IPL 2025: RCB face hosts DC with top spot in sight

It’s likely to be one of the tightest encounters in IPL 2025 as hosts Delhi Capitals (DC) meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on their return from away games. DC are placed second on the points table with six wins from eight matches, while RCB are third after six victories from nine games.

While DC return home, it is also a return of sorts for RCB’s star batsman Virat Kohli — the Feroz Shah Kotla has been his very own since he started his career. Kohli returns home happy, having scored 483 runs in 10 innings at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 145.5.

But if RCB have Kohli, the hosts have KL Rahul — the match-winner for DC, home or away. In their last meeting at the Chinnaswamy Stadium earlier this month, it was Rahul who took DC home. 

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He is DC’s top scorer with 323 runs at a superb strike rate of 153.80. He will no doubt go into the RCB clash riding high on his unbeaten 57 against Lucknow Super Giants. The DC story is not just about Rahul though., They have Karun Nair, Abhishek Porel and skipper Axar Patel in fine form.

According to DC opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, “Faf du Plessis is available for selection for the game — that is my understanding.” Fraser-McGurk has had a poor IPL season so far, scoring just 55 runs in six matches, with a highest score of 38 at an average of 9.16.

All eyes, however, will also be on key strike bowlers from both sides — Aussies Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood turning up for DC and RCB respectively.

While the two Aussies will be in the spotlight, all eyes will also be on spinners Kuldeep Yadav (DC) and Krunal Pandya (RCB). Kuldeep, so far, has taken 12 wickets with an economy of 6.8 and has been key for DC in the middle overs. Kuldeep and Vipraj Nigam have bowled well together.

Pandya is having a great season too, taking 12 wickets — all in wins. His pairing with Suyash Sharma has worked very well for RCB. “Pandya’s last three games have been amazing. If you see his videos from 2016-17, he is a completely different bowler now. As for Suyash Sharma, the big point of difference in his bowling has been his speed. He is able to beat the bat both ways. He bowls at very high speed, plus his action is peculiar in its own way,” said RCB’s spin bowling coach cum Player Identification manager Malolan Rangarajan.