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Delhi Capitals Outclass Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets

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  • Match – 10
  • Venue – Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium witnessed a commanding performance by the Delhi Capitals (DC) as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 10 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. With a clinical bowling display led by Mitchell Starc and a blazing batting effort spearheaded by Faf du Plessis, DC solidified their strong start to the season, while SRH slumped to their second consecutive defeat.

Toss and Early Proceedings

The afternoon heat in Visakhapatnam set the stage for SRH captain Pat Cummins to win the toss and opt to bat first, hoping to capitalize on a batting-friendly surface. SRH’s decision was rooted in their aggressive, high-risk batting philosophy, which had dazzled fans in the previous season. However, this time, they ran into a red-hot DC bowling attack that turned the game on its head early.
 
DC welcomed back KL Rahul, who returned from paternity leave to make his debut for the franchise, adding depth to an already formidable lineup. SRH, meanwhile, stuck to their explosive batting order, featuring Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen, but their plans unraveled quickly.

Starc’s Fiery Spell Decimates SRH

Mitchell Starc, the Australian pace spearhead, was the architect of SRH’s downfall. In a sensational spell, he ripped through the top order, finishing with figures of 5/35 – his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket and the first by a DC pacer in IPL history. Starc struck early, dismissing Ishan Kishan (2), Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay, reducing SRH to a precarious 37/4 within five overs.
 
While SRH’s aggressive approach had yielded record-breaking totals in the past, it faltered against Starc’s precision and pace. Kuldeep Yadav complemented Starc’s brilliance, weaving his spin magic to claim 3/22, including the wickets of SRH captain Pat Cummins and the dangerous Nitish Kumar Reddy. The duo’s efforts ensured SRH couldn’t recover from the early blows.
 
Aniket Verma, the uncapped 23-year-old sensation, provided a glimmer of hope for SRH with a valiant 74 off 41 balls. His knock, laced with powerful strokeplay, included a 50-run partnership with Heinrich Klaasen (32), briefly reviving SRH’s innings. However, once Klaasen fell and Verma was brilliantly caught by Jake Fraser-McGurk off Kuldeep, SRH’s resistance crumbled. They were bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs, a total that seemed underwhelming on a pitch conducive to big scores.

Faf du Plessis Leads DC’s Charge

Chasing 164, DC’s batting unit wasted no time asserting dominance. Faf du Plessis, the seasoned campaigner, led from the front with a blistering 50 off 27 balls, peppering the boundary with sixes and fours. His onslaught began in the powerplay, where he took apart Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins with classical strokeplay, racing to 32 off 18 by the end of the sixth over. Alongside him, Jake Fraser-McGurk (38 off 32) provided solid support, helping DC reach 52/0 in the powerplay.
 
SRH debutant Zeeshan Ansari briefly sparked hope for his side, dismissing du Plessis and Fraser-McGurk in quick succession and later removing KL Rahul (15 off 5), who had smashed a 90-meter six off Shami. Ansari’s 3/42 on debut was a standout effort, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide. Abishek Porel (34* off 18) and Tristan Stubbs (21* off 14) took charge in the latter stages, finishing the chase with a flurry of boundaries and a match-sealing six from Porel off Wiaan Mulder. DC reached 166/3 in just 16 overs, wrapping up the victory with four overs to spare.

Key Takeaways

For DC, this win underscored their bowling depth and batting firepower. Starc’s spell was a statement of intent, while du Plessis’ aggressive approach set the tone for the chase. The return of KL Rahul, though brief, added another dimension to their lineup, and the finishing touches by Porel and Stubbs highlighted their bench strength. With two wins in two games at Visakhapatnam, DC have surged to second in the IPL 2025 points table, trailing only Royal Challengers Bengaluru on net run rate.
 
SRH, on the other hand, are in a rut. After a promising start to the season with a win over Rajasthan Royals, back-to-back losses have exposed vulnerabilities in their bowling and an over-reliance on their top order. Aniket Verma’s emergence as a power-hitter is a silver lining, but their bowlers – barring Ansari – struggled to contain DC’s onslaught. Cummins later acknowledged that such collapses are part of their high-risk strategy, but SRH will need to regroup quickly ahead of a tough clash against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
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