Search
Close this search box.

Top Headlines

Delhi Capitals vs. Lucknow Super Giants – A Thrilling Encounter in Visakhapatnam

PC - twitter/x
  • Match – 4
  • Venue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
  • Result: Delhi Capitals won by 5 wickets
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 witnessed a pulsating encounter on March 24, 2025, as Delhi Capitals (DC) clashed with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 4 at Visakhapatnam. In a game that swung like a pendulum, DC chased down a formidable 210-run target set by LSG, winning by a solitary wicket with three balls to spare. Ashutosh Sharma’s heroic 66 off 31 balls, supported by Vipraj Nigam’s quickfire 39, turned the tide for DC, who were reeling at 65/5 earlier in the chase. For LSG, Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh lit up the first innings with scintillating fifties, but it wasn’t enough to stop a determined DC side led by Axar Patel.

First Innings: LSG’s Fireworks Fizzle Out

Lucknow Super Giants, captained by Rishabh Pant in his first outing for the franchise, were put in to bat after DC won the toss, with Axar Patel opting to chase citing potential dew later in the evening. LSG’s innings started with a bang, courtesy of Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, who unleashed a barrage of boundaries and sixes to set the tone.
 
Marsh, playing purely as a batter this season due to a managed back condition, smashed 72 off 36 balls, including six fours and six sixes. His powerplay onslaught—43 off 19 balls—was the most he’d ever scored in that phase in the IPL, putting DC’s marquee pacer Mitchell Starc under immense pressure. Pooran, at No. 3, was even more destructive, hammering 75 off just 30 balls with seven sixes and six fours. His highlight was a 28-run over off Tristan Stubbs in the 13th, where he smashed four consecutive sixes, propelling LSG to 161/2 after 13.3 overs.
 
At that point, a total of 240+ seemed inevitable. However, DC’s bowlers staged a stunning fightback. Kuldeep Yadav’s crafty spell of 2/20 in four overs, dismissing Pooran and Shahbaz Ahmed, applied the brakes, while Starc redeemed an expensive start (3/42) by removing Marsh and mopping up the tail. The last 6.3 overs yielded just 48 runs for the loss of six wickets, with David Miller’s unbeaten 27 off 12 offering some late resistance. LSG finished at 209/8—a competitive total, but one that felt 20-30 runs short given their early dominance.

Second Innings: DC’s Miraculous Resurrection

Chasing 210, Delhi Capitals were rocked early by Shardul Thakur’s double strike in the opening over. Jake Fraser-McGurk (4) and Abishek Porel (0) fell in quick succession, leaving DC at 4/2. The powerplay woes continued as Faf du Plessis (23) and Axar Patel (22) departed, reducing DC to 58/4 after six overs. When Sameer Rizvi fell soon after, leaving them at 65/5, the chase appeared doomed.
 
Enter Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam—the unlikely heroes. Sharma, a finisher known for his domestic exploits, played the innings of his life, smashing 66 off 31 balls with a mix of brute force and clever placement. His 50 off 28 balls kept DC in the hunt, while Nigam, a 20-year-old debutant leggie picked for INR 50 lakh, blasted 39 off 15 balls, including two fours and a six in a single over off Prince Yadav. Their 76-run stand off 42 balls turned the game on its head.
 
The drama peaked in the final overs. With 42 needed off 24 balls, Sharma and Nigam kept the scoreboard ticking, but Nigam’s departure brought more tension. Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with a boundary before being run out, leaving DC needing 6 off the last 6 balls. Shahbaz Ahmed bowled the final over, and a missed stumping by Pant off Mohit Sharma heightened the suspense. Sharma, unfazed, sealed the deal with a single and a boundary, finishing unbeaten as DC crossed the line at 210/9 in 19.3 overs.
 
LSG’s bowlers, led by Thakur (2/30) and supported by Ravi Bishnoi (1/38), fought valiantly, but their lack of depth—exacerbated by injuries to key pacers like Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan—proved costly. Pant’s debut duck (0 off 6) added to LSG’s woes, drawing scrutiny after his INR 27 crore price tag.

Key Performances

  • Ashutosh Sharma (DC): 66* off 31 – A match-winning knock under pressure, earning him the Player of the Match award.
  • Nicholas Pooran (LSG): 75 off 30 – A breathtaking display of power-hitting that set up LSG’s total.
  • Mitchell Marsh (LSG): 72 off 36 – A fiery start that promised more than it delivered.
  • Kuldeep Yadav (DC): 2/20 – The spin maestro who sparked LSG’s collapse.
  • Mitchell Starc (DC): 3/42 – Expensive early but lethal late, proving his worth.

Turning Points

  • Kuldeep’s Breakthrough: Dismissing Pooran in the 14th over halted LSG’s momentum, triggering a slide from 161/2 to 209/8.
  • Thakur’s Double Blow: Removing Fraser-McGurk and Porel in the first over put DC on the back foot early.
  • Sharma-Nigam Blitz: Their explosive partnership resurrected DC’s chase from the brink of defeat.
Axar Patel, in his first full match as DC captain, lauded his team’s resilience. “We were down and out, but Ashutosh and Vipraj showed what this team is capable of,” he said. Rishabh Pant, despite his duck, remained philosophical: “We had the runs on the board, but credit to DC for pulling it off.” LSG’s bowling frailties and Pant’s flop debut will raise questions ahead of their next game.
Click here for complete schedule for IPL 2025

Also Read:

Jasprit Bumrah : ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2024

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *