On April 16, 2025, Delhi Capitals (DC) faced Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a thrilling IPL match at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. According to ESPNcricinfo, DC, led by Axar Patel, won a nail-biting Super Over after tying at 188 runs each. Mitchell Starc’s brilliant yorkers and Tristan Stubbs’ clutch performance stole the show. RR’s Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana shone, but Starc’s death-over heroics forced a dramatic finish. As per BBC Sports, DC’s fifth win in six games took them to the top of the IPL 2025 points table. This match had big hits, dropped catches, and reverse-swing magic. Fans on X called it an “IPL classic.”
Whether you’re a cricket newbie or a die-hard fan, this match breakdown is easy to follow. Let’s dive into nine key moments that defined this epic clash, with stats and insights from Cricbuzz and AajTak Sports to keep it simple and fun!
DC and RR Tie at 188 Runs Each
DC posted 188 for 5, thanks to late fireworks. Abishek Porel scored 49 off 28 balls. KL Rahul made 38 off 32, playing cautiously. Tristan Stubbs smashed 34, not out of 18. Axar Patel’s 34 off 14 boosted DC. According to Cricbuzz, DC scored 42 in the last three overs. Jofra Archer took 2 for 32 for RR. Sandeep Sharma leaked runs in a costly over.
RR’s Chase Keeps Fans on Edge
RR matched DC’s 188 for 4, led by Nitish Rana. Rana’s 51 off 28 was match-defining. Yashasvi Jaiswal also scored 51 off 32 balls. Sanju Samson retired hurt after 31. Starc’s final over needed 9 runs. Dhruv Jurel couldn’t find 2 off the last ball. As per ESPNcricinfo, Starc’s yorkers forced a Super Over.
Mitchell Starc’s Yorker Masterclass
Mitchell Starc turned the match with pinpoint yorkers. He conceded just 8 in 18th over. Rana fell to a swinging yorker, per BBC Sports. In the 20th over, Starc allowed only 7 runs. RR needed 9 but couldn’t hit boundaries. His average swing was 1.2 degrees, says ESPNcricinfo. Starc’s execution under pressure was unreal.
Starc bowled the Super Over, restricting RR to 11. He induced two run-outs—Parag and Jaiswal. Despite a no-ball, Starc kept his cool. His yorkers swung 1.8 degrees, per ESPNcricinfo. RR’s batting collapsed in five balls. According to AajTak Sports, Starc’s skill won DC the match.
Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals Match Scorecard, 32nd Match at Delhi, IPL, Apr 16 2025
Match tied (DC won the Super Over)
Delhi Capitals (20 ovs maximum)
| Batting | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jake Fraser-McGurk
|
c Jaiswal b Archer | 9 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 150.00 | ||
|
Abishek Porel
|
c Parag b Hasaranga | 49 | 37 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 132.43 | ||
|
Karun Nair
|
run out (Hasaranga/Sandeep Sharma) | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
|
KL Rahul †
|
c Hetmyer b Archer | 38 | 32 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 118.75 | ||
|
Tristan Stubbs
|
not out | 34 | 18 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 188.88 | ||
|
Axar Patel (c)
|
c Jurel b Theekshana | 34 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 242.85 | ||
|
Ashutosh Sharma
|
not out | 15 | 11 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 136.36 | ||
| Extras | (lb 1, nb 1, w 7) | 9 | |||||||
| Total |
20 Ov (RR: 9.40)
|
188/5 | |||||||
|
Did not bat: Vipraj Nigam,
Mitchell Starc,
Kuldeep Yadav,
Mohit Sharma
|
|||||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2.3 ov), 2-34 (Karun Nair, 3.1 ov), 3-97 (KL Rahul, 12.4 ov), 4-105 (Abishek Porel, 13.5 ov), 5-146 (Axar Patel, 16.6 ov) • DRS
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jofra Archer
|
4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
|
Tushar Deshpande
|
3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.66 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
|
Sandeep Sharma
|
4 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 8.25 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
|
Maheesh Theekshana
|
4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
|
Wanindu Hasaranga
|
4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
|
Riyan Parag
|
1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rajasthan Royals (T: 189 runs from 20 ovs)
