Lucknow, April 1 (NationPress) Sameer Rizvi’s not out 70 and his impressive 119-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs propelled Delhi Capitals to a commanding six-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, marking a strong start to their IPL 2026 campaign.

From the outset, LSG’s strategy was centered on their pace attack. Their four-pronged seam bowling unit effectively pressured the Delhi Capitals early in their chase of 142 runs. The seamers generated significant movement, leading to KL Rahul's dismissal (0) as he edged a delivery from Mohammad Shami to deep backward point.

Nitish Rana also faced difficulty, managing some boundaries from loose balls but ultimately falling to a catch by the keeper off Mohsin Khan.

Prince Yadav was pivotal with the ball, dismissing Pathum Nissanka with a top edge caught by Rishabh Pant after a dramatic collision with the boundary. His standout moment came when he bowled Axar Patel, who misjudged a fuller delivery that swung late.

As the innings progressed, LSG continued to rely on their pace, with Shami delivering his full quota in the first nine overs seeking further breakthroughs. Despite early setbacks, Sameer Rizvi aimed to shift the momentum. After a slow start, he hit a clever ramped six off a short ball and followed it with three boundaries in a single over from Shahbaz Ahmed, momentarily tilting the game.

Earlier, LSG opted to bat first, unveiling a new opening combination with captain Rishabh Pant moving up the order but falling victim to a run-out following a strange chance that could have been a caught-and-bowled for Mitchell Marsh. Mukesh Kumar initiated the innings with an excellent new-ball spell, maintaining tight control and restricting runs.

A classic delivery from Axar Patel soon dismissed Aiden Markram after a brief six, as DC limited LSG to 48/2. The struggle continued with Ayush Badoni edging to T. Natarajan, while Lungi Ngidi’s slower ball deceived Nicholas Pooran.

Delhi tightened their grip as Marsh, scoring 35, fell while trying to exploit Kuldeep Yadav. Mukul Choudhary made a brief impact with 14 before falling to a googly. Abdul Samad’s 36 provided some resistance before Natarajan’s dismissal led to a dramatic collapse, with the remaining batsmen managing only three runs. Ngidi and Natarajan each took three wickets, while Kuldeep contributed two, showcasing a dominant bowling display.

Rizvi’s significant performance under duress validated Delhi Capitals’ decision to select him as the Impact Player over others like Karun Nair and Ashutosh Sharma. After a challenging start with scores of 0 off 9 and 5 off 13 against LSG’s formidable seamers, Rizvi found his footing, forming a crucial partnership of 119 runs off 76 balls with Tristan Stubbs.

Taking advantage of the spinning conditions, he aggressively targeted Shahbaz Ahmed and Aiden Markram, striking four fours and a six in their overs. Reaching his fifty off 37 balls, Rizvi's innings played a crucial role in shifting the momentum, putting DC in a favorable position for the chase.

In the end, Rizvi finished with an unbeaten 70, while Stubbs remained not out on 39, leading Delhi Capitals to a stylish opening win against LSG.

Brief scores:

Lucknow Super Giants: 141 all out in 18.4 overs (Mitchell Marsh 35, Abdul Samad 36; T Natarajan 3-29, Lungi Ngidi 3-31, Kuldeep Yadav 2-31) lost to Delhi Capitals: 145/4 in 17.1 overs (Sameer Rizvi 70 not out, Tristan Stubbs 39 not out; Prince Yadav 2-20, Mohsin Khan 1-19) by six wickets.