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Shaw and Iyer blast their way through for a Daredevils win

With a half century each, Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer helped DD on their way against KKR.

Photo credit: BCCI/IPLT20.com

A change was on the cards for Delhi Daredevils in this VIVO Indian Premier League edition after Shreyas Iyer was appointed as the stand-in skipper to freshen things up, and he did not disappoint one bit. Scoring an unbeaten 93, and leading the side brilliantly, Iyer helped DD notch up their second win of the season, with some assistance from fellow T20 Mumbai batsman, Prithvi Shaw.

He came, Shaw and conquered

High on confidence after winning the U-19 World Cup, and also contributing a handy cameo on his IPL debut a few days back, Prithvi Shaw opened the batting with Colin Munro, and showed why he is touted as one of the brightest prospects in the game. With 7 fours and 2 sixes in his innings, Shaw set the tone for DD to set a massive target with 62(44) before a flat quicker one sneaked through his guard to hit the middle stump.

Shaw’s innings was typified by the classical cricket shots he played with a touch of class and elegance, and also the fearless attitude with which he was milking runs off the best bowlers in the business.

His half century last night came in just his second IPL match, and Shaw also shares a record with Sanju Samson now – the youngest player to score an IPL half century at 18 years and 169 days. If this was a sign of things to come in the near future, then Delhi Daredevils and India as a whole have a gem on their hands with this U-19 captain.

Iyer sets the stage on fire

All eyes would have been on Shreyas Iyer to see how he manages the captaincy mantle along with the rigmaroles of batting – whether he crumbles under the pressure or thrives as a result of it. But as it is with many young cricketers these days, Iyer seemed to relish the added responsibility, as he skyrocketed himself to 93*(40) – making it the highest individual score for DD this year.

In an innings riddled with just three boundaries but ten massive sixes, Iyer never looked out of shape as he hit the ball all round the park in all manners, including a slap over extra cover to a rising short ball.

After Shaw laid the platform, it was Iyer who put on the afterburners and took his side to a gigantic 219/4. In the last 22 balls he faced, he slapped 70 runs at a resounding strike rate of 318.18, and crossed the 1000-run landmark in the IPL. His innings also happened to be the highest score by any batsman on his IPL captaincy debut, leaving behind Aaron Finch’s 64 for Pune Warriors India far behind.

But Iyer’s influence did not end with his bat. He took the captaincy role with much ease, as if it were his 100th match in charge of a big franchise, and not his first. The way he wringed in the changes and shuffled his bowlers, while making bold decisions like giving Glenn Maxwell the ball in just the second over of the innings was a treat to watch, and surely a great sign for all DD fans.

In the end, Delhi Daredevils won by a resounding 55 runs, and Shreyas Iyer’s third consecutive half century and his leadership on debut earned him the Man of the Match award too.

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