The Delhi Capitals (DC) secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 10 of IPL 2025, held at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on March 30, 2025. This win marks DC's second consecutive victory in the tournament, further solidifying their position in the early stages of the IPL season.
SRH won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision that quickly backfired as they struggled to find their footing. Mitchell Starc was the standout performer for DC, taking five wickets for just 35 runs, marking his maiden T20 five-wicket haul. Starc's early breakthroughs dismantled SRH's top order, leaving them reeling at 37 for 4 within the powerplay.
Notably, Aniket Verma emerged as a beacon of hope for SRH, scoring a brisk 74 runs off 41 balls. His innings included several explosive shots, showcasing his talent as a promising young player. Verma's efforts were complemented by Heinrich Klaasen, who contributed a quick 32 runs off 19 balls, forming a crucial 77-run partnership with Verma.
Despite Verma's heroics, SRH was eventually bowled out for 163 runs in the 19th over. Kuldeep Yadav also played a significant role in DC's bowling attack, picking up three wickets for just 22 runs, effectively stifling SRH's scoring opportunities.
In response, DC's chase was spearheaded by Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who opened the innings with an impressive 81-run partnership. Du Plessis, in particular, was in fine form, scoring 50 runs off just 27 balls, including several boundaries that set the tone for the chase. Fraser-McGurk contributed 38 runs off 32 balls, providing solid support to his captain.
KL Rahul made his much-anticipated return to the lineup, having missed the previous match due to the birth of his daughter. He started his innings with a streaky boundary off a thick inside edge to fine leg, followed by a powerful six and a lofted four, showcasing his intent. However, Rahul's innings ended abruptly when he was bowled around his legs by Zeeshan Ansari, marking the third wicket for the young legspinner.
As the innings progressed, DC continued to maintain control of the chase. Abishek Porel, the wicketkeeper-batter, remained unbeaten with a polished 34 runs off 18 balls, guiding the team to victory with plenty of overs to spare. Porel's performance was vital in ensuring that DC reached their target of 166 runs in just 16 overs.
Starc's exceptional bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award, and his ability to dismantle SRH's batting lineup was a key factor in DC's success. The match also highlighted the struggles of SRH, who failed to capitalize on their batting order despite a promising start from Verma.
Notably, the match featured some thrilling moments, including a stunning catch by Jake Fraser-McGurk to dismiss Aniket Verma. During the 16th over, Verma attempted a pull shot off Kuldeep Yadav's delivery, but Fraser-McGurk timed his jump perfectly, making an incredible two-handed catch over his head at the boundary rope. This catch was a turning point in the match, as it removed the dangerous-looking Verma just when he seemed set to accelerate SRH's innings.
DC's strong showing in this match places them second in the IPL points table, with two wins from two matches, while SRH finds themselves struggling with only one win from three outings. The loss raises questions about SRH's batting depth and their ability to recover after losing early wickets.
Looking ahead, both teams will be eager to regroup and refine their strategies as the tournament progresses. DC's next challenge will be to maintain their winning streak, while SRH will need to address their batting woes to regain momentum in the competition. With the IPL season heating up, fans can expect more thrilling encounters in the coming matches.
