Mitchell Starc’s match-turning second spell kept the Delhi Capitals alive in the playoff race, and former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher believes the left-armer’s impact was decisive in the team’s clash versus the Rajasthan Royals. Starc finished with figures of 4 for 40, restricting the Royals to 193/8, before Delhi chased the target down with four balls remaining to record a five-wicket win. The result pushed Delhi back to seventh place in the 10-team points table and preserved their slim hopes of reaching the knockout stage. Boucher said the Royals looked on course for a total around the 230 mark after their early momentum in the Powerplay, but Starc’s rhythm returned at the right time. He highlighted how the changes in pace and execution under pressure shifted the contest, noting that a single over in which Starc claimed three wickets completely altered the flow of the innings and brought Rajasthan back from the brink of a huge score. Boucher also added that some batters may feel they struck too early, yet the overarching point remained that the spell changed the complexion of the game and ultimately kept the chase within reach for Delhi.
Another factor in Delhi’s success was the work of young all-rounder Madhav Tiwari, who struck key blows by dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey through the use of slower balls. Former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla pointed to the manner in which Tiwari has shown variety in his bowling, describing his performances as impressive not only in this match but also in the previous one. Chawla stressed that the difference-maker is not just having options, but backing them at the crucial moments, and he said Tiwari was doing that with ease. He recalled how even in Dharamshala—where runs were coming freely—Tiwari intelligently brought his slower deliveries into play to deliver an important spell. In this game again, Chawla noted, when Rajasthan began to build momentum, Tiwari stepped up by taking the crucial wicket of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and helped slow the scoring rate.
Chawla also praised Abhishek Porel’s approach during the chase, pointing out that he struck 51 and helped forge a 105-run opening partnership with KL Rahul, who top-scored with 56. He said Porel’s innings stood out because the batter did not receive many chances earlier in the season, yet when he came in, he did so with a clear sense of intent. What impressed Chawla most, he added, was how Porel ensured there was no undue pressure on Rahul at the other end. Whenever the ball came his way, Porel was willing to back his instincts, take the attacking options, and play aggressively—an approach he felt proved vital in a chase of over 190. Given how the first innings unfolded, Chawla argued that this kind of proactive start made a meaningful difference for Delhi Capitals.
Looking ahead to Monday’s fixture, Chawla suggested that Sunrisers Hyderabad carry a slight advantage over Chennai Super Kings, largely because the latter have been affected by injuries, including one to seam-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton. He said the setback to Overton is significant since the role he played in the middle overs with the ball, along with the useful contributions lower down the order with the bat, is difficult to replace. Chawla added that while Spencer Johnson could help strengthen the bowling, he does not provide the same level of batting depth, and it will be interesting to see whether Chennai retains the existing combination or makes changes for such an important encounter.
