Delhi Capitals pulled off a three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in a high-scoring IPL clash on Monday, chasing down a target of 211 in just 19 overs to keep their slim playoff chances intact, according to Yahoo Sports.
Punjab Kings had looked on course for an even larger total. Priyansh Arya blasted 56 off 33 balls and added 78 runs alongside Prabhsimran Singh inside the first seven overs. Captain Shreyas Iyer then anchored the middle overs with an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, and Cooper Connolly contributed 38, helping Punjab post 210 for five.
Delhi's reply wobbled early, falling to 74 for four before skipper Axar Patel and David Miller steadied the innings with a partnership built on composure and power hitting. When the equation began to tighten again, Ashutosh Sharma and 22-year-old Madhav Tiwari saw Delhi home with calm that belied the pressure of the situation.
Tiwari also took two wickets with the ball, making it a complete performance from the young all-rounder from Indore. After the match, he reflected on settling into the IPL environment in his second season.
"This is my second year in the IPL. I feel I have become quite used to the environment," Tiwari said. "The management and all the seniors are super supportive. You can go to them anytime to ask anything or do anything. But now that I am used to it, I had to control my nerves. It is a game of bat and ball. I was just focusing on my basics. Things turned out well and that is fortunate."
Tiwari spoke openly about his development as a cricketer. Batting was his first priority growing up, and bowling came later.
"I liked batting a lot. I wanted to become a batsman. Bowling was very tiring," he said. "Your body is used a lot. I find it easy to bat. You can bat for as long as you want."
He credited former India cricketer and coach Amay Khurasiya with pushing him toward becoming a genuine all-rounder. "My head coach made sure that I pick up both things. He played a lot of cricket. He knew the benefits of it. When I understood how important the combination of both is, I started working equally hard on both."
The partnership with Ashutosh Sharma at the end reflected a connection that went beyond the IPL. The two players know each other from before their professional careers and fed off that familiarity under pressure.
"We had a clear understanding of what was required," Tiwari said. "The way the game was going on, the ball was coming nicely onto the bat. We were very comfortable. We have played together and we know each other from the same place. The atmosphere was very chill."
Delhi's victory keeps them in contention for the playoff spots with the rest of the tournament still ahead.
