IPL 2026: The wicket was gripping, thought I can use more of slower balls, says DC's Madhav Tiwari
New Delhi, May 17
Young seam-bowling all-rounder Madhav Tiwari credited the gripping nature of the wicket for his success with slower balls, as Delhi Capitals pulled off a stirring fightback with the ball to keep Rajasthan Royals to 193/8 in the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.
At 160/2 after 14 overs, the Royals appeared set for a massive total. But the momentum shifted after a brief stoppage for medical attention to Riyan Parag, who hit a 23-ball fifty. Axar Patel recalled Starc, who had gone for 28 in his first two overs, and the Australian responded with a decisive 15th over, removing Parag, Donovan Ferreira, and Ravi Singh, before taking out Impact Player Dasun Shanaka to pick 4-40.
Tiwari, who impressed with both bat and ball on debut against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala, once again stood out by dismissing a marauding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey.
"Coming into this IPL season, I just thought that I'm gonna take in four or five variations with me and I'm gonna back them throughout the season. So, I have been working on them, and hopefully, the results are helping in my favor.
"I guess there was a bit of help from the wicket. It was gripping, and so I thought that I could use more of them. I was just looking to put myself (in) a high‑pressure situation in the nets themselves. So bowling to Miller and bowling to Ashutosh and KL helped me. I was just trying to figure out how I'm gonna bowl against these batsmen, which is gonna help me in this tournament," said Tiwari in a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters.
Lungi Ngidi closed out the innings with clever variations, as RR eventually made 193/8, after losing six wickets for 33 runs in the last six overs. "I don't know. I have to ask them," said Tiwari, when asked about his family's reaction, before adding that DC can chase down the target and aim to end their home leg on a high. "I think we'll get it."
— IANS
Reader Comments
What a comeback by DC after being battered in the middle overs! Starc's 4-40 was crucial but Tiwari's willingness to learn from bowling to big hitters like Miller in nets is exactly what young Indian cricketers need.
Impressive to see a young Indian seamer talking about variations so confidently. The IPL really is the best platform for homegrown talent to develop their craft. Hope DC chases this down! 🏏
Honestly, RR should have finished with 220+ after being 160/2. Credit to DC for pulling things back, but Tiwari's mention of putting himself in high-pressure nets situations shows the modern cricketing mindset. That's what makes the IPL special - learning from international stars.
One thing I love about this young generation - they're not shy about tactics and planning. Tiwari saying he had 4-5 variations ready for the season shows the preparation. But let's not get carried away, consistency is key. Hope he builds on this performance 🤞
As a neutral, this is the sort of match that makes IPL thrilling. Tiwari's analysis about the wicket gripping is spot on - Delhi pitches traditionally assist slower bowlers if used intelligently. Big test now for DC's batting lineup against RR's bowlers.
R