In the first outing for both the teams in the IPL, both new captains seized the initiative and led the proceedings for their respective sides. After setting up a decent platform to launch from, Delhi Daredevils failed to make the optimal use of the death overs and ended with the score 166/5 on the board. The late surge came from the bat of Chris Morris but Punjab will be the happier side by the end of the innings.

The early momentum in the game was captured by the home team. Winning the toss Ravi Ashwin decided to bowl first on the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. The first crucial blow was struck by the youngster from Afghanistan, Mujeeb Rehman trapped Colin Munro plumb in front of the stumps. The debutant could not have dreamed of a better start.

Shreyas Iyer then joined Gautam Gambhir and both attacked the left-arm spinner Axar Patel. After stepping out to launch Axar for a six, Iyer was caught by the keeper KL Rahul to be dismissed on 11. Vijay Shankar who came under heavy fire in the Nidahas trophy final struggled today as well and returned for 13(13).

ALSO READ: IPL 2018: Axar Patel dismisses Shreyas Iyer in a perfect revenge

The demise of Shankar bought the explosive Pant at the crease. He provided the missing momentum in the match with his consecutive sixes. The habit of going after every ball eventually lead to the dismissal of Rishabh Pant but he did valuable 28 off just 13 balls.

ALSO READ: IPL 2018: Gautam Gambhir commences the season with a half-century

The innings of Delhi Daredevils could not keep up the momentum and there were sporadic hits which kept the scorecard moving ahead. Gautam Gambhir guided the innings with his 55 but no one could go berserk in the final overs.

Morris showed the glimpses of form with some lusty blows in his 16-ball 27 but more was expected from Morris and Christian. In the end, the score of 166 does not seem enough on this track. It all depends on how Delhi Daredevils use their bowling acumen to restrict Kings XI under this total.