Delhi: KlmmKL Rahul lit up the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday evening with a breathtaking unbeaten century, guiding Delhi Capitals to a commanding total of 199/3 in their allotted 20 overs against Gujarat Titans in match 60 of the IPL 2025 season. The Capitals’ innings revolved around Rahul’s majestic 112 off 65 balls*, a knock laced with 14 fours and 4 sixes, as the Titans bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught.
Gujarat Titans, who won the toss and opted to bowl first, were met with an early success but couldn’t capitalize further as the Capitals recovered brilliantly from a slow start.
Faf Falls Early, Rahul Anchors the Show
Delhi Capitals faced an early setback when Faf du Plessis (5 off 10) fell cheaply in the third over, caught by Mohammed Siraj off Arshad Khan. However, that would be the only moment of joy for the Titans in the powerplay, as KL Rahul began to accelerate after a cautious start.
Middle-Order Fireworks: Porel, Axar, and Stubbs Step Up
Young wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel partnered with Rahul for a crucial 90-run stand. Porel smashed 30 off 19 balls with 3 sixes, injecting momentum into the innings before falling to R Sai Kishore in the 12th over.
Captain Axar Patel played a brisk cameo of 25 off 16 balls, including two boundaries and a six, before being dismissed by Prasidh Krishna. The final flourish came from Tristan Stubbs, who hammered 21 off just 10 balls with two massive sixes, ensuring Delhi finished just shy of the 200-mark.
Titans Bowlers Struggle to Contain Rahul
Despite the experience in their bowling lineup, Titans failed to make significant breakthroughs. While Arshad Khan was economical and picked up one wicket for just 7 runs in 2 overs, the others leaked runs.
- Kagiso Rabada went for 34 in just 2 overs (economy 17.0)
- R Sai Kishore conceded 47 in his 4 overs despite picking up a wicket
- Prasidh Krishna was taken for 40 off his quota
Even spin ace Rashid Khan remained wicketless, though he was the most economical among the regular bowlers with 4-0-32-0.
Rahul’s Redemption Season Continues
KL Rahul’s century was his first of IPL 2025 and arguably one of the most composed and calculated innings of his career. Often criticized for slow starts in T20s, Rahul changed the narrative with a controlled acceleration, ensuring the Capitals remained in a dominant position throughout the innings. His strike rate of 172.31 reflected his aggressive intent while anchoring the innings till the end.
What’s Next? Titans Face a Tall Chase
With 200 runs needed for victory, the Gujarat Titans will need a near-perfect batting performance to chase down the total. The pressure will be on openers like Shubman Gill and David Miller (if promoted), along with the likes of Jos Buttler and Hardik Pandya, to deliver in the high-stakes encounter.
The Arun Jaitley pitch has looked flat and good for batting, but the scoreboard pressure and spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could prove decisive.
Match Summary:
Delhi Capitals: 199/3 in 20 overs
- KL Rahul: 112* (65), Abhishek Porel: 30 (19), Axar Patel: 25 (16), Tristan Stubbs: 21* (10)
- R Sai Kishore: 4-0-47-1, Arshad Khan: 2-0-7-1, Prasidh Krishna: 4-0-40-1
Gujarat Titans: Yet to bat
Toss: Gujarat Titans won the toss and opted to bowl
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