| Batting | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yashasvi Jaiswal
|
c Starc b Kuldeep Yadav | 51 | 37 | 62 | 3 | 4 | 137.83 | ||
|
Sanju Samson (c)†
|
retired hurt | 31 | 19 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 163.15 | ||
|
Riyan Parag
|
b Patel | 8 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 72.72 | ||
|
Nitish Rana
|
lbw b Starc | 51 | 28 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 182.14 | ||
|
Dhruv Jurel
|
run out (Patel/†Rahul) | 26 | 17 | 58 | 0 | 2 | 152.94 | ||
|
Shimron Hetmyer
|
not out | 15 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 166.66 | ||
| Extras | (b 1, lb 1, nb 1, w 3) | 6 | |||||||
| Total |
20 Ov (RR: 9.40)
|
188/4 | |||||||
|
Did not bat: Wanindu Hasaranga,
Jofra Archer,
Sandeep Sharma,
Shubham Dubey,
Tushar Deshpande
|
|||||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 0-61* (Sanju Samson, retired not out), 1-76 (Riyan Parag, 8.1 ov), 2-112 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 13.2 ov), 3-161 (Nitish Rana, 17.4 ov), 4-188 (Dhruv Jurel, 19.6 ov) • DRS
|
|||||||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell Starc
|
4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
|
Mukesh Kumar
|
3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 10.33 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
|
Mohit Sharma
|
4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
|
Vipraj Nigam
|
1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13.00 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Axar Patel
|
3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 7.66 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
Kuldeep Yadav
|
4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
|
Tristan Stubbs
|
1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Rajasthan Royals (Super Over)
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shimron Hetmyer
|
not out | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 | |||
|
Riyan Parag
|
run out (Rahul/Starc) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 | |||
|
Yashasvi Jaiswal
|
run out (Fraser-McGurk/Starc) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| Extras | (nb 1) | 1 | |||||||
| Total | 11 | ||||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Riyan Parag, 0.4 ov), 2-11 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 0.5 ov)
|
|||||||||
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell Starc
|
0.5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 13.20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Delhi Capitals (Super Over) – (T: 12 runs)
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
KL Rahul †
|
not out | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 233.33 | |||
|
Tristan Stubbs
|
not out | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 600.00 | |||
| Extras | 0 | ||||||||
| Total | 13/0 | ||||||||
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sandeep Sharma
|
0.4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 19.50 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Tristan Stubbs’ All-Round Impact
Tristan Stubbs played a match-changing knock of 34 not out. His 18-ball blitz included powerful shots. He partnered with Axar for a crucial stand. Stubbs targeted spinners, avoiding risky shots. As per Cricbuzz, his late surge helped DC reach 188. He survived a dropped catch by Parag.
Stubbs sealed the Super Over chase in four balls. He hit a six off Sandeep Sharma. His throw from long-on restricted RR to a single. According to Wikipedia, Stubbs’ all-round show was pivotal. His fielding and batting turned the tide. DC fans cheered his clutch performance.
RR’s Super Over Blunder
RR sent Hetmyer and Parag for the Super Over. Jaiswal was the third batter. Nitish Rana’s 51 made him a better pick as a godfather. As per BBC Sports, Pujara criticized RR’s choice. Hetmyer struggled to connect, says Axar. Jaiswal’s run-out ended RR’s hopes. According to Cricbuzz, poor planning hurt RR.
RR lost Parag and Jaiswal to run-outs in the Super Over. Starc’s pressure caused panic, per ESPNcricinfo. Parag’s risky leg-bye attempt failed. Jaiswal was caught short next ball. As per AajTak Sports, RR’s Super Over lasted just five balls. Poor execution handed DC the win.
