DC vs CSK, IPL 2019: Shikhar Dhawan enters top-5 run-getters list in IPL with 36th half-century

Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan made a ravishing start to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 as he managed a patient half-century against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi after missing out the mark by just seven runs in Delhi Capitals’ opener last week. And with the fifty, he made his way to the top-five run-getters list in the IPL history.

Dhawan, who was a concern for the Indian team management owing to his drop in form in 2019, made a statement with a forbearing 43 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. However, after missing out the half-century in Mumbai. Dhawan marked his Delhi home return in IPL after 10 seasons with a 47-ball knock of 51 runs laced by seven boundaries. The half-century was Dhawan’s 36th in IPL.

With the fifty-run score, Dhawan made his way to the top-five run-getters list in the IPL history by overhauling Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Robin Uthappa. The list is topped by Suresh Raina (5004 runs), followed by Virat Kohli, (4954 runs), Rohit Sharma (4507 runs), Gautam Gambhir (4217 runs). Dhawan now has a total of 4146 runs from 144 IPL innings at an average of 33.70.

Talking about the match, Delhi started off on a promising note after opting to bat first at Kotla. After three back-to-back 30-odd partnership at the top of the order, Dwayne Bravo struck twice in the same over to dismiss the dangerous Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram in a space of just two deliveries to rob Delhi off their hope of a 180-run total. Ravindra Jadeja then dismissed a struggling Keemo Paul for a duck before Bravo returned to dismiss Dhawan with a slowish delivery around off. Delhi Capitals finished with a below-par total of 147 for six at the end of 20 overs.

This is Delhi’s second match in IPL 2019. They had defeated Mumbai Indians in their opener at Wankhede by 37 runs.