For a change, the ongoing IPL ceased to witness a six-hitting competition-like game where both teams cross 200 with ridiculous ease.

Instead, only eight boundaries and a maximum were on offer from Gujarat Titans in the 17.3 overs they got to bat as the Delhi Capitals bundled them out for 89 in Wednesday’s contest at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The fours and sixes though were back during the Capitals’ reply. Without any pressure whatsoever with only 90 to chase down, the likes of opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, Impact Player Abishek Porel, Shai Hope and captain Rishabh Pant had few problems in unleashing the strokes as the Capitals romped home with a six-wicket win and as many as 67 balls to spare.

Alongside two crucial points, this clinical win — also their second on the trot — boosts the Capitals’ net run rate too as they have now moved up to sixth in the standings with six points.

Right from winning the toss and opting to bowl first, the Capitals got everything right while they were also aided by some very poor shot selection and lack of application by the Titans batting group. Such poor showing by the Titans batsmen certainly made it easier for the Capitals bowlers to dominate.

Surprisingly, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who has been the Delhi franchise’s game-changing bowler in this IPL, was the only one in his team to finish wicketless. And he too was the only Capitals bowler who conceded the lone six that the Titans could somehow manage during their innings, when Rashid Khan (31 off 24 balls) launched him over widish long-off.

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant celebrates the wicket of Gujarat Titans batter Rahul Tewatia during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals

Pacer Mukesh Kumar (3/14) had the best figures among the Delhi bowlers, with former Bengal teammate Wriddhiman Saha being one of his victims. But it was veteran Ishant Sharma (2/8) whose strikes hurt Gujarat the most.

After picking up the prized scalp of Titans skipper Shubman Gill in his first and the second over of the game, Ishant accounted for comeback man David Miller in his next over. While Gill played a rank poor shot, Miller was undone with one that came in a bit.

Ishant got only two overs to bowl, but he ensured those were good enough for him to land Gujarat with such blows from which they just couldn’t recover. Making matters worse for the Titans, Sai Sudharsan was run out off a direct hit from Sumit Kumar as he tried to take a risky single.

With not many days left for the announcement of India's T20 World Cup squad, Pant's glovework is steadily getting sharper. Alongside the fine catch to get rid of Miller, Pant effected a couple of stumpings in the over from Tristan Stubbs out of which, the one to send Abhinav Manohar back was quick and smart.