DC vs RR IPL 2025: After their dream run was halted by a spirited Mumbai Indians side, Delhi Capitals are set to return to their den at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, hoping to bounce back against a struggling Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday night. While DC’s confidence may have taken a minor dent, the Kotla fortress gives them the perfect launchpad to return to winning ways.
The Capitals, who had enjoyed an unbeaten streak until last week, faltered at home despite a valiant comeback knock by Karun Nair, who was playing his first IPL game in three years. His half-century, though impressive, wasn’t enough as Delhi suffered a 12-run loss from a position of strength. A late-innings collapse and some questionable decision-making under pressure turned the game on its head.
The loss also exposed a recurring issue for DC — vulnerability against spin. While the team strikes at 159.38 against spin, second-best in the league, their average of just 24.47 against slower bowlers is the second-worst. This stat is particularly crucial on the Kotla track, where nine of the 12 wickets in the last game fell to spinners.
Despite the hiccup, Delhi look fairly settled on paper. Jake Fraser-McGurk’s underwhelming returns — 46 runs at a strike-rate of 100, all inside the PowerPlay — might push DC to experiment. With Faf du Plessis still in doubt due to injury, there’s speculation that Karun Nair may be promoted to open.
Karun’s return is a silver lining for DC. If paired at the top with someone like Abishek Porel or Fraser-McGurk, it could provide the solidity Delhi have missed early on. KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, and Axar Patel continue to form a reliable middle-order, while their spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel remains among the league’s finest.
Kuldeep vs RR: The Key Battle
Kuldeep Yadav has quietly emerged as the most effective spinner of IPL 2025, with a stunning economy of 5.6 in five matches. Against a Rajasthan Royals lineup that averages just 24.85 against spin — only marginally better than Delhi — Kuldeep’s four overs could dictate the course of the game.
RR have bigger issues to worry about. Their much-vaunted batting lineup has failed to fire in unison. Riyan Parag, the breakout star of IPL 2024 and now a capped Indian player, has looked off-colour. Sanju Samson and Nitish Rana have managed just one fifty apiece. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shimron Hetmyer have been inconsistent at best.
Axar Patel will fancy his chances against both Samson and Rana, having dismissed them twice each in previous IPL encounters. Add to that a fast outfield, short boundaries, and a dew-laden evening forecast, and it becomes evident that spin control and middle-order stability will be the game’s pivot.
RR’s Bowling in Focus
Rajasthan’s bowlers, led by the ever-consistent Sandeep Sharma, will aim to exploit Delhi’s spin woes. Sandeep’s IPL record against DC is impressive — 20 wickets in 18 games at a frugal 7.29 economy, with a dot-ball percentage hovering around 43%. His early breakthroughs could decide whether RR stay in the contest.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana also bring much-needed variety and bite to the spin attack. However, it’s their discipline that RR will need to tighten. They’ve conceded 74 extras so far this season — the most by any team — and that could prove costly in a close finish.
Players to Watch:
- Karun Nair (DC): Back after three years, Karun made a statement with a brisk fifty and could now be asked to open. His ability to anchor innings while accelerating makes him vital on a slow Kotla surface.
- Kuldeep Yadav (DC): Arguably the most influential bowler this season, Kuldeep’s spell could be the ultimate test for RR’s wobbly middle-order.
- Sandeep Sharma (RR): Delhi’s nemesis over the years, Sandeep’s control in the PowerPlay and death overs could tilt the balance in Rajasthan’s favour.
- KL Rahul (DC): The wicketkeeper-batter averages nearly 51 against RR with a strike-rate of 132.52 and a highest of 95*. Delhi will rely on him to provide the finishing touch.
Venue & Conditions:
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is a run-haven with short square boundaries and a lightning-fast outfield. High scores are the norm here, especially with dew playing a significant role in the second innings. Expect another high-scoring affair, where the toss could be crucial — chasing is likely the preferred option.
Head-to-Head Snapshot:
The rivalry remains neck-and-neck with Rajasthan leading 15-14 overall. However, in Delhi, it’s the Capitals who hold the upper hand — winning six of the nine games played here.
Probable XIs:
Delhi Capitals: 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: 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 averages only 18.9 in 10 T20 innings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium despite being a Delhi local.
- RR have conceded the most extras in IPL 2025 — 74 as of Match 30.
- KL Rahul loves playing against Rajasthan, averaging 50.87 with a top score of 95* in 16 matches.
DC vs RR Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
DC vs RR Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
DC vs RR Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
