New Delhi, Aug 3 (NationPress) The highly anticipated second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) commenced with great enthusiasm at the legendary Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday. In a dramatic finish, the East Delhi Riders narrowly defeated the South Delhi Superstarz, clinching a thrilling five-wicket victory in the tournament's opening match.

Fans were treated to electrifying performances by Sunanda Sharma, Raftaar, KRSNA, and Seedhe Maut. The grand occasion was attended by prominent figures including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, former Union Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani, DDCA President Rohan Jaitley, and BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla.

The match itself was a nail-biter, with the South Delhi Superstarz batting first after winning the toss, managing to score a competitive total of 169/6 in their 20 overs.

They faced an early setback when Kunwar Bidhuri fell to Ajay Ahlawat on the second ball. However, opener Sarthak Ray and skipper Ayush Badoni steadied the innings with a partnership of 43 runs before Badoni was dismissed for 25 off 20. A series of quick wickets left them reeling at 82/5, prompting Vision Panchal to join Ray at the crease.

Ray and Panchal managed a solid 32-run29 off 15. Abhishek Khandelwal then accelerated the innings with an unbeaten 40 off 23, while Ray finished not out on 41 off 35, steering the Superstarz to a respectable total.

In response, the East Delhi Riders had a shaky start, with openers Arpit Rana and Sujal Singh contributing 33 runs in just 4.3 overs before Rana fell for 20 off 15 and Sujal followed shortly after with 11 off 18.

However, skipper Anuj Rawat and Hardik Sharma stabilized the innings. Sharma added a crucial 27 off 23 before his dismissal. The charge continued as Rawat scored 55 off 35 and Mayank Rawat contributed 30 off 20.

With 15 runs needed off the last over, Rohan Rathi and Kavya Gupta remained composed, with Rathi hitting a six off the final ball, sealing a thrilling five-wicket victory for the Riders.

During the event, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta shared her best wishes with all participants, stating, “I extend my heartfelt wishes to every team and player. I hope this tournament serves as a celebration of talent, teamwork, and sportsmanship. I eagerly anticipate witnessing exciting cricket and hope it inspires our youth to pursue excellence in sports.”

Additionally, DDCA President Rohan Jaitley remarked, “Today marks the official commencement of the second season of the Delhi Premier League, representing a significant advancement in nurturing local cricket talent. I wish all participating teams and players the very best. May this league continue to grow and offer a robust platform for emerging stars to shine.”