MI’s 162/6 looked to be a challenging score before Capitals opener Pathum Nissanka made Rizvi work hard to chase down the target and eventually bowl MI out of the game. MI captain Suryakumar Yadav for the match, standing in for the unwell Hardik Pandya, was unable to respond during the counter-attack.The crowd remained static for most of the match before Rizvi took charge after Nissanka was dismissed for 44 off 30 balls in the 10th over with the scoreboard reading 73/3. Rizvi, who grew up on the dull pitches of western UP, created a lot of havoc. In the next 6.3 overs, DC scored 78 runs, with David Miller’s only job being to provide strike to Rizvi.Rizvi, who came to bat as an impact substitute, destroyed MI’s bowling with complete ease. Rizvi came up with shots that broke the rules of traditional batting. He knew that MI’s fast bowlers would hit tough lengths just like DC. So, he cleared his front foot and started hitting the ball from the off side.

Leg spinner Mayank Markandey looked completely out of his depth as Rizvi denied turn by going down the track and thrashing him on the ground. Rizvi’s approach of using his legs against the spinners was in stark contrast to the MI batsmen, who largely stayed at the crease. Surya’s only response to the Capitals spinners was a sweep for a single.Rizvi has now cracked the code in these short tricky chases. As he did in the last match in Lucknow, he is not aggressive at the top of his innings. The series of dot balls doesn’t bother him. He waits to find his rhythm on these pitches. He respects established international bowlers, like he did against Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner. Just as he attacked the left-arm spin of Shahbaz Nadeem against Lucknow Super Giants, he devoured Markande on Saturday evening.This knock clearly shook the MI camp. Surya’s captaincy looked ineffective. Santner did not complete his quota of overs and Bumrah came back into the attack a little late.