In a high-stakes encounter during the 18th season of the IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Jaydev Unadkat delivered a critical blow to Delhi Capitals by dismissing the ever-reliable KL Rahul, cutting short what many hoped would be a valiant rescue effort. Delhi had crumbled to 29/4 by the end of the seventh over, and Rahul was seen as the last line of resistance. But Unadkat, with a clever change of angle, disrupted those hopes in a heartbeat.

On the very first ball of the eighth over, the seasoned left-arm pacer came around the wicket and sent in a full delivery that tailed in towards the off-stump. Rahul, caught flat-footed trying to drive on the rise, nicked it cleanly to the keeper. Ishan Kishan made no mistake behind the stumps, ending Rahul’s cautious knock at 10 off 14 balls.

Speaking after the match, Unadkat clarified that targeting Rahul from around the wicket wasn’t about exploiting a technical flaw, but rather a strategic choice tailored to his own strengths.

"I wouldn’t call it a weakness of KL’s,” he remarked during the post-match broadcast. “As a bowler, it’s essential to have different tools in your kit, and switching angles is one of them. I’ve bowled to KL before, from both over and around the wicket, and I’ve found a bit more success from around the wicket.”

The 33-year-old pacer also outlined the broader bowling blueprint that SRH executed on the day: "We had a strong start and picked up key wickets early, which is always a game-changer in limiting runs. The overall idea was to hit the deck hard and vary the pace effectively. Early on, the surface was a bit two-paced, but it eased up later. Still, with wickets falling at regular intervals, we managed to keep the total within reach."

With skipper Pat Cummins leading from the front with a fiery three-wicket burst, SRH succeeded in throttling the Delhi batting lineup, restricting them to a modest 133/7. Unadkat’s timely breakthrough and tactical acumen played a key role in dismantling Delhi’s hopes early in the innings.