During the post-match conference, Axar pointed out that the pitch was really challenging to bat on in the first innings that got better with the dew coming in. He thought that DC was about 10-15 runs short. I think we needed 10-15 more runs. The wicket was tough at first, but the dew came and that made a big difference. We dropped a few catches that we really needed to take. Our intent was good, but the pitch was tricky. If a batter could have hung around longer, they could have picked up those extra runs, he said.
As far as the match was concerned, the heroics of Krunal Pandya have ensured a place in the IPL history. This was his first fifty in an IPL, leading RCB to a solid six-wicket win over DC. Krunal made 73 not out off 47 balls, while former RCB captain Virat Kohli added 51 off 47. Both together put up a partnership of 119 runs off 84 balls, as RCB chased down the target of 163 runs in just 18.3 overs.
The second game where Josh Hazlewood and the spinners really conspired against DC to keep them at 162 for six was yet another surprise at the stadium. Upcoming games would see DC meet Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 29 at the same venue while RCB plays the Chennai Super Kings on May 3 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
