All-star of the match
In his 100th T20 game, Rashid Khan quietly left his imprint, once again.
Delhi Daredevils were cruising, high and happy at 66 for 1, when Rashid was summoned by his captain Kane Williamson in the seventh over. By the time he had bowled out - conceding just one in a fabulous final over - Daredevils had lost momentum at 135 for 5 in 17 overs.
Over the course of the tournament, batsmen have largely played Rashid for the wrong'un. The fizzing legbreaks have been few and far between, but it was one of these that accounted for the well-set Prithvi Shaw, who made a 36-ball 65 on a surface where most batsmen found it difficult to strike right from the outset. Looking to sweep, Shaw top edged one that spun away sharply and lobbed it straight to short third man.
Having picked up a wicket, Rashid exposed Rishabh Pant's flaw by bowling length and drifting deliveries away from the left-hand batsman. Four balls to him yielded just two runs, attempts to heave across the line proving futile as he kept losing shape. The choke was well and truly on.
As it turned out, it was that length which accounted for Pant. Frustrated by not getting any deliveries in his hitting arc, Pant attempted to walk across and pull, only to be lbw with the ball beating his wild swing. Figures of 4-0-23-2 took Rashid's season's tally to 10 wickets.
The wow moment
When he first appeared in the IPL, Rashid was a safe fielder at best. A year on, not only has he managed to continue to befuddle batsmen with the ball, but he's also added extra dimensions to his game: hitting of the Sunil Narine variety with the bat, and tremendous athleticism on the field.
One such effort in the 17th over got rid of Naman Ojha, who was looking to pinch a quick single to bring back Pant on strike. Rashid hared across towards short midwicket, picked up the ball, and flicked an accurate throw on top of the stumps in one motion for Wriddhiman Saha to do the rest. More than the run-out, Rashid's anticipation of what the batsman was trying to do, and then beating him with his speed, stood out.
The numbers
Rashid's 147 wickets are the second most for a bowler after 100 T20s. West Indies' Krishmar Santokie tops the list with 158 scalps.
Prior to Saturday, Prithvi Shaw was out to legspinners twice in 14 deliveries. Rashid ensured he was out a third time.
This was Rashid's third Man-of-the-Match award in IPL 2018.
What they said
"The quick-arm action makes it difficult for the batsmen. That is the only thing I take advantage of. Bowling in good-length areas is important for me."
Rashid Khan on his method
"Rashid Khan is the first legspinner I have seen who bowls legspin from the back of the hand like you would bowl a googly. He gets his fingers to do that. Fascinating!"
Commentator and former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar