IPL 2025: DC Playing XI vs LSG- Match 4

The 2020 runners-up of the Indian Premier League, Delhi Capitals, went through an inconsistent 2025 season in the tournament, where they were not up to the mark in many departments, but still finished at the sixth position in the points table. They will lock horns with the Lucknow Super Ginats in their opening game on March 23 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

Due to Rishabh Pant’s departure from the franchise, the management got the job of appointing a new captain. They had both Axar Patel and KL Rahul as options. And the reports claimed that once Rahul rejected their offer, the Capitals went with the left-handed spin all-rounder for the leadership position.

IPL 2025: DC Playing 11 vs LSG- IPL 2025, Match 4

Openers- Faf du Plessis (vc), Jake Fraser-McGurk

With Axar getting the leadership duties, the DC management made Faf du Plessis the vice-captain. It will be a huge boost for Axar, who will have the former RCB captain from the last three seasons to help him in panic situations, starting with the DC vs LSG fixture.

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Faf smashed 438 runs in IPL 2024 in 15 innings at an average of 29.20 and a strike rate of 161.62, shouldering on four half-centuries at the best score of 64. Even if he can continue the same performance in the 2025 edition, that will be a huge advantage for the Capitals.

It was a breakthrough season for the young right-handed Australian opening batter, Jake Fraser-McGurk. He nailed 330 runs last year at an average of 36.66 and a strike rate of 234.04, thanks to four fifties at the best score of 84. His contributions will allow Faf to play a stable knock from the other end in the DC vs LSG clash

Middle overs: Abhishek Porel, KL Rahul (wk.), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma

Abhishek Porel also went through a fine season with the DC side, thanks to 327 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 159.61, thanks to two half-centuries at the best score of 65. KL Rahul was criticized for his slow knocks in the last season, but Delhi won’t mind his repeat of the IPL 2024 performances of 520 runs in 14 innings at 136.12.

Tristan Stubbs also had a great season in 2024 with 378 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 190. During the opening DC vs LSG clash, he hopes to start from where he left. The pressure will be much more on captain Axar Patel, who will be confident after his golden all-round show in the recent Champions Trophy 2025.

Ashutosh Sharma, who notched up 189 runs at a strike rate of 167.25 in 2024, can offer quick lower-order runs to the Delhi Capitals.

Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukhesh Kumar

T Nataraja’s inclusion will be another boost for the Capitals, who struggled in the death overs last season. The left-arm Tamil Nadu pacer picked up 19 scalps in 14 innings at an economy rate of just over nine, despite bowling most of his overs at the death.

Mitchell Starc will share the new ball in the DC vs LSG encounter with Mukhesh Kumar. If they don’t want Mukhesh, then they can go with Mohit Sharma, who can use his slower balls in the last five overs of the innings. Starc picked up 17 wickets last season in 13 innings at an average of 26.11.

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Kuldeep Yadav’s contribution and his partnership with Axar in the bowling department will be vital for their performance in the middle overs.

DC Playing XI vs LSG- IPL 2025

Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel, KL Rahul (wk.), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukhesh Kumar.

Impact Sub: Mohit Sharma