasp but they a key game to MI. Their campaign has marred by injuries of late. And the latest one to Rishabh Pant has thrown their team balance off a bit. They need to quickly strengthen their middle-order to ensure they don't slip any further. RELATED STORIES

Chaotic entertainers face moment of truth - Cricbuzz - Cricbuzz

Mathematically it is not make or break time as yet, but KXIP's season has reached a point of no return

Anything less than a win to start the second-half and they'll see that playoffs berth disappear further into the horizon. © BCCI Kings XI Punjab's campaign so far is perhaps best viewed through the prism of Chris Gayle's video message to the team's fans two nights out from their clash against RCB. The Jamaican declaring himself fit and said about KXIP's campaign: "It is still possible". It's a phrase that could not have been uttered without giving away the underlying impression of improbability. Gayle, once a famous Royal Challenger, will undoubtedly have seen it used at some time in his previous team and know the scale of the task at hand. Given the treats they've served up so far, there's no doubt these chaotic campaigners at KXIP will have punches to throw even with their backs touching the cold proverbial wall. After ending on the wrong side of three cliffhangers in the first half, the permutations are simple. Anything less than a win to start the second-half and they'll see that playoffs berth disappear further into the horizon. However this potential make-or-break contest pans out, KXIP are one of the case studies of IPL 2020. This is thanks almost entirely down to their fluctuating bowling standards and their inability to close out a game. After their latest heartbreak in Abu Dhabi, they now head to the scene of one of their earlier mishaps. But Sharjah has since changed character and the adrenaline of impending elimination may just aid KL Rahul & Co. to reverse their own disposition. Quite what Virat Kohli makes of such maverick opposition is anyone's guess. Maybe he sees a version of past RCB sides in them. If KXIP have lost games they should have won, RCB have, this time, opted for the less scenic route to the playoffs. They are not there by any means and could face an anxious final week if they relinquish control right now. They will start this game as overwhelming favourites despite the big loss in the reverse fixture, but given what we've seen from their opponents so far in the competition, this one could turn out to be fun. When: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab, Match 31, October 15, 2020; 18:00 Local, 19:30 IST Where:Sharjah Cricket Stadium What to expect: 33, 29, 28, 21, 17, 10 - The number of sixes hit at Sharjah have reduced exponentially over the six games played. With the scoring rate reducing to 8.04 over the last five innings at the venue, expect both teams to try and buck the trend of playing conservatively through the PowerPlay and go hard in the first six overs. Team News: Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing an extra bowler for Sharjah was a smart move from the RCB brains trust and they'll like to retain that combination for their second game here. Aaron Finch eased some concern about his form with a 47 despite struggling for fluency through his innings. His intent, to take the first ball and counter the inswinging delivery by walking at the bowlers, is a sign that the Australian captain is plotting his way out of trouble. Barring late fitness concerns, RCB are unlikely to change this XI. Probable XI:Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal Kings XI Punjab Gayle announced he has recovered from his stomach bug and given the state of Punjab's campaign and Sharjah serving a pitch most conducive for top-order players, the time is ripe for KXIP to introduce one of the stalwarts of the tournament. That means Mujeeb Ur Rahman is likely to miss out and KXIP can reprise their use of two legspinners in the XI by bringing back Murugan Ashwin. Gayle's inclusion will also mean one of Pooran or Rahul will have to take back the 'keeping gloves from Prabhsimran Singh. There is a case for using James Neesham and his cutters on this track with two-paced tendencies. But that change will have to come at the expense of Glenn Maxwell, whose offspinners could provide a release. Probable XI:Chris Gayle, KL Rahul (c), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Glenn Maxwell/James Neesham, Mandeep Singh, Chris Jordan, Mohammed Shami, Murugan Ashwin/K Gowtham, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh Did you know? - Glenn Maxwell has played the most balls (61) this tournament without hitting a six. - Only once in the last five seasons (2017) have KXIP won more than two games in the second half of the season - While RCB bowl well through the middle-overs (7-15), they have been sedate with the bat in the same phase. Their scoring rate (6.9 RPO) & Boundaries Per Balls (11.5) is the lowest in the league What they said: "It's great to see individuals step up when the team requires. Bowling unit, with Morris coming in, looks all the more potent. The three-week camp helped us. We have clarity of plans. Know exactly what we want to do on the field. It's very positive. If your bowling unit is strong, you have a great chance of going deep in the tournament." - Virat Kohli puts a finger on what's going well for RCB. "This year has been a different role [batting at No.5] and I am trying to get used to it. I would like to think that I have tried to do my role as well as I can. We have got Nicky [Nicholas Pooran] batting unbelievably well at four. With his power-hitting, my job has been to get him on strike and be there to help finish off games." - Glenn Maxwellon how his role in the IPL has been different to what he plays for Australia. RELATED STORIES

SRH vs CSK, 29th Match, Indian Premier League 2020 - Cricbuzz

Follow SRH vs CSK, 29th Match, Oct 13, Indian Premier League 2020 with live Cricket score, ball by ball commentary updates on Cricbuzz

Now, to be fair CSK might have six points, but these are two of those six they'd be the happiest with -- after all the first two were in Mumbai's charity game and the next two came off a blinder once-in-a-season partnership. But today was clinical; more like the Chennai we've grown used to. Anyway, they still remain sixth, under SRH, who have a lot of middle-order sorting to do. It was fun bringing you this, as I, Vineet Anantharaman, sign off on behalf of Nikhil Jadhav, Hari Sadanandan, Sriram AS, RamakrishnanMS and our scorer, Siva. Until tomorrow and hopefully something closer, ta ta!!

Muscle tear rules Ishant Sharma out of IPL 2020 - Cricbuzz - Cricbuzz

Ishant suffered pain on his left rib cage which turned out to be internal oblique muscle tear

DC have used the likes of Avesh Khan, Mohit Sharma and more recently Harshal Patel to fill Ishant's void in the XI with neither of them managing to nail their spot. However, DC have still made a bright start to their campaign, winning five out of their seven games so far, sharing the top spot with Mumbai Indians.