The Delhi Capitals (DC) showed off their bowling prowess in their IPL 2022 match against the Punjab Kings on Wednesday at the Brabourne Stadium.

DC's Kuldeep Yadav (2/24) and Akshar Patel (2/10) were the show-stoppers, with the former continuing his remarkable return to form after a couple of years of being out of sorts.

Kuldeep is bowling faster in the air than he was last season, according to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, and this is causing batters to rush into playing strokes.

“He is bowling a little quicker than last year. Last year he was bowling in the mid-70s, now he is at about 82-83. The delivery with which he got Ellis out was at 85kmph. So, he is bowling it quicker,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports. 

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Kuldeep also appears to have lost his fear of being hit for sixes, which, according to Gavaskar, causes bowlers to lose their lines in T20 cricket.

"Earlier, even though batters got beaten off the pitch, they still had the time because of the slowness of the delivery to make any adjustments. Now, they don't have that. He is quicker and (pitching the ball) a lot further up, not being afraid of being hit. 

"One of the major problems with most bowlers in this format is that they are worried about being hit for a six, which is why they sometimes don't get their lengths quite right. When we have a spinner, he is more likely to go for sixes but (Kuldeep) is not thinking about that. He is thinking about taking wickets and that is the best dot ball you can bowl. 

"He is doing it so consistently, the loop is coming quite nicely, everything is gelling for him, the wickets are coming. And he is in a happy frame of mind, you could see that when he was out there. Wonderful to see a young man get his mojo back," said Gavaskar.