After a blazing start to their IPL 2025 campaign, the Delhi Capitals have found themselves stuck in a stop-start rhythm, struggling to maintain momentum. Their early four-match winning streak seems a distant memory as they’ve now lost three of their last five encounters. Their latest setback came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where despite flashes of brilliance, DC failed to defend 162. The loss, however, hasn’t derailed their season entirely. They still find themselves in the top half of the points table and very much in contention for a top-two finish.
In contrast, Kolkata Knight Riders are in dire need of a reset. Once potential table-toppers after a dominant win over Punjab Kings, their campaign has nosedived. A collapse against Punjab, a loss to Gujarat Titans, and a rain-washed no-result against Lucknow have left them with just seven points from nine matches. Their chances of making the playoffs are slipping away rapidly, and Tuesday’s clash against Delhi could define their trajectory in the final stretch of the season.
Match Details
Fixture: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 29, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Pitch & Conditions: The surface has been slow and spin-friendly, especially in the first innings. Dew in the latter half means chasing will be preferred, and a target around 190-200 could be competitive.
Current Form: DC Faltering at Home, KKR Searching for a Lifeline
Delhi’s return to their home turf hasn’t yielded expected results. They’ve lost two of their three matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with their only home win being a narrow one. Despite scoring over 200 against Gujarat Titans, they failed to defend it, indicating their bowling at the death remains a concern. Against RCB, they fought hard but lacked the finishing edge.
DC’s batting has shown promise but lacks consistency. Their top order has failed to convert starts into match-winning scores, and despite flashes from KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, and Axar Patel, the unit hasn’t quite clicked collectively.
For Kolkata, the biggest concern has been their top order. Remarkably, they’re the only team yet to register a fifty-plus opening stand this season, with their average opening partnership a lowly 17.7. Their middle order, which was once their strength, has also faltered—Nos 4 to 8 average just 20.00 this season, the worst among all teams.
The once-intimidating Andre Russell has looked a shadow of himself, although his record against Mitchell Starc—55 runs off 23 balls without dismissal—might give him confidence heading into this match.
Head-to-Head: KKR Lead, but DC Have Recent Edge
Out of 33 matches played between the two teams, Kolkata Knight Riders lead the head-to-head 18-15. However, since 2022, Delhi Capitals have taken the upper hand, winning three of the last five. At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, it’s a 5-5 split, but KKR haven’t won in Delhi since 2017, including a dramatic Super Over loss in 2019.
Team News and Key Matchups
Delhi Capitals
- Injury Watch: Faf du Plessis returned last game after a groin injury. Although he looked rusty (22 off 26), DC are expected to back him for continuity.
- Matchups to Watch: KL Rahul has decent numbers against Sunil Narine (114 off 85, avg. 57), but struggles against Varun Chakaravarthy (45 off 46, 1 dismissal).
- Spin vs Rahane: DC spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could target Ajinkya Rahane, who has struggled against spin this season with a modest strike rate and low boundary percentage.
Probable XI:
Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma
Kolkata Knight Riders
- Injury Update: Harshit Rana, who appeared to hurt his elbow in the last game, has declared himself fit. KKR may include Moeen Ali to strengthen their spin attack, given the pitch conditions.
- Tactical Switch: Expect Moeen Ali to replace Rovman Powell, while Ramandeep Singh or Manish Pandey could add batting depth.
- Russell vs Starc: A key battle could unfold between Andre Russell and Starc, with Russell historically dominating the Aussie left-armer.
Probable XI:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh/Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
Stats That Matter
- Opening Woes: DC have used five different opening pairs this season—most by any team—with an average of just 24.22.
- Starc’s Dip: Mitchell Starc started the season on fire with 9 wickets in 3 games but has since taken just 3 wickets in six matches, with an economy nearing 11.
- Rahane’s Away Struggles: While Rahane has been a force at Eden Gardens (205 runs in 4 innings), he’s failed to replicate the same form away, scoring just 66 in 4 innings.
DC vs KKR Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
DC vs KKR Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
DC vs KKR Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
