In a thrilling Super Sunday of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals both emerged victorious, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, respectively. This marks a significant milestone for Rajasthan, who secured their first win of the season, while CSK and SRH faced their second consecutive losses.
In the first match held at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, Delhi Capitals chased down a modest target of 164 runs, achieving the total in just 16 overs to win by seven wickets. Faf du Plessis was the star for Delhi, scoring a blistering 50 runs off just 27 balls, including six boundaries. His explosive innings set the tone for a comfortable chase, supported by Jake Fraser-McGurk, who contributed 38 runs off 32 balls, and Abishek Porel, who finished unbeaten on 34 runs off 18 deliveries.
KL Rahul, making his debut for Delhi Capitals, started strong with three boundaries in his first four balls but was dismissed for 15 runs. The real highlight of the match, however, was Mitchell Starc, who delivered a phenomenal performance with the ball, claiming five wickets for just 35 runs. This was Starc's maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, as he dismantled the SRH batting lineup, taking out key players including Travis Head and Ishan Kishan.
Starc's exceptional bowling was well complemented by Kuldeep Yadav, who took three wickets for 22 runs, maintaining pressure on the SRH batsmen. Sunrisers Hyderabad struggled early, losing their top order quickly and finding themselves at a precarious 25 for 3. Aniket Verma, however, showcased his talent with a stunning knock of 74 runs off 41 balls, rescuing his team from a dire situation. His innings included several powerful sixes, particularly against Axar Patel, before he was eventually caught by Fraser-McGurk.
In the latter match of the day at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, Rajasthan Royals secured a nail-biting victory over Chennai Super Kings by just six runs. Batting first, RR posted a total of 182 runs for 9 wickets, with Nitish Rana leading the charge with a spectacular 81 runs off only 36 balls. His innings was characterized by aggressive stroke play, including ten boundaries and five sixes, helping Rajasthan set a challenging target.
Chennai Super Kings, who have struggled to chase down targets over 180 runs since 2019, fell short again, scoring 176 runs for 6 wickets. Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the CSK innings with a solid 63 runs off 44 balls, but wickets fell around him, limiting their chances of a successful chase. The turning point of the match came in the final over when Sandeep Sharma was tasked with defending 20 runs against MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. Sharma delivered under pressure, dismissing Dhoni with his first legal ball and ensuring CSK could not cross the line.
Wanindu Hasaranga was instrumental in RR's victory, taking four wickets for 26 runs, including key dismissals of both Nitish Rana and Ruturaj Gaikwad. His disciplined bowling and ability to contain runs during crucial overs were pivotal in restricting CSK's chase. Despite late resistance from Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 32 runs off 22 balls, CSK could not clinch the win, marking their second loss in the tournament.
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, both Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals will look to build on their momentum from these crucial wins. For SRH and CSK, however, the pressure is mounting as they seek to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming matches.
With the league heating up, fans can expect more thrilling encounters as teams jostle for position in the points table. The performances from players like Mitchell Starc, Faf du Plessis, and Nitish Rana will be ones to watch as the season unfolds.
