DPL 2026: Monu Shukla's Super Over blitz seals Warriors' first win
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Outer Delhi Warriors claimed their first victory of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 season with a dramatic Super Over win over New Delhi Tigers at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, 4 August, in a rain-curtailed 15-over contest that went down to the wire.
Tigers Set a Stiff Target
New Delhi Tigers posted a commanding 156/5, powered by a blistering 101-run partnership between skipper Himmat Singh (61 off 25 balls) and Lakshay Thareja (62* off 41 balls). The stand put the Warriors firmly on the back foot from the outset.
Warriors' Collapse and Shukla's Rescue Act
The Warriors' chase quickly unravelled, with the side crumbling to 80/5 and seemingly out of contention. It was at this point that Monu Shukla produced one of the innings of the tournament — a fearless 45 off just 17 balls — to drag his team back into the game and ultimately force a Super Over.
The tension peaked on the final delivery of the regulation innings, when a mid-off fumble briefly ignited Warriors celebrations before a direct hit on the stumps tied the match. 'Initially, when the fielder fumbled, we thought the game was ours. But when the ball hit the stumps, it was a heartbreaking moment for us,' Shukla recalled.
Super Over Finish
Shukla carried his aggressive touch into the Super Over, striking a crucial cameo that set the Warriors a formidable target of 20 runs. The Tigers' reply fell apart almost immediately, handing the Warriors a victory that had seemed impossible when they were five wickets down at 80.
Shukla Reflects on the Win
'It feels great to register our first win of the season. We had come very close in the previous match but couldn't finish the job, so the team was naturally disappointed. This victory has given us a lot of confidence, and everyone is very happy with the result,' Shukla said.
On his batting approach, he added: 'I was happy with the way I batted. The plan was to play positively and take the game deep. We felt we could have finished the chase without a Super Over, but once it went there, we stayed confident and backed ourselves.'
'Thankfully, we stayed positive, won the Super Over, and in the end, luck smiled on us,' he concluded. The Warriors will now look to build on this momentum as the DPL 2026 group stage continues.