IPL 2025: Delhi Faces Opening Challenges as Lucknow Aims for Supremacy

Lucknow, April 21 (NationPress) The IPL journey arrives in the ‘City of Nawabs’ on Tuesday, where a thriving Lucknow Super Giants team will take on the unpredictable yet formidable Delhi Capitals. While both teams are even at 10 points on the standings, it’s evident that the home side has exhibited more harmony and confidence, particularly highlighted by their exceptional bowling and robust top-order performance.

For Delhi Capitals, this season has resembled a game of musical chairs at the top of the order. Players like the injured Faf du Plessis, dynamic Jake Fraser-McGurk, budding talent Abhishek Porel, and seasoned Karun Nair have all taken turns in the opening slot.

Despite the Capitals managing to stay afloat thanks to a resilient middle-order spearheaded by KL Rahul, this approach may falter against a Lucknow squad that methodically dominates games in the latter stages with calculated ruthlessness. With bowlers such as Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Digvesh Rathi stepping up, LSG has transformed defensive strategies into a formidable offense.

Particularly, Avesh Khan is peaking at a crucial moment. His remarkable performance in the death overs against the Rajasthan Royals, notably in the penultimate and final overs, was pivotal in securing a nail-biting two-run victory. Such displays have nurtured a quiet confidence that this squad can overcome nearly any challenge.

That said, DC recognizes they cannot continue relying on their middle-order to rectify issues. A dependable start from their top order could significantly alter the early momentum, especially with Du Plessis' fitness still uncertain.

Conversely, Lucknow's top-order has proven to be a reliable engine. The combination of Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Aiden Markram has consistently delivered strong foundations during the Powerplay. Pooran's aggressive batting, paired with Marsh’s strategic boldness and Markram’s steadiness, has established LSG as one of the most menacing teams during the initial six overs.

Interestingly, the captains of both teams portray contrasting stories regarding their sides' journeys. Rishabh Pant, the LSG captain in this alternate timeline, has struggled to find his rhythm. Accumulating just 106 runs across eight matches, with only one significant innings, Pant's limited contributions and a strike rate of 98 have raised concerns. Facing Delhi’s fiery bowling lineup of Starc, Kuldeep, Mukesh Kumar, and young Vipraj Nigam, the left-hander will be under considerable pressure to enhance his form.

On the flip side, Axar Patel’s leadership for Delhi Capitals has been commendable. He has excelled as a batsman, scoring 140 runs at a strike rate of 159. However, his bowling, which was once his forte, has seen a downturn — managing just one wicket in seven matches while his economy rate has risen above 9.3. The dual pressures of captaincy and leading the batting order appear to be affecting his performance as a bowler.

For DC, a more balanced Axar could be vital in regaining control over their bowling, especially when contending with aggressive hitters like Markram and Pooran. A reassessment of roles may be necessary, with management possibly encouraging him to prioritize his primary responsibility as a bowler.

Where: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

When: April 22, Tuesday

Streaming: Star Sports Network and JioHotstar

Squads:

Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, David Miller, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Matthew Breetzke, Mayank Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, and others.

Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Vipraj Nigam, Faf du Plessis (fitness watch), T Natarajan, and others.