🏏IPL 2025,M 32: Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals,DT Note:p 40 - Page 4

O Dilli Re

Tu roar macha!

I hope JFM is dropped today

He can watch match from dug out

Waise bhi 1st over ke baad ye wahi hota hai

Thanks for the tag 🩷❤️.

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Rajasthan Royals' batters, meanwhile, haven't fared any better against spin and boast of only a marginally better average of 24.85. Inevitably, their toughest spin test is loading against Kuldeep Yadav who - irrespective of ground dimensions, dew and pitches - has held his own amidst the madcap hitting with best-in-the-league economy of 5.6 in five games (minimum 10 overs).

Axar Patel, the DC captain, meanwhile, has had the wood over two of their premier batters - his counterpart Sanju Samson (70 runs in 63 balls, 2 dismissals) and local hero Nitish Rana (37 runs in 31 balls, 2 dismissals).

RR's batting overall hasn't inspired much confidence - Riyan Parag is struggling to replicate his IPL 2024 form that earned him his India debut, Samson and Rana have only a fifty each, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shimron Hetmyer have both blown hot and cold.

The batting-friendly climes of Delhi might just be the respite RR's faltering batting unit needs to hit its straps.

Thank you for the tag and may the best team win!

The high flying Delhi Capitals stumbled with a hat-trick of run-outs as they succumbed to their first loss of the season last Sunday. Nevertheless, Axar Patel’s side are looking like a strong outfit this season, with most bases covered. They have a powerful, in-form middle order and a stellar spin trio of Axar, Kuldeep and Vigraj Nigam who have made a good start to life in IPL 2025. An area of concern though for the Capitals has been their opening, with Jake Fraser-McGurk misfiring and Faf du Plessis still a doubt due to injury.

The Royals on the other hand have had a very start-stop kind of season thus far. They lost their first two games, conceding 286 runs on opening day against a marauding Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, the Royals bounced back with wins over CSK and PBKS, but that’s how long the streak lasted. Their wins were clipped once again with successive defeats against Gujarat and RCB, and now run the risk of losing three in a row. Just like their results, their players also have lacked consistency, but presents a new opportunity for the likes of Jaiswal, Samson or Parag to make a big statement.

18:28 Local Time, 12:58 GMT, 18:28 IST: We’re back in Delhi today for the clash between the Capitals and the Royals. The high flying Delhi Capitals stumbled with a hat-trick of run-outs as they succumbed to their first loss of the season last Sunday. Nevertheless, Axar Patel’s side are looking like a strong outfit this season, with most bases covered. They have a powerful, in-form middle order and a stellar spin trio of Axar, Kuldeep and Vigraj Nigam who have made a good start to life in IPL 2025. An area of concern though for the Capitals has been their opening, with Jake Fraser-McGurk misfiring and Faf du Plessis still a doubt due to injury.

Daya Sagar is at the Kotla, and here are his initial observations: "Good evening from Delhi. Delhi is gearing up for its 2nd match. Not as much enthusiasm as the MI match and stands are just filling out with spectators. Both teams are warming up. DC players just huddled and assistant coach Mathew Mott gave them a pep talk. Faf du Plessis is here but talking with team mentor Kevin Peterson, not doing any warm-up activity. He hadn't practiced yesterday, and I guess he is not going to play this match. He is still recovering from his groin and shoulder injury that he got during the fielding."

Pitch Report | Greame Swann and Shane Watson:Dimensions - 61m to the right and 62m to the left, 72m straight. Not a great place to be a bowler. It is a nice surface, we saw in the last game as well when 205 runs were scored. It is a bit drier today so it gives the bowlers enough assistance. There’s decent grass cover but it is a bit patchy. The average winning score last season was 230, but this surface will give the bowlers a little more grip for the spinners and the quick bowlers with their change-ups. Looks like an even surface that gives the bowlers a little bit and the batters a little bit as well. But because of the dimensions, there are a few more challenges for the bowlers.

Mohit Sharma, who has been a key cog for DC in the middle and death overs, spoke with Nagraj Gollapudi about the importance of facing pressure situations, working with Ashish Nehra at Gujarat Titans and more. Do check out his interview.

Mohit also appeared in the press conference yesterday and spoke up in support of the new IPL rule tweaks that have been helping the bowlers in what's increasingly becoming a batter-dominated format.

Our correspondent Daya Sagar is at the Kotla, and here are his initial observations: "Good evening from Delhi. Delhi is gearing up for its 2nd match. Not as much enthusiasm as the MI match and stands are just filling out with spectators. Both teams are warming up. DC players just huddled and assistant coach Mathew Mott gave them a pep talk. Faf du Plessis is here but talking with team mentor Kevin Peterson, not doing any warm-up activity. He hadn't practiced yesterday, and I guess he is not going to play this match. He is still recovering from his groin and shoulder injury that he got during the fielding."