IPL 2021: Match 22, DC vs RCB – Who Said What

The 22^nd match of the Indian Premier League saw action setting up between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals. RCB got back to their winning ways as they clinched the nail-biting event by 1 run. Rishabh Pant won the toss and invited Virat Kohli’s men to bat first. It was going to be an average score for RCB before Mr 360 AB de Villiers fired the bowling line up of Delhi by smashing 75 off 42 balls.

Due to his fiery batting show, AB was declared as the player of the match for the night. Rajat Patidar added in crucial 31 runs as RCB posted good 171 runs on the board. Avesh Khan again remained the star bowler of DC as he picked a wicket by conceding just 24 runs in his four overs.

Chasing the target, the opening partnership didn’t stand tall for Delhi. However, Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer stabilized the team’s innings too well as they added 58 and 53 runs respectively from their end. Despite their earnest efforts, DC just fell one run short of the target. Harshal Patel continued his wicket-taking streak as he got two under his belt this time.

Losing skipper, Rishabh Pant said:

Obviously feeling disappointed, specially when you are on the losing side. They got 10-15 runs extra on this wicket. Hetty (Hetmyer) played a brilliant innings, because of him we got close to the target. In the last over, we were thinking whoever gets the ball has to finish the job for the team. That’s what we were planning, in the end we were one run short. We counted the overs really well, in the end the spinners weren’t getting the help which we thought they might get. In the end, I had to give the ball to Stoinis. It’s good to take positives from all the matches. As a young team, we like to learn from each and every game and want to improve each and every day.

Winning skipper, Virat Kohli said:

At one stage I thought it was getting away, but Siraj’s final over gave us confidence and we thought he would manage a professional and clincal job. If there weren’t fielding lapses it wasn’t going to go this far anyway. We lost wickets but AB went berserk and then in the last few overs while bowling Hetmyer got hold of a few, otherwise we were in control. There was no dew tonight thanks to that sandstorm, and we bowled with a dry ball, so that made a difference. Maxi is still not bowling, he’s the 7th option, so we have enough options to do the job for us. We always had batting depth, but now we have a lot of bowling options too. I choose to be optimistic, but captaining for too long does make you nervous. I invariably go with the gut feel of the bowler. AB doesn’t like me saying this, but he hasn’t played competitive cricket for 5 months, and given that, AB’s innings was absolutely top-notch as he has done time and again for us.

Player of the match, AB de Villiers said:

he shot over extra cover was certainly one of the best shots, but the one over midwicket off KG was my best one. I don’t often get him away, but I’m happy I managed to get him away for that one. It’s important to be fresh for every game. I worked out at home and during the quarantine in the hotel room, and now it’s just about managing ourselves throughout the tournament and being fresh when we go out there to bat. We have some experienced heads and some young Indian bowlers who have done well internationally recently. They come in with a lot of confidence. Myself, Virat and Maxi chip in with some help when we can too. I forced myself to say a bit more behind the stumps, thanks to Yuzi who urged me to do it.