Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar reduce Delhi to IPL’s lowest powerplay score — and Kohli steals the show anyway

Synopsis: Delhi Capitals batters meekly surrender in stunning opening spell from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as Royal Challengers Bengaluru cantered to an nine-wicket win in a low run-chase.

Ask a Delhiite who their favourite cricketer is and prepare for a lookalike — conical beard, studs and tattoos — to burst into an RCB chant. Virat Kohli’s presence looms so large over this fixture that it needed something truly special to steal the spotlight away from him as Royal Challengers Bengaluru made their way to the Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday.

A sensational new-ball spell from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and some dire batting from Delhi Capitals’ top order, would do exactly that. The two pacers reduced the home side to the lowest-ever powerplay score in the IPL — 13 for 6 — and ended the prospects of this match being any kind of contest then and there.

AS IT HAPPENED | DC VS RCB

RCB cantered to an eight-wicket win, taking only 39 balls to complete the 76-run chase. Two losses at home in two days — succumbing to the highest-ever chase in IPL history against Punjab Kings on Saturday, then this — have left Delhi reeling.