Delhi Capitals won the first doubleheader of blockbuster Sunday | DC v MI in IPL 2022

Even with the absence of the key players, Delhi beat Mumbai in its cave, irrespective of its home advantage. Lalit - Axar duo had changed the tide with their breath-taking innings.

The first half of the game showcased the stellar performance of Ishan and Kuldeep.

After the auction, Mumbai Indians were criticised for ignoring so many other players just to buy back Ishan. But in this match, he proved that he is worth every penny spent on him. He had to perform the role of an anchor and attacker and he was doing it both simultaneously. When Rohit had got out, he prevailed over that situation and took total control over it. This little dynamite played a calm and composed inning which was filled with some elegant and energetic shots throughout which maintained the run rate decently. He hit his half-century with a sixer in the 34th ball and from thereon he accelerated his engine and fuelled Mumbai. In the last 15 balls he faced in the death overs, he sliced the balls to 34 runs which shot up Mumbai's score to 177.

If not for Ishan, Mumbai might have followed its off late pattern in the last season of solid start, middle-order collapse and the ordinary 150 - 160 finish.

On DC's side, Kuldeep who was making his comeback after two long years made it a memorable day. Thakur who is not that good with the new ball had to pay the penalty for bowling the very first over. Neither the patches of grass patchily on the pitch helped the DC bowlers nor did they help Pant. Thakur and the other pacers bowled too short or too full. Ishan and Rohit were riding on their mistakes and scoring runs and then came Kuldeep, who was hardly in touch with the IPL audience for a couple of years. His short of length delivery induced Rohit to pull and he had to pay his wicket for it and that was the game-changing moment. Kuldeep struck again to bid adieu to Anmolpreet who was seen to be off the cuff from the very beginning. Then in his final over of the spell, he removed the dangerous Pollard and added him as the third wicket of the day.

Throughout his spell, he varied the pace brilliantly and most of the balls fell in the good length and that was the result shown in his bowling figure as 18/3. Watson in an interview said, "Kuldeep Yadav is hungry to prove a point straight away. He is a highly skilled bowler". The one who waits for his turn can turn the tide in his favour, once he gets it. Kuldeep proved both these words.

The second half of the game was dominated by two bowlers and a spectacular partnership.

In the last five encounters between these two teams, in India, DC won it four times. Along with that stat, DC's strong batting lineup made people pin their hopes on it. But Mumbai was assaulting right from the beginning.

Bumrah was expected to bang the DC gang. But Murugan Ashwin and Thampi came out of the syllabus. Seifert gave a fabulous start for his side by scoring some quick runs and the wicketless first three overs with the run rate of 10, bothered Rohit and he brought Murugan Ashwin on the fourth over of the game to attack with the spin. His double hit to remove Seifert and Mandeep had changed the wind of the game in Mumbai's favour. Googly trapped Seifert and Mandeep fell for mistiming the full toss. This shook the confidence of Delhi but if tried they could have rebuilt it with Pant. But Pant gifted his wicket for a short ball.

Even after all these as a lonely warrior, Prithvi was fighting on another side, lifting the hopes. But Mumbai had another match-winner in the name of Basil Thampi who hit the DC twice in an over to remove Prithvi and Powell. Losing 5 wickets in 10 overs had pushed Delhi to the danger zone.

Everything was appearing to happen in favour of Mumbai before Axar and Lalit joined their hands. Both failed to shine with their balls but their bats were dependable today. Lalit was already playing an anchor role when Axar came in. 71 runs were needed from 40 balls and it was expected that Delhi wouldn't make it. But this pair rescued the team from trouble and slowly took it towards the target. Without any difference, they smacked all the bowlers and Daniel Sams' costly 24 runs in the 18th over confirmed the victory for Delhi. Lalit's 48 and Axar's 38 with the strike rate of 224 were equally important and magnificent.

Delhi won the first doubleheader of blockbuster Sunday and as usual Mumbai Indians started the tournament with a loss. Hope things may take different dimensions as it progresses.