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The Delhi Capitals (DC) concluded their IPL 2025 campaign on a positive note, securing a six-wicket victory against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This win not only provided DC with a morale-boosting finish but also dented PBKS's aspirations for a top-two position in the league standings. The match was characterized by strong batting performances from both sides, with PBKS initially setting a challenging target of 206 for 8. Shreyas Iyer's half-century (53 off 34 balls) and Marcus Stoinis' explosive cameo of 44 not out off just 16 balls were instrumental in propelling PBKS to a competitive total. However, DC responded with a collective batting effort, spearheaded by Sameer Rizvi's maiden IPL half-century (58 not out off 25 balls) and Karun Nair's valuable contribution of 44 off 27 balls, ultimately guiding them to victory with three deliveries to spare. The match highlighted the importance of momentum and strategic batting, particularly in the middle overs, where DC managed to gain a slight advantage that proved crucial in the final outcome.
PBKS's innings commenced with a positive start in the powerplay, despite losing two wickets. Priyansh Arya's early dismissal was offset by Josh Inglis's aggressive approach, as he struck a couple of boundaries off Mukesh Kumar. Prabhsimran Singh, initially struggling to find his rhythm, eventually showcased his class with an elegant straight drive for a boundary. Inglis continued his attacking intent, hitting the first six of the innings by whipping a Mustafizur Rahman delivery over deep backward square. However, Inglis was fortunate to receive a reprieve when Mustafizur dropped a tough return catch. Prabhsimran then added to the scoring momentum with two fours off Mohit Sharma, followed by a six and a four from Inglis off Vipraj Nigam. The breakthrough for DC came when Vipraj dismissed Inglis, thanks to sharp glovework from Tristan Stubbs. Shreyas Iyer managed to end the powerplay on a positive note for PBKS with a boundary, ensuring a decent score of 60 for 2 after the first six overs. The powerplay showcased a blend of aggressive hitting and calculated risk-taking, setting the stage for a high-scoring encounter.
In the middle overs, Shreyas Iyer anchored the PBKS innings with a composed and well-paced half-century. Kuldeep Yadav began his spell with a no-ball, and the resulting free-hit was capitalized upon by Prabhsimran, who dispatched it for a six. Prabhsimran also added a boundary over cover off Vipraj, but his innings was cut short when he attempted a cheeky scoop off Kuldeep and was bowled for 28. Kuldeep, however, proved to be expensive at the other end, conceding a six to Shreyas and a four to Nehal Wadhera. Shreyas continued his scoring spree, hitting a boundary over cover off Mohit, which propelled PBKS past the 100-run mark. He then followed it up with his second six, dispatching a Kuldeep delivery over long on. The 41-run partnership between Shreyas and Wadhera was broken when Mukesh returned to the attack and induced a mistimed loft from Wadhera. Shreyas, though, remained unperturbed, consistently collecting boundaries, rotating the strike effectively, and even utilizing the DRS to overturn a caught-behind decision. He also enjoyed a stroke of luck when Kuldeep failed to hold on to a difficult chance. Karun Nair almost pulled off a spectacular catch near the boundary, but ultimately had to let the ball go, giving Shashank Singh a reprieve. The middle overs were characterized by a mix of aggressive hitting and strategic accumulation of runs, with Shreyas playing the pivotal role in maintaining the scoring momentum.
The death overs witnessed a blistering display of power-hitting from Marcus Stoinis, which propelled PBKS past the 200-run mark. Mustafizur Rahman managed to dismiss Shashank in the 16th over and conceded only four runs, briefly keeping PBKS in check. However, Stoinis quickly seized the initiative, smashing two sixes and a four off Mukesh, while Shreyas ended the over with a boundary, resulting in a significant 25 runs being scored. Mohit dropped a crucial opportunity to dismiss Stoinis off Kuldeep's bowling, but he eventually held on to the ball to dismiss Shreyas. Kuldeep also picked up the wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai and conceded only three runs in his over. However, the dropped catch by Mohit proved to be costly, as Stoinis unleashed a brutal assault, hitting two sixes and two fours off Mohit in a 22-run 19th over. Mustafizur started the final over strongly, dismissing Marco Jansen and conceding only one run off the first three balls. Harpreet then struck a six, and two more runs came off the last two balls, allowing PBKS to finish their innings with a formidable total in excess of 200. Stoinis's explosive hitting in the death overs was the defining factor in PBKS reaching a challenging score.
