It has been a case of ‘so near, yet so far’ for Delhi in the IPL over the years. The city’s former IPL team, Delhi Daredevils (DD), seemed like trophy contenders in IPL 2009, considering the presence of prolific players like AB de Villiers, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Tillakaratne Dilshan. However, they were knocked out in the semi-finals following a sensational knock by Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist. Delhi’s current IPL team Delhi Capitals (DC) again seemed dominant in IPL 2020, reaching the edition’s final. However, failure to capitalise on key moments resulted in a heartbreaking loss against Mumbai Indians (MI).
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DC’s agonising wait for a maiden IPL title seemed likely to end in IPL 2025 following a stunning start under new captain Axar Patel. The team kicked off their campaign with a four-match winning streak, beating the likes of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) comprehensively.
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However, DC lost their way astoundingly against the Mumbai Indians (MI), surrendering the momentum in a bizarre manner. Ashutosh Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohit Sharma got run out off three consecutive deliveries, as the Delhi-based franchise meekly handed over two points after being on top at one stage.
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A collapse of this accord can be tough to overcome mentally and the same seems to reflect in DC’s fortunes following the loss against MI. The Axar Patel-led side won just two out of the next six matches, posting a paltry total of 133 against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their most recent game. DC will count themselves lucky to get a point from the washed-out encounter, where they seemed completely down and out.
The same franchise which seemed like favourites to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs now faces an uphill task to qualify. DC are currently in the fifth position with 13 points from 11 matches, while the likes of RCB (16), PBKS (15), MI (14) and GT (14) occupy the top four spots. The Axar Patel-led side will face PBKS, GT and MI in their remaining league stage matches, with every game a must-win considering the intense competition.
“DC have already tried six or seven combinations at the top. Their biggest bet was Jake Fraser-McGurk, which didn’t pay off recently. I feel they should go back to him — if he fires, he can give you an explosive start in the powerplay. If he doesn’t, it’s no different from what’s already happening. This is the time to take bold decisions. DC are in a do-or-die situation. A team that once looked like the first to seal a play-off spot is now in danger of missing out entirely,” said Jiostar expert Piyush Chawla.
“It’s going to be really tough. In their last six games, they’ve lost four. While the game wasn’t completely over for DC against SRH, it looked like it was heading SRH’s way based on the total they posted. The next three games are critical and they need to win at least two — ideally all three — and for that to happen, their experienced players must step up and deliver,” he added.
Former Team India batting coach and Jiostar expert Sanjay Bangar highlighted the “complete disorder” in DC’s innings against SRH, after losing early wickets during the powerplay.
“When the top three perform, it eases pressure on the middle order and boosts the confidence in the dugout. But when you lose two or three wickets in the powerplay, you find yourself in complete disorder. Losing half the side for under 60 was a tough position for DC,” he stated.
