Delhi Capitals enjoyed a day of dual celebrations on Monday, first pulling off a remarkable one-wicket victory against Lucknow Super Giants, followed by honoring their star player KL Rahul who recently became a father.
The absence of Rahul, Delhi Capitals’ recent high-profile acquisition, from the playing XI initially raised questions among fans. The mystery was quickly resolved when his wife, renowned actor Athiya Shetty, announced the arrival of their baby girl through social media.
“Our family extends, our family celebrates,” posted Delhi Capitals on their social media accounts, showcasing the team’s heartwarming dressing room celebration following their thrilling win at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
In the video, the entire Delhi Capitals squad can be seen breaking into spontaneous celebration, mimicking the gesture of cradling a baby while showering Rahul with congratulations. The genuine joy displayed by teammates highlighted the close-knit culture being fostered within the franchise.
Rahul, who had missed Delhi’s tournament opener to be with his family during this significant life event, responded to the team’s gesture with heartfelt gratitude: “Lads, this means so much to us, thanks a million.”
The couple, who tied the knot in January 2023 at Rahul’s mentor Suniel Shetty’s Khandala bungalow, had announced their pregnancy last November. The arrival of their daughter marks a new chapter for the cricket-Bollywood power couple.
On the cricket front, Delhi Capitals engineered a stunning comeback victory after finding themselves in dire straits at 7 for 3 early in their chase of 210. Impact substitute Ashutosh Sharma emerged as the hero with an unbeaten 66 off just 31 deliveries, finishing the match in spectacular fashion with a towering six off Shahbaz Ahmed with three balls to spare.
The partnership between Ashutosh and young wicketkeeper-batsman Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15) proved decisive, as they added 55 crucial runs when the pressure was at its peak. Despite wickets falling around him, Ashutosh displayed remarkable composure to guide his team home.
Earlier, Delhi’s bowlers had done well to restrict Lucknow Super Giants to 209 for 8 on what was clearly a batting-friendly surface. Despite commanding performances from Mitchell Marsh (72) and Nicholas Pooran (75) for LSG, Delhi’s bowling attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav (2 for 20) and Mitchell Starc (3 for 42), ensured the target remained within reach.
The victory propels Delhi Capitals up the points table, but perhaps more significantly, demonstrates the team’s fighting spirit and camaraderie both on and off the field as they celebrated one of life’s most precious moments with their teammate.