On Friday night, it was just another of the IPL T20 matches between two talented teams but performing well below par and in the lower rungs of the Points Table. With the IPL stretching over 45 days there is also viewer fatigue as reported by analysts who claim that viewership in this season has come down compared to last year. However, every match has been drawing huge crowds rooting for their home team and this time the venue was Delhi and predictably there was more ‘D’ red than’K’ purple in the stands !
What promised to be a closely contested game between a low lying but then resurgent KKR after three back to back wins and Delhi hoping that top players got back to form. But what followed in the next three to four hours belied all the expectations as KKR spinners gained a vice like grip and restricted Delhi to a paltry 141 runs in 20 overs yet Delhi wouldn’t lose hope with top quality pacers in their line up. In fact they had two leading batters down in the power play . Then came a mammoth partnership and Finn & Green chased DC total with 34 deliveries to spare, making it 4 wins on the trot for KKR. Finn Allen’s 100 in 45 balls with 10 6s was mind-boggling century, rare in a small chase.
In a manner of speaking, KKR had annihilated DC in every way and have got ahead of DC in the points table. Yet in the customary post-match on-field interactions, players from teams mingled with sporting camaraderie and KL Rahul was seen congratulating Finn for his amazing innings. The two captains, Axar and Ajinkya, embraced, both being professionals who’ve seen many highs and lows and aren’t shattered by wins and losses.
In heart of hearts DC would feel badly underwhelmed with the loss while KKR could easily gloat with pride with their recent successes. Yet (as in all IPL matches) their on-field behavior was exemplary & far from acrimonious as it needs to be, for in contests there are victors & losers but the winner is the good and fair contest ! This seems restricted to sports like IPL but hugely found lacking in the Indian Political League.
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