New Delhi, April 27 — The Arun Jaitley Stadium buzzed with anticipation tonight as Delhi Capitals squared off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-stakes IPL 2025 clash, with both teams gunning for the top spot. Under a sweltering Delhi sky, the Capitals, led by Axar Patel, got off to a measured start, thanks to the steady hands of Faf du Plessis and Abhishek Porel. The scoreboard ticked to 32/0 after three overs, but don’t let the numbers fool you—this was no reckless charge.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl first, banking on his pace attack to exploit the early evening conditions. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, steaming in with the new ball, tested Porel straight away. The young opener responded with a crisp boundary off the first ball, slicing through the covers to signal intent. But caution ruled the day. Du Plessis, back in the lineup after missing a game earlier this month, played with the grit of a man who’s seen it all, nudging singles and leaving anything too tempting outside off. Porel, meanwhile, mixed watchful defense with the odd flourish, picking gaps to keep the runs flowing without rolling the dice.
The Kotla pitch, known for favoring batters early but slowing as the game wears on, offered just enough for the bowlers to keep things tight. Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, RCB’s spearhead with 16 wickets this season, bowled probing lines, forcing the DC openers to earn every run. By the third over, the Capitals had settled into a rhythm, content to build a foundation rather than swing for the fences. The crowd, a sea of blue and red, roared with every boundary but stayed on edge, knowing the firepower waiting in DC’s middle order—KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, and Patel himself.
This matchup carries weight. Delhi, sitting second with 12 points from eight games, are riding the high of an eight-wicket thrashing of Lucknow Super Giants on April 22. RCB, level on points, come off back-to-back wins against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Their earlier meeting on April 10 saw DC chase down 164 in Bengaluru, powered by Rahul’s unbeaten 93. Tonight, with Virat Kohli back in his hometown and eyeing his sixth fifty of the season, RCB will be itching to flip the script.
As the game unfolds, the heat—hovering around 33°C even after sunset—adds another layer of grit to this battle. Both sides know a win could catapult them to the summit of the IPL 2025 points table. For now, Du Plessis and Porel have laid the groundwork, but the real test lies ahead.
Delhi Capitals were 32/0 after 3 overs, with Abhishek Porel on 14 and Faf du Plessis on 18.