🏏IPL 2025 - Match 46: DC vs RCB on 27 April 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2025 - Match 46: DC vs RCB at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on 27 April 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏

Kohli vs Rahul in Delhi as RCB take on DC

In another subplot, Mitchell Starc will be up against Josh Hazlewood

Virat Kohli caused chaos during his last visit to the Arun Jaitley Stadium, turning a routine Ranji Trophy fixture into a three-day celebration. While the fanfare remains, those backing Kohli will also cheer vociferously for a Delhi Capitals (DC) win.

Kohli is third on the Orange Cap list, averaging 65.33 - second only to his 2016 run where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made the final. Five of his six half-centuries have come in wins, and since 2022, he's contributed the second-highest percentage of runs (26.12) in wins, behind Shubman Gill.

Kohli comes to the Kotla with happy IPL memories. He has scored 483 runs in ten innings at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 145.5 - his best at any venue where he has played more than five games. RCB - unbeaten in five away games - will be hoping for another special knock and to steer clear of their three-way tie with Gujarat Titans and DC on 12 points.

Kohli's dominance is only half the story. In KL Rahul, DC have their own formidable force, a player who has completely redefined his T20 approach. Gone is the focus on playing the long game; Rahul now prioritises boundaries and aggression. When these two teams met earlier in the season, Rahul guided DC home with a statement performance at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Halfway through the season, he is DC's top scorer with 323 runs at a blistering strike rate of 153.80, heading into the RCB clash on the back of an unbeaten 57 against his former side, Lucknow Super Giants.

Rahul's stellar form has carried DC's top order in Faf du Plessis' absence, following a groin injury. The South African has recovered and will be available for this game. With Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, and Axar Patel all in sparkling form, DC have the capability to match RCB's batting might.

Outside of Kohli vs Rahul, the match also promises another subplot between two of the most decorated fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

As far as the playoff chances are concerned, there's plenty at stake. Both RCB and DC, who revamped their squads at the mega auction, carry with them the promise of going all the way. A win here will strengthen the prospects of a top-two finish.

[Tag and Logo credit to Wildestdreams]

The recent poll results and Prediction game guidelines are posted in this thread

In the spotlight: Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya

Kuldeep Yadav has been DC's ace, pairing control with 12 wickets at an economy of 6.3 - the joint-best with Varun Chakravarthy. He has gone wicketless just once and has played a key role in DC's strong middle-overs showing, where they concede only 8.4 per over. He has been excellent at home, exemplified by his 2 for 23 against Mumbai Indians in an innings where they posted 205.

In his ninth season, Krunal Pandya has equalled his best IPL haul with 12 wickets - all in wins and joint-second-most among spinners. His double-blow, backed by Suyash Sharma's control, set up the win against Rajasthan Royals three nights ago. Not as feared as the Varuns or Narines, the RCB duo remains crucial with the playoffs in sight.

Key stats

• Rahul has dominated Hazlewood in the IPL, scoring 76 runs off him at a strike rate of 173, with just one dismissal in five innings.
• Starc has proven expensive in the powerplay - conceding at 11.40. This has contributed to DC struggling overall - their economy of 9.8 is the third-worst in the league.
• RCB have won all games where Kohli has scored a half-century this season. Since 2024, RCB have won nine out of 11 games where he has scored 50 or more.
• Tim David's strike rate of 212 is second-best behind Heinrich Klaasen among batters who've faced at least 30 balls.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar is just three wickets away from overtaking Piyush Chawla (192) as the IPL's second-highest wicket-taker.
• Axar Patel's strike rate of 202 against spin is the second highest among batters who have faced at least 50 balls this season. Nicholas Pooran tops the list by striking at 268.

Pitch and conditions

Both games at Kotla have been high scoring, but spinners like Kuldeep and Vipraj Nigam, who've tossed the ball up and turned it, have earned wickets. Spin has claimed 13 wickets, conceding 9.1 runs per over, compared to 10.2 by pacers. With dew likely, the team batting first will need a big total. With both sides evenly matched, predicting the par-score is not easy.

Weather report for DC vs RCB game in Delhi

According to the Accuweather app, the maximum temperature today in Delhi will be a scorching 42 degrees Celsius a minimum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. There will be minimum respite even in the evening, with the weather expected to remain on the high 30s.

Pitch report for DC vs RCB in Delhi

While the Delhi pitch favored batting in the previous games, it gradually slowed down as the innings progressed. This characteristic behaviour is typical of the Kotla surface, which often starts favourably for batsmen but tends to become slower as the game unfolds and as the season progresses. On the other hand, the ground’s smaller boundaries can make power-hitting relatively easier.

Quotes

"Last year, it was really flat and nice, and didn't really bounce that much. This year, it's a little bit more inconsistent, a bit harder to get used to, and might take some more time for batters to get into their innings."

