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History repeated itself on Wednesday as Keemo Paul secured a victory for Delhi against Hyderabad with a boundary off the penultimate delivery, echoing a match-winning moment from the 2016 ICC U19 World Cup. Remarkably, Khaleel Ahmed was the bowler in both instances. While the first victory for the West Indies came via a lucky top edge that flew behind the stumps, this latest triumph was a display of pure skill, as Paul executed a perfectly timed pull shot toward mid-wicket for four.
Remaining poised under intense pressure, Paul relied on his past experience in high-stakes matches to execute that clinical shot when it mattered most. However, his impact on the game extended far beyond the final boundary; earlier in the match, he delivered a stellar bowling performance, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs in 4 overs to keep Hyderabad's total to a manageable 162/8. This marked his second three-wicket haul of the tournament, both of which, coincidentally, came against Hyderabad.
Throughout the season, Delhi has utilized Paul as a tactical weapon. Initially viewed as a low-risk, utilitarian addition when they secured him for his base price of 50 Lakhs INR in the December 2018 auction—without any bidding wars—he hasn't played every match, but has been decisive whenever he has. The coaching staff recognized that his medium pace, clever variations, and precision with yorkers were ideally suited for slow, difficult pitches. This is reflected in his current stats: 9 wickets across 7 matches, including two pivotal three-wicket performances. Additionally, his versatility as a batsman has provided crucial depth to the lineup, a fact proven by his cool-headed finish on Wednesday.
Beyond his general utility, Paul has proven himself as capable as Kagiso Rabada or Chris Morris when tasked with bowling the difficult closing overs. Among Delhi's bowlers who have faced at least 30 balls between the 15th and 20th overs this season, he ranks third in both total wickets taken and strike rate.
During the eliminator against Hyderabad, Paul claimed two of his three wickets in the death overs by cleverly varying his pace to deceive the batters. While his overall economy rate in the final stages of the game can look high, he has stepped up impressively in Rabada's absence. Over his last two appearances, he conceded only 29 runs in four overs—a tight economy of 7.25. By embracing this responsibility, the pacer has fully justified the trust placed in him by mentors like Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly.
Written by: Prasenjit Dey