Synopsis
As Delhi Capitals aim to regain their footing in IPL 2025 after losing their unbeaten run, they gear up to face Rajasthan Royals at Arun Jaitley Stadium. With key players stepping up, DC looks to fix their strategies against RR's inconsistent performance.Key Takeaways
- DC seeks quick solutions after ending unbeaten streak.
- Karun Nair's impressive performance boosts DC morale.
- RR struggles with batting depth and consistency.
- DC's bowling unit needs to improve to compete effectively.
- Match to be held at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.
New Delhi, April 15 (NationPress) With their unbeaten run now behind them and the top position in the points table no longer theirs, Delhi Capitals (DC) are eager to implement swift solutions to enhance their chances of clinching a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs when they take on an unpredictable Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, RR holds a marginal advantage over DC, having won 15 matches compared to DC's 14. When playing in New Delhi, RR has secured five victories while suffering defeat on seven occasions.
Fans had high hopes for DC to maintain their winning momentum as they returned to their home ground on Sunday. However, the Mumbai Indians had different plans, skillfully utilizing the ball change rule to trigger a batting collapse for DC after the halfway point, leading to a dramatic 12-run loss for the hosts.
Nevertheless, one bright spot for DC was the performance of impact player Karun Nair, who dazzled with a remarkable 40-ball 89 in his tournament debut. His execution of stunning shots, particularly against Jasprit Bumrah, showcased his determination to secure a win for DC until he was dismissed by a brilliant delivery from Mitchell Santner.
With Faf du Plessis struggling with injuries and Jake Fraser-McGurk experiencing a dip in form, Nair's emergence has been a significant boost for DC. It will be intriguing to see how the top-order lineup shapes up if du Plessis returns against RR.
For DC, it’s crucial that the middle and lower order rise to the occasion with backup strategies, especially after MI's successful execution of the ball change rule against them. From a bowling standpoint, aside from Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, other bowlers were quite expensive, and they must address their tendency to concede runs.
On the other hand, RR arrives in New Delhi following a nine-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Jaipur. A key problem for RR has been their batting unit's inability to function cohesively, compounded by a lack of depth in their lineup.
In Jaipur, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel managed to take the team past 170 runs, but the captain Sanju Samson struggled to adapt to the slow pitch, resulting in a sluggish start during the powerplay.
Samson previously scored an impressive 86 in New Delhi last year, albeit in a losing effort. The memories of that remarkable innings should motivate him to take on a leadership role in guiding RR to rectify their IPL 2025 campaign on Wednesday.
In terms of bowling, Jofra Archer has been pivotal for RR in the power-play, but he struggled against the clean hitting of Phil Salt, which effectively tilted the match in RCB’s favor. Aside from Archer and left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya Singh, all other bowlers recorded high economy rates. Given the short square boundaries at the stadium, the RR bowling unit will need to reassess their strategies to overcome a motivated DC team on home soil.
Squads-
Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (captain), Faf du Plessis, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Mitchell Starc, Vipraj Nigam, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Sameer Rizvi, Karun Nair, T. Natarajan, Darshan Nalkande, Dushmantha Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, and Madhav Tiwari.
Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (captain & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kunal Singh Rathore, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ashok Sharma, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
When will the DC vs RR match take place?
The match will take place on Wednesday at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 7 PM IST.
Where will the DC vs RR match take place?
The match will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Where will the live broadcast for DC vs RR match be available?
It will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network.
Where will live streaming for DC vs RR match be available?
The match will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app.