Jake Fraser-McGurk believes the surfaces at the Arun Jaitley Stadium are a little slower this year.

"He's entitled to [celebrate]. He played a good knock. Good on him. We've had no discussions at all."

RCB's player ID lead Malolan Rangarajan plays down the significance of KL Rahul's celebration in the reverse fixture.

Head to head: DC 12 - 19 RCB, 1 no-result. Since 2021, DC have won only two out of seven matches against RCB. At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, DC have lost six and won four against RCB.

Head to Head - Last 5 Matches

DC won by 6 wickets (with 13 balls remaining). 11-Apr-2025

RCB won by 47 runs, 13-May-2024

DC won by 7 wickets (with 20 balls remaining), 07-May-2023

RCB won by 23 runs, 15-Apr-2023

RCB won by 16 runs, 17-Apr-2022

Batters to watch(Recent stats)

KL Rahul, DC

8 M • 328 Runs • 54.67 Avg • 153.99 SR

Abishek Porel, DC

10 M • 285 Runs • 31.67 Avg • 150 SR

Virat Kohli, RCB

10 M • 425 Runs • 60.71 Avg • 143.58 SR

Rajat Patidar, RCB

10 M • 256 Runs • 28.44 Avg • 149.7 SR

Bowlers to watch(Recent stats)

Kuldeep Yadav, DC

10 M • 14 Wkts • 7.33 Econ • 17.14 SR

Mukesh Kumar, DC

10 M • 11 Wkts • 9.06 Econ • 18 SR

Josh Hazlewood, RCB

9 M • 16 Wkts • 8.38 Econ • 12.31 SR

Krunal Pandya, RCB

9 M • 12 Wkts • 8.86 Econ • 14 SR

The heat is rising in Delhi, on the field and in the skies. As temperatures soar past 40 degrees Celsius with a heatwave alert in place, the IPL points table is equally scorching, with the top three teams locked at 12 points apiece. In this sweltering setting, a strong Delhi Capitals team host an upbeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru who are yet to taste defeat in an away game, as both sides chase vital points in the playoff race.

It's a contest between two evenly-matched sides, both buoyed by recent wins built on strong bowling efforts. Against LSG, DC bounced back impressively with the ball after an early onslaught, restricting the opposition to 159 before chasing it down comfortably. RCB too had their backs against the wall but they managed to claw back, overcoming a blistering start from Rajasthan Royals. The spinners tightened things up in the middle overs and Josh Hazlewood delivered a superb penultimate over to close it out as RCB finally won a game at home. In what promises to be a high-scoring affair in Delhi, it could once again come down to which side holds its nerve better with the ball.

When these two sides last faced off, KL Rahul rose to the occasion with a commanding knock on a tricky Chinnaswamy surface, handing RCB their second of three successive home defeats. As the winning runs were struck, Rahul pounded his chest and drove his bat into the ground like a sword, declaring, "this is my ground". Now, the spotlight shifts to Kohli, back at his own fortress - the Arun Jaitley Stadium - where thousands recently gathered just to get a glimpse of him in a Ranji Trophy match. Can Kohli return the favour and bring the heat to Delhi?

When: DC vs RCB, Match 46 - Sunday, April 27 at 7:30 PM IST

Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

What to expect: In the two matches hosted by Delhi in this edition, Mumbai Indians successfully defended 205 with a 12-run win, while DC pushed their defence of 188 against RR into a Super Over before eventually prevailing. In 2024, the average first-innings total across the five matches played in Delhi was 235 - the highest among all venues. Meanwhile, the pitch for the DC-RCB clash sported a green tinge on the eve of the game, but it is expected to aid good strokeplay and, with a fair covering of grass, likely take reverse swing out of the equation as well.

Team watch

Delhi Capitals

Injury/unavailability: Faf du Plessis was among the first batters to hit the nets and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who attended the pre-match press conference, said the South African is fit to play. DC have not used their full quota of overseas options in their playing squad in their recent matches and with Du Plessis fit, he could slot in as a Impact sub.

Tactics & matchups: KL Rahul would be a good option for DC to tackle Hazlewood and Yash Dayal, with the right-hander having strike rates of 172.72 and 205.26 against them respectively. But both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya have kept Rahul quiet (SR of 111.22 and 106.25 respectively).

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

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Injury/unavailability: RCB do not have any injury concerns at the moment.

Tactics & matchups: RCB have a favourable match-up to counter the early threat from Mitchell Starc in the form of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt. Both batters haven't been dismissed by the left-arm pacer yet in T20 cricket, with Kohli having scored 88 runs off 51 balls while Salt has 44 runs off the 19 balls he's faced from Starc.

Probable XII: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma