Key Highlights:
DC vs RR IPL 2025 is set to light up the Arun Jaitley Stadium as Delhi Capitals take on a struggling Rajasthan Royals side in a pivotal mid-season showdown. With DC winning four of their last five and RR managing just two wins in six games, the pressure is mounting on Sanju Samson’s men to revive their stuttering campaign.
Royals’ Middle-Over Malaise – Can They Fix It?
RR boast the second-best powerplay run rate (9.72) in IPL 2025 but collapse alarmingly in the middle overs with a run rate of 7.86 – second-worst after CSK. That spells trouble against Kuldeep Yadav, who has picked up 9 wickets in the middle overs at a miserly 5.94 economy.
RR’s Middle-Order Woes:
- Sanju Samson: Only one fifty in the tournament
- Riyan Parag: Promising starts, but a highest score of 43
- Nitish Rana: One meaningful contribution
- Shimron Hetmyer: Questionable entry points in the batting order
Only Yashasvi Jaiswal has shown consistency, scoring two fifties in his last three innings.
Delhi’s Minor Glitches – Eyes on Fraser-McGurk
DC have won 4 out of 5, but their loss to MI exposed a few gaps — particularly Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has managed only 46 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 100. If Faf du Plessis is fit, he is likely to replace him, with Karun Nair locking the No. 3 slot.
Karun Nair’s Blazing Return:
- Scored 89 (40) vs MI in his first outing
- Took 26 off 9 balls from Jasprit Bumrah
- A former RR player, now firing for DC
Probable XIs – Will Du Plessis Play?
Delhi Capitals (DC):
- Faf du Plessis / Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Abishek Porel
- Karun Nair
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Tristan Stubbs
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Axar Patel (capt)
- Vipraj Nigam
- Mitchell Starc
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohit Sharma
- Mukesh Kumar (Impact Player)
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
- Sanju Samson (capt & wk)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Nitish Rana
- Riyan Parag
- Dhruv Jurel
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Tushar Deshpande / Akash Madhwal
- Sandeep Sharma
- Kumar Kartikeya (Impact Player)
In the Spotlight – Karun Nair and Riyan Parag
Karun Nair:
- Has reignited his IPL career with a blistering 89 vs MI
- Previously played for RR, last in 2022
- Likely to be promoted in the XI if du Plessis remains unfit
Riyan Parag:
- Consistent 25+ scores but failing to convert
- Strike rate vs spinners: 118.61 – a concern with Kuldeep and Nigam lurking
- Expected to play a vital role on a flat Delhi track
Delhi’s Pitch & Match Conditions – High-Scoring Alert
- 7 consecutive 200+ scores for teams batting first at Arun Jaitley Stadium
- Bat-first trend: All such teams have won
- Surface: Flat but offers occasional turn – ideal for Kuldeep, Theekshana, and Hasaranga
- Weather: Mid-30s in the day, cooler by evening
Stats & Trivia
- Kuldeep Yadav: Best economy (5.60) among bowlers with 10+ overs
- RR: Only 29 wickets taken in six matches – third-fewest in IPL 2025
- DC vs RR Head-to-Head: RR lead 15-14
- Mukesh Kumar vs Jaiswal: Mukesh dismissed him twice, conceding just 7 runs
- KL Rahul vs Jofra Archer: 89 runs at 151 strike rate, never dismissed
Quotes Corner
🗨️ Nitish Rana on all-round role:
“If the game demands, I’m ready to bowl and contribute in any way possible.”
🗨️ Mohit Sharma on Kuldeep:
“Despite bowling on small grounds with dew, he’s unplayable. The way Axar uses him is incredible.”
Redemption or Rout?
The DC vs RR IPL 2025 clash has all the ingredients of a turning point. For Delhi, it’s about reasserting dominance after a rare slip. For Rajasthan, it’s about staying afloat and fixing their underperforming engine room.
Will Kuldeep Yadav spin another web? Can Karun Nair extend his fairytale? Or will RR’s top-order finally fire?
We’ll find out under the lights in Delhi.
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