Delhi struck a huge blow early in the RR innings by dismissing Buttler, who went into the match with 618 runs to his credit, for seven in the third over. Buttler drove left arm-medium pacer Sakariya on the up to Shardul Thakur at long on with only 11 on the board.

Ashwin joined Jaiswal and used the field restrictions in  the Powerplay to quicken the rate of scoring. He first struck Thakur for two fours in the fifth over and then hit Axar Patel for a four to point. He lofted the left-arm bowler over long-on for a six in the sixth over. Marsh and left-arm wrist spinner Kuleep Yadav put the brakes on the scoring. RR were 68 for 2 at the halfway stage. Ashwin completed his maiden fifty with a single in 37 balls, but departed in the next over.