In a dramatic turn of events, the Delhi Capitals became the first team in the 18-year history of the Indian Premier League to miss out on the playoffs after winning their opening four matches of the season. Their elimination was confirmed on Wednesday following a crushing 59-run defeat at the hands of the Mumbai Indians.
Chasing a target of 181, Delhi Capitals innings fell apart without the presence of their regular skipper Axar Patel. The team collapsed for just 121 runs in the 19th over. Sameer Rizvi top-scored with 39 runs, while Vipraj Nigam added 20 and Ashutosh Sharma chipped in with 18.
Mitchell Santner emerged as the standout performer with the ball for Mumbai, delivering a spell of 4-0-11-3. He dismissed Rizvi, Nigam, and Sharma to dismantle Delhi’s middle order. Supporting him was India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who continued his stellar form with figures of 3.2-0-12-3.
With this comprehensive victory, Mumbai surged to 16 points, securing the fourth spot on the table. Delhi, meanwhile, remained stuck at 13 points with only one match left, sealing their exit from the tournament.
Delhi’s campaign had started with great potential, registering four straight wins. At the halfway stage of the league, they had won six out of eight matches, appearing poised for a playoff berth. However, what followed was a stunning downfall, ending their season on a disappointing note.
