🏏IPL 2025,M 32: Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals,DT Note:p 40

🏏IPL 2025, Match 32: Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals,7:30 PM🏏

Smarting from their first loss in the Indian Premier League 2025, Delhi Capitals will look to bounce back when they take on Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC were defeated by 12 runs in their last match against Mumbai Indians as their four-game winning streak came to an end.

Delhi Capitals are still second in the IPL 2025 points table and face a struggling RR, in a perfect opportunity to secure their first win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the ongoing season.

Rajasthan Royals are struggling for form, winning just two out of four matches so far. Their last defeat came on Sunday against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Jaipur. The lack of batting firepower has been their major issue so far.

With their unbeaten juggernaut halted after a stinging loss in their homecoming, Delhi Capitals would be determined to bounce back to winning ways by prolonging Rajasthan Royals' misery when the two clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium today.

Rajasthan Royals' batters, meanwhile, haven't fared any better against spin and boast of only a marginally better average of 24.85. Inevitably, their toughest spin test is loading against Kuldeep Yadav who - irrespective of ground dimensions, dew and pitches - has held his own amidst the madcap hitting with best-in-the-league economy of 5.6 in five games (minimum 10 overs).

Axar Patel, the DC captain, meanwhile, has had the wood over two of their premier batters - his counterpart Sanju Samson (70 runs in 63 balls, 2 dismissals) and local hero Nitish Rana (37 runs in 31 balls, 2 dismissals).

RR's batting overall hasn't inspired much confidence - Riyan Parag is struggling to replicate his IPL 2024 form that earned him his India debut, Samson and Rana have only a fifty each, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shimron Hetmyer have both blown hot and cold.

The batting-friendly climes of Delhi might just be the respite RR's faltering batting unit needs to hit its straps.

DC vs RR head-to-head record

Matches played: 29

DC won: 14

RR won: 15

DC record at Arun Jaitley Stadium

Matches played: 86

Won: 38

Lost: 46

No result: 1

Tied: 1

DC vs RR at Arun Jaitley Stadium

Matches played: 9

DC won: 6

RR won: 3

Delhi weather and pitch reports

Weather-wise, Delhi will be hot but the temperature will come down in the evening. During the match expected the temperature to be between 38-38 degrees Celsius. There’s no chance of rain.

Pitch-wise, expect another high-scoring match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Teams batting first here in the last seven matches have scored 200+ scores and won the match each time. So batting first is the right decision in Delhi.

What to expect: The centre wicket at the Kotla ground will ensure equal square boundaries but a run-fest nonetheless. The outfield is fast, the ground dimensions small and the flat tracks have led to high-scoring affairs at the venue. Add to it the heavy dew that made an appearance in Delhi's first home game of the season, and chasing might just be more preferable and logical choice here.

Rajasthan lead the neck-to-neck fight 15-14 and have a similar one-game advantage over DC in their encounters since 2022. At the Kotla ground, though, DC have held the edge with six wins to RR's three in the nine games at home.

Teams Watch

Delhi Capitals

Injuries/Availability: "He's recovering well," is the official word without any clarity on the availability of Faf du Plessis for a second successive home game. With him out injured, Jake Fraser-McGurk is likely to get the long rope. Delhi have anyway been fielding only three overseas players in the South African's absence. After his heroics on comeback, Karun Nair may see himself promoted to the starting XI - maybe even get the opener's slot.

Tactics & Matchups: Jaiswal has three single-digit scores to alternate with his impact knocks of 29, 67 and 75 this season, and DC would rely on Mukesh Kumar to keep the young opener quiet. The pacer has dismissed Jaiswal both times they went face-to-face previously in IPL, conceding only seven runs in nine deliveries he sent down to the batter.

Probable XII: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar

Rajasthan Royals

Injuries/Availability: Barring their head coach confined to a wheelchair, there's nothing to report here.

Tactics & Matchups: Sandeep Sharma has had an exceptional run against Delhi in the IPL with 20 wickets in 18 matches and an impressive economy of 7.29. His dot-ball percentage is also nearly 43, making him a vital cog in RR's pace attack as they look for those early breakthroughs.

Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C, wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Nitish Rana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya

Did you know?

- Nitish Rana may be a Delhi local, but he averages only18.9 in 10 T20 innings at his home ground

- As of Match 30, Rajasthan Royals have conceded the most no.of extras in IPL 2025 - 74

- KL Rahul averages nearly 51 against RR in 16 matches, at a strike-rate of 132.52, with a personal best of 95*

What they said:

"It's good - please do check those bats. As it is we see such huge sixes. If a bat or two are caught to be oversized then ban them too" - Mohit Sharma, DC medium-pacer, had a good laugh about the customary bat-checks in the weekend double-header.

"If the team demands it from me, I will never back down. If the understanding of the game says that I should go and tell Sanju or anyone that I can do something good here or I can bowl here, I will definitely say it. But there is no need to over-complicate things too, I guess. I've always tried to do whatever [challenge] is thrown at me that can benefit my team - be it bowling, batting or anything else. I also want to bowl regularly because I think I'm a decent enough bowler. If the situation calls for it, why not? Let me talk to Sanju [Samson, captain]" - RR's Nitish Rana is eager and willing to explore the spinner in him if given the opportunity.

The Rajasthan Royals are eighth in the points table with two wins and four losses in six matches. They suffered a defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the previous match by nine wickets. Rajasthan will be keen to do well at this venue and are in a desperate position to string up a few wins.

On the other hand, Delhi Capitals have four wins and a loss in the previous five matches. They lost the previous match against Mumbai Indians by 12 runs and are placed third in the table. They are playing at home and will look to take advantage of the conditions. This promises to be a closely fought game.

Delhi Capitals were the only team which won its first four matches in IPL 2025. However, their winning streak was snapped by Mumbai Indians in their most recent fixture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Delhi had the match in their hands at one stage in their pursuit of a 206-run target. From 119/1 in 10.2 overs, the Capitals were bowled out for 193 in 19 overs.

Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, are languishing at No. 8 on the points table. They lost their first two games before winning the next two. However, they are winless in their last couple of matches. They lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last game by nine wickets. The Rajat Patidar-led side chased a 174-run target with nine wickets and 15 balls to spare.

DC vs RR Probable Top Performers

Probable Best Batter of the Match: Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal has not been at his best yet in IPL 2025. However, he is slowly getting there. The southpaw has notched up two half-centuries from six matches this season. Jaiswal will look to get his team off to a flying start on Wednesday.

Probable Best Bowler of the Match: Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep-Yadav. (Photo source: X/IPL)

Kuldeep Yadav is the leading wicket-taker for Delhi Capitals this season. He has picked up 10 wickets from five matches with his guile and deception. Kuldeep is averaging a brilliant 11.20, and he has a strike rate of 12. His economy rate is also a mind-boggling 5.60.