Pat Cummins Creates IPL Milestone in Chaotic SRH vs DC Clash
Records in the IPL usually revolve around breathtaking sixes or big chases, but Pat Cummins flipped the script with a show of pure bowling grit. In a rain-soaked encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC), Cummins—Australia’s pace spearhead and now SRH skipper—scorched his name into tournament history by bagging three Powerplay wickets as captain, a pioneering feat that stunned both teams and fans alike.
Cummins didn’t waste time setting the tone in the first overs. First, he outfoxed Karun Nair, an established campaigner looking for a foothold. Next, Faf du Plessis fell victim to Cummins’ precision line and length—a big scalp since du Plessis has a reputation for strong starts. Then came Abishek Porel, whose attempt to steady DC crumbled under pressure. The scoreboard told the story: 29 for 5 in under seven overs, a collapse few saw coming.
This three-wicket Powerplay masterclass was more than just rapid-fire highlights for the evening reels. It etched Cummins into the record books as the first IPL captain ever to strike three times in the Powerplay—usually the batters’ time to go razzle-dazzle. For a league known for relentless batting, leading with the ball like that, especially as captain, is a rare kind of flex.
SRH fans started to dream as DC’s top order unravelled. But as the night wore on, things took a wet and wild turn. Delhi, showing some fight in the middle order, clawed their way to 133 for 7 by the end of 20 overs. Then the skies opened up for good. The heavy rain made further play impossible, so the match was abandoned, and points were shared. For SRH, that meant heartbreak—the playoff door slammed shut by forces outside their control.
How Cummins Turned Up the Heat in IPL 2025’s High-Stakes Moment
Cummins’ leadership style isn’t just about the right words in the huddle; he leads with fire in the belly. Taking the ball in hand with fielders crouched and raring to go, he exploited what was a tricky surface in style. Every delivery had intent—snaking seamers, full-pitched trap balls, and a clear game plan to keep DC guessing. His approach put pressure back on Delhi’s batters, forcing them into poor shot selection. In a tournament famed for batting fireworks, watching a captain engineer mayhem with the ball under pressure was a refreshing reminder that mind games and technical skill still rule in T20 cricket.
DC’s batters struggled to cope, not just physically but mentally. The scoreboard pressure and Cummins’ relentless off-stump lines tempted rash strokes, leading to what many saw as soft dismissals. For Delhi, the damage was self-inflicted just as much as it was imposed. The result? The game fizzled out, SRH’s hopes for a late playoff push vanished, and yet another chapter was added to the IPL’s ever-growing playbook of drama and records.
Even as rain put a damper on proceedings, Pat Cummins walked away with plaudits for tactical nous and leadership under fire—qualities sure to keep both SRH fans buzzing and opposition analysts worried, especially with a T20 World Cup on the horizon.