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Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders' opener Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Delhi Capitals' Sameer Rizvi after his gritty half-century paved the way for a superb win against the Lucknow Super Giants at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, April 1.
On a tacky surface, the Super Giants scratched and clawed their way to 141 in 18.4 overs, which looked a little below par. However, things looked different within five overs of the Delhi Capitals' innings, as they lost four wickets for just 26 runs.
Tristan Stubbs joined forces with Sameer Rizvi, and the two youngsters not just steadied the ship but took calculated risks during a gutsy 119-run partnership off 76 balls. Rizvi had to cop a few blows to his body as he tried to get accustomed to the challenging conditions. However, once he got himself set at the crease, he made the hard-hitting Stubbs play second fiddle.
In the end, Rizvi remained unbeaten on 70 off 47 balls, coming in as the Impact Player in place of T Natarajan. Stubbs, on the other hand, made a patient 39* off 32 balls. The Capitals romped home in 17.1 overs with six wickets to spare, much to the dismay of the home fans.
"Top knock, Samir Rizvi. Impact player had a proper impact. LSG were a bowler short once they had to use their Impact Player after losing too many wickets," Chopra wrote on his official 'X' account.
He went on to add that the first five games in IPL 2026 have been won by chasing teams, with dew not playing too significant a role.
"Fifth consecutive game won by the chasing side…and dew had nothing to do in any of the games," the cricketer-turned-commentator mentioned.
Rizvi won the Player of the Match for his stellar innings. Earlier, the Capitals' bowlers wreaked havoc, with Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan bagging three wickets apiece. Kuldeep Yadav also bowled well and accounted for two wickets.
