🏏IPL 2025 - Match 55: SRH vs DC on 5th May 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2025 - Match 55: SRH vs DC on 5th May 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏

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On the brink of elimination, Sunrisers Hyderabad return home on Monday (May 5) to face off against the stuttering Delhi Capitals in a bid to give their IPL 2025 campaign one more push.

The Capitals find themselves just outside the qualification bracket with 12 points in 10 games. They have struggled to keep up the momentum gained following a record-breaking start to their season as soon as they hit the home turf.

After winning five out of their first six games, Delhi's campaign lost steam midway as they went on to lose three of their last four. With only four games in hand, and the remaining three post Monday against sides all currently placed above them in the points table, the road is only going to get tougher for Axar & Co. at the business end of the competition.

In all their recent defeats, the batting hasn't collectively fired for Delhi despite different individuals putting their hand up in each of those innings.

Incidentally, all their remaining games are at high-scoring venues, putting the onus on the batting department to pull up their socks and put in complete performances to help DC secure a playoffs berth.

While KL Rahul has shouldered the responsibility well, and is the team's leading run-getter, the return of Faf du Plessis with a half-century in the most-recent outing are good signs for Delhi.

[Tag and Logo credit to Wildestdreams]

Axar Patel the batter has been a revelation for the side. Promoted as captain after the mega auction, Axar has more often than not played the matchups right by promoting himself in the batting order when needed and chipped in with impact knocks.

He's also led the team admirably with the ball despite not bagging a whole lot of wickets which he put down to pre-tournament injury. As such, him injuring his bowling hand again in the last outing would have Delhi sweating over his match-fitness.

He did play a handy cameo in a losing cause in the chase thereafter, signalling it may not have been a serious concern, and a five-day break for Delhi since should have aided in recovery.

SRH's campaign quickly went off rails despite them retaining the experienced core of the Class of '24 that ended second-best to KKR. When this time last year they held a position firmly in the top-four, Hyderabad have struggled to even get off the bottom half this season with only one win in first-five games, and two in their last five outings.

With six points against their name and four games in hand, SRH stay alive mathematically - needing other results to fall their way even if they were to go on a winning-spree from here on.

When: Monday, May 5 at 7:30 PM IST

Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Injuries/ Unavailability: No reported news of injury for the hosts

Tactics & Match-ups: Abhishek Sharma has been one of SRH's better batters in a vastly inconsistent season for the 2024 finalists. He has a strong record against DC's best - Kuldeep Yadav [13 balls | 38 runs | 2 dismissals].

Probable XII: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Mohammed Shami

Delhi Capitals

Injuries/Unavailability: Axar injured his left hand on the field in DC's last game, against KKR at Delhi, but did return to bat in the chase. Besides that, there are no availability concerns in Delhi's camp.

Tactics & Match-ups: Mitchell Starc has dismissed Travis Head twice in seven balls in the IPL, and will be vital to rattle SRH early in Hyderabad.

Probable XII: Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel (C), Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad: Pitch Report for SRH vs DC, IPL 2025

The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has been unpredictable throughout the ongoing IPL 2025 season, often catching teams off guard with its varied behavior.

In some matches, the surface has been favorable for batters, offering good bounce and allowing players like Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head to play through the line confidently. However, in other games, bowlers have taken control by exploiting the pitch’s turn and variable bounce, making scoring difficult.

One key factor influencing the game’s outcome is the dew, which has heavily impacted second-innings bowling, often putting bowling sides at a disadvantage late in the game.

The pitch’s inconsistency can also be attributed to the type of soil used. Red soil pitches typically offer more bounce and are generally batter-friendly, while black soil surfaces tend to keep low and are less conducive to high scores.

Overall, with the nature of the wicket changing from game to game, both teams will need to stay flexible with their strategies heading into this crucial clash.

What to expect: The venue has a tendency to favour the batters. Four of five games here previously in IPL 2025 have been won by chasing sides, and while SRH only has a 2-3 win-loss record at home they do have the distinction of being the only team to successfully defend a total here. Expect clear skies and no interference from rain otherwise.

Head-to-Head: SRH 13 - 12 DC. In six games in Hyderabad, the two teams have beaten each other thrice.

The most recent match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad saw SRH take on MI where they were handed a 7-wicket defeat in what was a low-scoring game on the night.

Delhi Capitals will aim to revive their playoff hopes and arrest a two-match losing streak at home when they face a struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad in a must-win IPL 2025 clash on Monday. Axar Patel’s side, currently fifth with 12 points from 10 games, have relied heavily on away wins but will need to find form in familiar conditions to stay in the top-four race.

Axar, who bruised his left hand in the previous game against KKR but still smashed a valiant 43, remains a fitness concern. His full bowling involvement could be key, especially against an SRH side all but out of playoff contention after a 38-run loss to Gujarat Titans.

Did you know?

- Travis Head had a strike rate of 191.55 in the first three games of the season. That has dropped significantly to 133 in the next seven games

- Mitchell Starc has picked 10 wickets in 4 outings against SRH in IPL since 2024

What they said

"We have had a bit of a break just to go back, have a reset, have a think about it. We have had a few days off. So we have had time as a team to reset and go back to the things that we were doing well. And it's about peaking at the right time, no? And this is the perfect time to start and the last four games to go." - Karun Nair

"I think they're incredibly important for not only the franchise but for individuals as well. I think whatever's going on, there's always a desire to finish the season well and we understand that finishing the season well can give a lot of optimism to the franchise going forward." - SRH head coach Daniel Vettori

Today's Match Prediction: Team bowling first to win the match

Scenario 1

If Sunrisers Hyderabad bowl first:

• DC PP: 60-70
• DC Total: 215-220
• Sunrisers Hyderabad to win

Scenario 2

If Delhi Capitals bowl first:

• SRH PP: 50-60
• SRH Total: 210-215
• Delhi Capitals to win

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

SRH vs DC Probable Best Performers

Probable Best Batter of the Match—Faf du Plessis (DC)

Faf du Plessis. (Photo by NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images)

Delhi Capitals’ veteran opener Faf du Plessis could be the best batter on his side’s upcoming game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With a fighting knock of 62 runs in his previous game, the South African will be keen on putting in a similar performance against SRH and propelling his side further up the standings. Faf has managed to score 165 in five innings at an average of 33.00 and a strike rate of 134.14, including two fifties.

Probable Best Bowler of the Match—Kuldeep Yadav (DC)

Kuldeep Yadav. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Delhi Capitals’ Kuldeep Yadav could be a possible threat to the opposition batters with his bowling. With 12 wickets in his last 10 matches, Yadav has been in good form, and his spell could trouble SRH. Notably, last time these two locked horns earlier in the season, the chinaman delivered a spell of 3/22 and played a key role in Delhi's win.