2019 was finally a good year for the Capitals. Years of disappointment and one superstition-induced overhaul later, they had finally managed to break through and stay in the top half of the table. On their way to the playoffs, they had even managed to take two wins from RCB, a team that had tormented them for years now (to put things into context, DC had won just one game against them since 2010). They could’ve done more to hold on to a top 2 spot, but this would do for now.

The Bairstow-Warner duo had set IPL on fire in the initial phase of the tournament but without them, SRH were a sinking ship despite the heroics of their captain Kane Williamson. Owing to their excellent start, they had managed to sneak through in the 4th place, but their struggles off-late were out there for everyone to see.

SRH were problems galore and DC had never won a knockout game before. Eliminators in IPL are known to be ruthless- even the smallest of mistakes are punished and can cost teams the entire game.

A lethargic batting effort by SRH was proceeded by an equally lazy bowling effort. On a slow pitch, they had let the Capitals’ openers get away with scoring 55 runs. 107 runs from 14 overs were needed and now, this was definitely DC’s game to lose.

SRH’s best bet was applying pressure on DC in hopes they’d crumble; which they did. Capitals weren’t unfamiliar with batting collapses, their biggest meltdown ending with 7 wickets lost for 8 runs.

Rishabh Pant had been the piece of domino that set that last collapse off. He knew it was his responsibility to get them home this time around. 34 were needed from 3 overs and Khaleel, Bhuvneshwar and Thampi were the three options left with the SRH.

Bhuvneshwar was experienced and Khaleel had been on a roll. Clearly, Thampi was the weak link. Fortunately for DC, Pant figured that out on his own. 3 years of playing in the IPL had given him some level of maturity.

In just 4 balls, Pant was done with his takedown of Thampi. 4,6,4,6 brought down the asking rate from 10.3 to just run a ball. Bhuvi was given the next over to salvage the game but despite two wickets, a six on the third ball more or less sealed the game.

DC rumbled and tumbled but ultimately, got across the finishing line. In the process, Amit Mishra even got out for obstructing the field. It mattered little because they had beaten their jinx. Little did they know, another jinx was out to get them- they hadn’t won a game against CSK in the group stages and in the next game too, that didn’t change.