Turning Point: Rizvi-Stubbs snatched victory from the jaws of the opposing team, became the turning point of Delhi Capitals-Lucknow Super Giants match.

New Delhi. When intentions are steely, age and experience become mere statistics. Sameer Rizvi did something similar in his very first match of IPL 2026. At the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, when the Delhi Capitals team was on the verge of defeat after losing 4 wickets for just 26 runs while chasing the target of 142 runs, Sameer Rizvi, who came on the field as an 'impact player', converted the lost game into victory. There was silence in the stadium after Delhi's top order collapsed like a pack of cards. Veterans like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and David Miller had returned to the pavilion. In such difficult times, the young star of Uttar Pradesh Sameer Rizvi took charge. He not only showed wisdom in his unbeaten inning of 70 runs from 47 balls, but also destroyed the Lucknow bowlers. 4 brilliant sixes and 5 fours from Rizvi's bat breathed new life into the Delhi camp. Sameer's innings proved to be the turning point of the match.

Samir Rizvi got full support from Tristan Stubbs (39 not out) at the other end. There was an unbroken partnership of 110 runs between the two for the fifth wicket, which snatched the victory from the jaws of Lucknow Super Giants. The way Rizvi absorbed the pressure and finally ended the match in style by hitting a six off Abdul Samad. He proved that the trust that Delhi had reposed in him was completely justified. Earlier, the foundation of Delhi's victory was laid by their bowlers. In front of the sharp bowling of Lungi Ngidi (27/3) and T Natarajan (29/3), the entire Lucknow team collapsed for 141 runs in 18.4 overs. Kuldeep Yadav also broke the back of Lucknow by taking 2 wickets.

But the entire story of this match revolved around 'match winner' Sameer Rizvi. His fighting innings played in difficult circumstances will be remembered for a long time. Delhi Capitals have made a great start to their campaign in IPL 2026 with this 6-wicket win.

Delhi had a very bad start to chase the target and the team lost four wickets for 26 runs in the fifth over. Lokesh Rahul (00) caught Mohsin Khan at deep point on the first ball of the innings of Mohammed Shami (1 wicket for 28 runs). Nitish Rana (15) hit fours on Shami and Prince Yadav (two wickets for 20 runs). He also hit a six on Shami but got caught by Samad in the slip off the ball of Mohsin (one wicket for 19 runs). Opener Pathmu Nissanka (01) waved Prince's ball in the air and caught wicketkeeper captain Rishabh Pant, while in the same over, Delhi captain Akshar Patel (00) was also bowled. Delhi scored 33 runs for four wickets in the power play.

Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi stopped the fall of wickets. Rizvi completed the team's half-century of runs in the eighth over by hitting a six behind the wicket off Enrich Norkia. Stubbs hit a four off Shami while Rizvi welcomed spinner Shahbaz Ahmed with three fours. Rizvi completed his half-century in 37 balls with sixes and fours on consecutive balls of Aiden Markram and took the team's score beyond 100 runs in the 14th over. Delhi needed 29 runs to win in the last five overs and Rizvi took the team closer to the target with fours and sixes on consecutive balls of Mohsin and then gave Delhi the victory with a six off Samad.