Chasing a target of 207, Delhi Capitals got off to a flying start in the powerplay, powered by KL Rahul, their impact substitute, and skipper Faf du Plessis. The duo combined to hit five fours in the first four overs, setting an aggressive tone for the chase. The first six of the innings came off Du Plessis's bat when he pulled Omarzai over square leg. Rahul then struck two more fours in the same over, before hitting a six off Harpreet Brar, which took DC to 50 in just five overs. Rahul continued his onslaught with a four off Jansen but was eventually dismissed, with the change of pace from the bowler proving to be his undoing. Nair ended the powerplay with a six in the same over, ensuring that DC scored one more run than PBKS had managed in their powerplay. The powerplay was characterized by aggressive batting and a clear intent to dominate the scoring from the outset.
In the middle overs, Karun Nair and Sameer Rizvi kept DC on track with a combination of aggressive hitting and smart accumulation of runs. Du Plessis's innings was brought to an end by Harpreet when he failed to keep a cut down. Sediqullah Atal then struck a big six off Jansen, while Praveen Dubey, PBKS's impact substitute, started with a four-run over. Atal enjoyed a couple of lucky breaks in Stoinis's over, as Harpreet and Inglis failed to hold on to catches, and he followed it up with a six soon after. However, his luck eventually ran out when Dubey got him to miscue a loft, with Arshdeep taking a comfortable catch at long on. In the same over, Nair swept thrice and pulled for four successive boundaries, taking DC past the 100-run mark. A quiet over from Jansen, conceding only four runs, briefly put some pressure on DC. The release came soon after when Sameer Rizvi got a lucky boundary and scooped one for a six off Omarzai. Both Nair and Rizvi then struck maximums off Jansen, resulting in 32 runs being scored off the two overs combined. Nair also hit a four off Harpreet but was bowled soon after, leaving DC needing 52 runs off the last 30 balls. The middle overs were defined by a mix of aggressive hitting and a strategic approach to maintaining the scoring rate.
The death overs witnessed a Rizvi special, which helped DC sign off their campaign with a well-deserved win. Arshdeep delivered a fine 16th over, conceding only four runs, which increased the equation to 48 runs off the last 24 balls. A six from Rizvi and a four from Stubbs, off Harpreet, eased the pressure as 14 runs came off the 17th over. Rizvi reached his highest IPL score, having struck two fours off Omarzai, which brought the required runs down to 22 off the last two overs. Rizvi then struck a crucial six off Arshdeep en route to a 22-ball fifty. A reverse lap by Stubbs got him a four and left DC needing only eight runs in the final over. Rizvi, fittingly, finished off the chase with a six over fine leg off Stoinis, ensuring that DC ended their campaign on a high note. The death overs were characterized by Rizvi's exceptional batting and his ability to maintain composure under pressure, ultimately guiding DC to a memorable victory. DC's triumph highlighted their resilience and ability to perform as a team, making their final game a fitting end to their IPL 2025 journey.
The difference between the two teams can be narrowed to the middle overs. DC effectively managed their score and run rate. PBKS did not match DCs ability to strike boundaries. Delhi Capitals displayed a balanced batting approach.
PBKS face MI next, a crucial match to secure top spot. DC completed their campaign. Rizvi's performance was a highlight. Stoinis contributed powerfully in the death overs.
Source: Rizvi, Karun seal DC's IPL campaign with a winning note