DC vs SRH First Innings: Mitchell Starc’s 5-Wicket Haul Stifles SRH in Visakhapatnam

DC vs SRH First Innings: In a high-octane clash at Visakhapatnam, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opted to bat first after winning the toss but collapsed to 163 all out in 18.4 overs, courtesy of a sensational bowling display by Delhi Capitals (DC) spearheaded by Mitchell Starc’s maiden IPL five-wicket haul. The Australian speedster (5/35) dismantled SRH’s top order and cleaned up the tail, while 23-year-old Aniket Verma’s valiant 74 off 41 balls emerged as the lone bright spot for Hyderabad.

Toss and Team Changes

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SRH captain Pat Cummins chose to bat first, aiming to exploit the flat track and set a daunting total. The team made one tactical change, handing leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari his IPL debut in place of pacer Simarjeet Singh. DC, meanwhile, welcomed back KL Rahul after his paternity leave, slotting him at No. 4 and assigning him wicketkeeping duties. Uncapped batter Sameer Rizvi made way for Rahul .

Powerplay Carnage: Starc vs Travishek

The first six overs set the tone for SRH’s collapse. Mitchell Starc, who holds a psychological edge over Travis Head (dismissing him six times in T20s), struck gold in the third over. Head (22 off 12) attempted to loft Starc over mid-off but mistimed the shot, handing a catch to Axar Patel. Earlier, Starc had trapped Abhishek Sharma (run out for 1) and Nitish Reddy (3 off 5) in quick succession, reducing SRH to 37/4 by the fifth over .

DC’s powerplay dominance was underscored by:

Starc’s fiery spell: 2/15 in his first three overs, including 14 dot balls.
Kuldeep Yadav’s precision: The left-arm wrist-spinner dismissed Ishan Kishan (8 off 6) with a deceptive googly .

Aniket Verma’s Counterattack: A Lone Warrior Emerges

At 37/4, SRH’s hopes rested on Heinrich Klaasen (32 off 19) and debutant Aniket Verma. The duo added a brisk 77-run partnership in 7.2 overs, targeting DC’s spinners. Verma, playing only his second IPL game, showcased his fearless approach:

Vs spin: 55 runs off 28 balls, including 6 sixes.
Milestone: A 34-ball fifty, his first in T20 cricket .

Verma’s innings featured audacious strokes, including consecutive sixes off Axar Patel and a 106-meter hit off Kuldeep Yadav. However, his dismissal in the 16th over—caught by Jake Fraser-McGurk in a gravity-defying leap at mid-wicket—halted SRH’s momentum .

Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Playing 11 and Toss Update

SRH’s Collapse: Questionable Tactics and Fielding Brilliance

After Klaasen fell to Mohit Sharma (32 off 19), SRH’s lower order crumbled. Captain Pat Cummins (2 off 4) and Abhinav Manohar (4 off 6) failed to support Verma, while DC’s fielders shone:

Faf du Plessis: A diving catch at extra cover to dismiss Wiaan Mulder (9 off 7).
Axar Patel: A full-stretch grab at mid-off to send back Harshal Patel (5 off 4) .

Starc’s final over sealed SRH’s fate: he removed Zeeshan Ansari and Mohammed Shami in three balls, completing his five-for. SRH lost their last six wickets for 49 runs in 48 deliveries .

Key Bowling Performances

Mitchell Starc (5/35): The pace spearhead exploited Vizag’s bounce and mixed cutters with lethal yorkers. His dismissal of Travis Head (for the sixth time in T20s) set the tone .
Kuldeep Yadav (3/22): Targeted SRH’s middle order, including the crucial wicket of Verma. His economy of 5.5 stood out on a batting-friendly track .
Mohit Sharma (1/34): Broke the Klaasen-Verma partnership with a slower ball, derailing SRH’s recovery .

Tactical Takeaways

SRH’s Over-Aggression: The team’s “all guns blazing” approach backfired, with only three batters crossing double digits. Aniket Verma’s knock highlighted the need for anchors in explosive lineups .
DC’s Death Bowling: Starc and Mohit conceded just 22 runs in the final three overs, showcasing their ability to execute under pressure .

What’s Next?

SRH’s 163 is below par on a pitch where the first-innings average exceeds 200. DC’s chase will rely on KL Rahul’s stability and Fraser-McGurk’s explosiveness, but SRH’s bowlers—led by Cummins and Shami—will aim to exploit early swing .

Final Word: Mitchell Starc’s career-best figures and Aniket Verma’s breakout innings defined a rollercoaster first innings. While DC hold the advantage, SRH’s bowlers have a slim window to turn the tide.

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