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Delhi Capitals new recruit Faf du Plessis lauds the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) impact player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after Ashutosh Sharma's unbeaten 66 off 31 run knock helped the Axar Patel-led side defeat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the tournament opener clash at Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.
While chasing 210 run DC slipped to 7/3 in the second over and limped to 116 for six after 13 overs, but impact player Ashutosh's stunning knock 66 off 31 balls with five sixes and as many fours helped DC to register a win in the nail-biter clash.
"Amazing game of cricket. Shows you, obviously, a lot of cricketers will complain about the new rule, but that's what the rule is there in the game. When you think the game is buried, someone comes on and plays like that... If you look at the wicket, the way the ball was gripping and we lost five wickets, I thought it was going to be impossible. But it shows what happens when you have an extra batter" said Faf du Plessis after DC's win.
DC's new recruit Mohit Sharma was on the crease when the team needed 6 for six and Ashutosh was on the other end. After missing the first ball, Mohit flicked for a single to rotate strike. DC needed five of four when Ashutosh came at the crease, the batter smashed a six to register their first victory of the season. Faf believes that his single run during the last over is the most important single in Mohit Sharma's life.
"It was amazing to watch just how these guys are so powerful and just hitting boundaries effortlessly. It actually reminded me a bit of the 438 game when Makhaya Ntini had to get a single in the last over. That's probably the most important single in Mohit Sharma's life. What a story, Ashutosh winning it with a six. Yeah there's a lot of life left in the dog. New challenge for me, I always see it as a new chapter to look forward to. Moving from Chennai to RCB was a good chapter. Now hopefully it'll be a good last chapter" added Faf du Plessis.
Delhi Capitals will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad for their second clash of the tournament which will take place at the same venue on March 30.
Brief Scores:
Lucknow Super Giants: 209 for 8 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 75, Mitchell Marsh 72; Kuldeep Yadav 2/20, Mitchell Starc 3/42).
Delhi Capitals: 211 for 9 in 19.3 overs (Ashutosh Sharma 66 not out; Shardul Thakur 2/19).