Delhi Capitals Shines
Axar Patel led DC with smart decisions. He trusted Starc for crunch overs. According to ESPNcricinfo, Axar backed his gut over data. He promoted Stubbs over himself at No. 5. His 34 off 14 showed batting intent. Axar’s leadership kept DC’s team spirit high.
Axar maintained a lively team environment. He ensured players respected his authority. As per Cricbuzz, he set a “thin line” for discipline. His post-match humor won fans, says AajTak Sports. Axar’s tactical calls, like using Starc, worked. He made decisions without fear and has good stats against the opposition.
Reverse-Swing Steals the Show
The return of saliva helped reverse-swing, per ESPNcricinfo. Starc’s yorkers swung 1.2 to 1.8 degrees. Mohit Sharma noted a reverse in 70% of IPL games. According to BBC Sports, fuller lengths were economical. Starc’s swing troubled RR’s batters. Bowlers gained an edge in IPL 2025.
Starc nailed 11 yorkers in 12 balls, says Rana. His speed touched 145 kph, per Cricbuzz. Axar praised Starc’s clarity in plans. According to Wikipedia, reverse-swing tilted the game. Starc’s 18th and 20th overs were game-changers. His Super Over sealed RR’s fate.
RR’s Dropped Catches Hurt
Riyan Parag dropped Stubbs on 12 at long-on. Stubbs went on to score 34 not out. As per ESPNcricinfo, the miss cost RR dearly. Stubbs’ late runs pushed DC’s total higher. According to AajTak Sports, fielding errors hurt RR’s chances. Parag’s error shifted momentum, as in South Africa vs New Zealand.
Maheesh Theekshana dropped a sitter off Sandeep’s bowling. The over cost 19 runs, says Cricbuzz. Sandeep bowled four wides and a no-ball. According to BBC Sports, RR’s fielding lapses were crucial. DC capitalized on these mistakes. RR’s sloppy fielding aided DC’s surge.
Sanju Samson’s Injury Scare
Sanju Samson retired hurt after scoring 31. He hit a four and a six before injury. A side issue forced him off, per ESPNcricinfo. RR were 61 for 0 in 5.3 overs. According to Cricbuzz, his exit slowed RR’s momentum. Samson’s absence hurt RR’s middle order.
Without Samson, RR relied on Rana and Jaiswal. His injury disrupted RR’s batting flow. As per BBC Sports, Samson’s early exit was a blow. Hetmyer and Jurel couldn’t finish the chase. According to AajTak Sports, RR missed Samson’s experience. DC gained an advantage, similar to India over Australia.
Munaf Patel’s Code of Conduct Breach
DC’s bowling coach Munaf Patel was fined 25% of his match fee. He argued with a match official, per ESPNcricinfo. Munaf wanted to send a message to a reserve player. The IPL statement didn’t specify the breach. According to Cricbuzz, he got one demerit point.
Munaf’s actions drew attention on X, says AajTak Sports. Fans debated the IPL’s strict rules. As per BBC Sports, the incident didn’t affect the game. Munaf’s fine was a minor distraction. According to Wikipedia, DC stayed focused despite the controversy. The match remained the highlight.
Conclusion: A Thrilling IPL 2025 Clash
Delhi Capitals’ Super Over win against Rajasthan Royals was a cricket masterpiece like Zimbabwe against India. Mitchell Starc’s yorkers and Tristan Stubbs’ heroics gave DC their fifth victory in six games. As per ESPNcricinfo, Axar Patel’s astute captaincy and trust in instincts led DC to the top of IPL 2025. RR’s Nitish Rana and Yashasvi Jaiswal fought hard, but dropped catches and a poor Super Over choice cost them.
According to Cricbuzz, reverse-swing, thanks to saliva’s return, made bowlers like Starc deadly. This match showed why IPL is loved worldwide—drama, skill, and surprises. Fans on X called it a “classic.” DC’s teamwork and RR’s errors teach us that small mistakes matter in big games. Whether you’re new to cricket or a pro, this game was a lesson in never giving up. Stay tuned for more IPL action!
