IPL 2025: DC Playing XI vs RR- Match 32

The Delhi Capitals (DC) faced their very first defeat of IPL 2025 against the Mumbai Indians at their official home ground, Arun Jaitley Stadium.

They were ahead in the 206-run chase thanks to the firing 89-run knock against Karun Nair, but lost their way towards the backend of the innings.

With the maiden defeat in five fixtures, Delhi remains in the second position in the points table with a net run rate of +0.899.

With Faf du Plessis’ injury and Jake Fraser-McGurk’s struggle, it has been an issue for the 2020 runners-up to select four overseas players from a tiny bank.

DC will lock horns with the Rajasthan Royals in their next fixture on April 16 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The visitors are coming after two successive defeats in the event.

IPL 2025: DC Playing XI vs RR- Match 32

Openers- Jake Fraser McGurk/Faf du Plessis, Abhishek Porel

Since the end of last year’s IPL, where DC enjoyed Jake Fraser-McGurk’s service at the opening position, he has survived beyond the powerplay (first six overs) in only seven of his 29 T20 innings. That has been a huge issue for the franchise.

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The Australian batter, who drilled 330 runs in nine innings last year at a strike rate of 234.04, has struggled with just 46 runs this season at a run-a-ball in five innings. Faf du Plessis' constant injury means Delhi has to go with three foreign players in the side, with Harry Brook not arriving for them in the new edition.

The only other option on the team is South Africa’s Donovan Ferreira, who bats in the lower order for the sides. Abhishek Porel was decent at the opening spot against Mumbai with 33 runs in 25 balls, thanks to three boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 132.

Middle order- Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk.), Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Viraj Nigam

Karun Nair was the game-changer for DC against Mumbai. Despite losing JFM on the first ball of the chase, Karun Nair showed intent with the bat.

He thumped Jasprit Bumrah around the park to celebrate his fastest half-century of the league in just 22 deliveries. Nair ended with a fine knock of 89 runs in 40 balls, shouldering on 12 boundaries and five sixes at a strike rate of 222.50.

The fans expected KL Rahul to show the same calmness as the previous occasions and shoulder them over the winning margin. But he also had a rush of blood and went back to the pavilion for 15 runs in 13 balls.

DC captain Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs went back to the dressing room cheaply, while Ashutosh Sharma’s suicidal run-out brought the curtains for the Capitals.

They failed to chase down 206 runs from being 119/1 in 10.1 overs to fall short of the score by 12 runs.

Bowlers- Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma/T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar (Impact)

Mitchell Starc has gone through two horrible spells of bowling in back-to-back games with figures of 0/43 in three overs at an economy rate of 14.30. Mukhesh Kumar was decent using the variation in the pace and returned with figures of 1/38 in four overs.

Viraj Nigam gave DC the very first wicket of the innings as he sent back Rohit Sharma on 18 runs. Kuldeep Yadav was, as usual, excellent with magical figures of 2/23 in four overs in a 205-run innings.

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Mohit Sharma has been blasted for 40 runs in three overs without any success, and that could push the DC selectors to go for T Natarajan in the next game.

DC Predicted Playing XI vs RR- IPL 2025, Match 32

Faf du Plessis/ Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk.), Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Viraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma/T Natarajan.

Impact Sub: Mukesh Kumar.