Can Delhi Capitals End IPL 2025 on a High Note?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Capitals aim to finish IPL 2025 strongly.
- Matthew Mott emphasizes motivation despite challenges.
- Key players like Axar Patel's fitness remain uncertain.
- Emerging talents are pivotal for the team's performance.
- Final match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium holds significant importance.
Jaipur, May 23 (NationPress) The Delhi Capitals are eager to finish the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on a victorious note as they face the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their final match of the season at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, this Saturday.
Delving into the season, Delhi Capitals' assistant coach Matthew Mott remarked, “There’s still ample motivation (to compete in this final game). Certainly, we experienced a disappointing conclusion to what was an encouraging campaign. We had a strong start and secured numerous early victories, but the latter half has been inconsistent. Thus, this represents an opportunity for us to conclude on a positive note.”
Regarding the status of Axar Patel, the 51-year-old mentioned, “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. He isn’t training today. However, we’ll have more clarity once we return later today. He had been feeling unwell recently and has faced a challenging time with various minor injuries. I’m confident that he’s eager to play, but we’ll likely learn more tonight when we review his medical updates.”
“In the last game, Sameer Rizvi performed exceptionally well. Abhishek Porel has also delivered some impressive counter-punching innings, and his next step is to transform those into match-winning performances. Our group is filled with talent and excitement,” he added.
The Delhi Capitals dropped out of the playoff race after their prior defeat to the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium. They managed to restrict MI to 132/5 in 18 overs; however, Suryakumar Yadav (73 not out) and Naman Dhir (24 not out) struck 48 runs in the final two overs, propelling them to a total of 180. The Capitals struggled in their chase as Mitchell Santner (3-11) and Jasprit Bumrah (3-12) disrupted their innings on a slightly sluggish pitch where some deliveries were stopping and turning.
Mott praised the emerging Indian talent, stating, “Someone like Vipraj Nigam, who came on the radar this year right from the first match, played a crucial innings with the bat. I thought he was outstanding the other day when he nearly turned the game around. He has been entrusted with significant overs, including power-play and critical overs.”
The team, led by Axar Patel, is determined to leave no stone unturned in their quest to wrap up the season on a high note.