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Chris Gayle smashed five gargantuan sixes into the night sky before Delhi Capitals put the brakes and restricted Kings XI Punjab to 163 for seven.
 "IPL 2019 highlights: Iyer guides DC to 5-wicket win against KXIP at Kotla")
In today’s second match of VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL 2019), Delhi Capitals, led by Shreyas Iyer, will lock horns with R Ashwin’s Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at Ferozshah Kotla Ground in New Delhi. Seeking home comforts after multiple reverses at Kotla pitch, DC will be desperate to buck the trend when they take on a rejuvenated KXIP. Delhi Capitals have been at ease on the road, winning three matches on the trot after an authoritative beginning in Mumbai.However, things have turned out quite differently in their home ground, where they found the pitches far from friendly. Sandeep Lamichhane is likely to replace Keemo Paul in DC playing 11 given the slow nature of the Kotla wicket. Standing in their way will be mid-table team Kings XI Punjab, who are also eyeing the title that has so far remained elusive. R Ashwin's Kings XI will not be short on confidence, having easily beaten Rajasthan Royals at Mohali. Head to head, Kings XI Punjab have an edge as they have won 14 out of 23 matches while Delhi Capitals have won just nine.
Dhawan struck seven fours and a six before Ravichandran Ashwin ran from mid-on to the midwicket region to compete a fine catch while avoiding a collision with an onrushing Chris Gayle.
During his stay in the middle, Dhawan had some fun by dancing around the crease as Ashwin threatened to Mankad him.
This was DC's second win at home in five outings and sixth overall, occupying the third place in the standings. KXIP remained on fourth with 10 points.
Earlier, Chris Gayle smashed five gargantuan sixes into the night sky before Delhi Capitals put the brakes and restricted Kings XI Punjab to 163 for seven.
Gayle top-scored with 69 off 37 balls, reaching the half century in 25 balls and hitting six boundaries besides the towering sixes.
Coming back into the team, young leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane returned figures of 3/40, playing an influential role in helping DC rally after Gayle's blitzkrieg.
Considering the dew factor in mind, Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer invited the visitors to bat first.
And the home side, seeking to end their run of woes at the Feroz Shah Kotla, enjoyed early success when Lamichhane tossed the ball up and had Lokesh Rahul stumped with one that turned sharply in the second over.
Ignored for the World Cup primarily because he is considered inferior to Dinesh Karthik behind the stumps, Rishabh Pant did a fine job whipping the bails off in a flash, as Rahul walked back after welcoming Lamichhane with a six down the ground and a four.
Apart from managing two runs from the nine deliveries he faced, Mayank Agarwal watched the action unfold from the other end, as Gayle flayed the Delhi spinners.
The 'Universe Boss', entering the game with 421 runs from nine matches, started his onslaught by smashing Ishant Sharma's knuckle ball over long on for one of the biggest sixes the stadium has ever witnessed, the 101m maximum threatening to break the windows of The Willingdon Pavilion.
He toyed with Amit Sharma and smoked the experienced leg-spinner for three maximums, including two over the deep mid wicket region.
Before that the big-hitting Jamaican, one of the biggest globetrotters in T20 leagues, cut, drove and swept Lamichhane for four boundaries in a single over.
It took a brilliant effort from Colin Ingram in the deep to bring to an end Gayle's stay in the middle.
After sweeping a Lamichhane delivery into the crowd, Gayle went for one too many, and Ingram, taking the ball over his head, lobbed the ball to Axar Patel before falling on the other side of the rope.
Returning to the playing XI, Lamichhane dismissed Sam Curran in the same 13th over in which he had Gayle, to peg the visitors back.
Pacer Kagiso Rabad had 2/23 in four overs, while Axar Patel took 2/22 in three overs.
The Delhi openers started in right earnest but the young Prithvi Shaw, after showing promise, was run out after Dhawan changed his mind to leave his partner stranded at the non-striker's end.
As if to make amends, Dhawan scored two boundaries off Hardus Viljoen in the next two deliveries to take DC to 35 for one at the end of the fourth over.
Debutant left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar was welcomed with a six over long-on by Dhawan, and then, Shreyas Iyer fetched two fours by employing the cut shot as the over yielded 17 runs.
Captain Ravichandran Ashwin introduced himself into the attack and Dhawan was on the ball straightaway, pulling him for a boundary over mid wicket.
First Published: Apr 20 2019 | 5:25 PM IST
