Delhi Capitals Cruise Past LSG with Mukesh Kumar’s Four-Wicket Haul

With KL Rahul being the anchor of Delhi Capitals’ chase, the team clinched a convincing 8-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in the 40th match of IPL 2025, held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Chasing a modest target of 160, Delhi completed the job in just 17.5 overs, driven by a composed half-century from their stand-in opener Abishek Porel and a steady unbeaten knock by Rahul himself. However, the foundation of DC’s win was laid by their bowlers, especially Mukesh Kumar, who was named Player of the Match for his clinical four-wicket haul.

LSG Starts Well But Fails in the Middle Overs

Batting first after losing the toss, Lucknow Super Giants posted 159/6 in their 20 overs. The innings got off to a strong start, largely thanks to Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, who built a solid 87-run opening partnership. Markram was the aggressor, scoring 52 off 33 deliveries, striking 2 boundaries and clearing the rope three times. Marsh complemented him well with a 45-run knock from 36 balls, including 3 fours and a six.

However, DC’s bowling attack struck back after the powerplay, especially in the middle overs, causing a significant dip in LSG’s momentum. Nicholas Pooran’s cameo ended quickly for 9 off 5, while Abdul Samad struggled before departing for 2. Mukesh Kumar was the standout performer, dismantling the middle and lower-middle order. He claimed four wickets, including the prized scalps of Marsh, Samad, Badoni, and Rishabh Pant, who surprisingly batted at No. 7 but fell for a duck.

Despite a quickfire 36 off 21 from Ayush Badoni, LSG could not capitalize on the platform provided by the openers. David Miller remained not out on 14, but the side only managed 72 runs in the last 10 overs, a phase where Mukesh Kumar’s precise bowling made all the difference. Supporting him were Starc (1/25) and Chameera (1/25), while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav kept things tight without breakthroughs.

Mukesh Kumar’s spell (4-0-33-4) was the turning point. He bowled with control, used reverse swing effectively, and nailed his yorkers, as observed by experts like Cheteshwar Pujara. His ability to take out set batters as well as restrict the run flow made life difficult for LSG in the death overs. It was a classic demonstration of how a seamer can dominate even in T20s through accuracy and discipline.

KL Rahul and Axar Patel Anchor the Chase

In response, Delhi Capitals had a minor hiccup early on when Karun Nair was dismissed for 15 off 9 by Markram. But the team never looked under pressure, thanks to a 69-run second-wicket stand between Porel and Rahul. Porel played freely, reaching his half-century off just 33 balls, eventually scoring 51 from 36 deliveries with 5 fours and a six before falling to Markram.

KL Rahul, facing his former side for the first time since parting ways with LSG, played the perfect second fiddle initially and then accelerated when required. His unbeaten 57 came off 42 balls, including 3 boundaries and 3 maximums, showcasing a blend of composure and class. Axar Patel, promoted up the order, provided the final touches with an explosive 34 not out off 20 balls, which featured four sixes.

The chase was sealed with 13 balls to spare, highlighting the comfort with which Delhi cruised through. Their run rate of 9.02 across the innings illustrated how the batters were in control throughout. Lucknow’s bowling attack looked toothless for most of the innings. Despite a promising start from Digvesh Rathi (4-0-24-0) and Avesh Khan (3-0-19-0), the rest of the bowlers lacked penetration.

Ravi Bishnoi, in particular, was expensive, conceding 36 in his 3 overs. Markram was the only successful bowler, taking 2/30 in his 3 overs, but his wickets came too late to shift the momentum. Shardul Thakur had an off day, leaking 28 runs in his two overs without picking a wicket. Prince Yadav and Bishnoi also struggled with their lengths, allowing DC’s batters to free their arms regularly.

What’s Happening in the Points Table?

 LSG had a promising start with the bat but couldn’t sustain the momentum. DC, with a balanced attack and a composed chase led by KL Rahul and Abishek Porel, proved why they are genuine contenders this season. With this win, Delhi Capitals not only pocketed 2 crucial points but also climbed to the second spot on the IPL 2025 points table.

They now have 12 points from 8 matches with a net run rate of +0.657, equal on points with Gujarat Titans but trailing slightly on NRR. Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, remain stuck at 10 points after 9 games and drop to fifth place due to their negative NRR of -0.054. The defeat exposed concerns in their bowling depth and finishing ability, issues they’ll need to address in the upcoming fixtures.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day

For the match between Lucknow Super Giants and the Delhi Capitals, the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game has to be the crucial dismissal of Nicholas Pooran by Mitchell Starc. Coming in at a pivotal moment as after a strong opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, Pooran was expected to accelerate the scoring and push the Super Giants towards a competitive total. With the score at 87/1 in the 10th over, momentum was on LSG’s side, and Pooran’s explosive batting style was ideal for capitalizing on the solid foundation laid. However, Starc had other plans and in the 11th over, he delivered a well-disguised slower short ball that angled in sharply towards the left-hander.

Pooran, attempting to pull, was undone by the lack of pace and could only manage a bottom edge onto his stumps. It was the fifth time in T20s that Starc had dismissed him, and once again, he proved to be Pooran’s nemesis. This wicket came at a critical juncture, breaking LSG’s rhythm and triggering a mini-collapse. From 99/2, they struggled to regain control, eventually managing just 159/6. The dismissal not only stalled the scoring rate but also added pressure on the middle-order, from which they never fully recovered.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Being the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, the man who stood tall with a captain’s poise and an all-round impact was none other than Axar Patel. Leading the Delhi Capitals with calm authority, Axar played a vital role in their commanding 8-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants. While he didn’t take any wickets with the ball, his disciplined spell of 4-0-29-0 helped apply pressure during the middle overs, forcing the LSG batters to take risks against other bowlers, risks that led to key breakthroughs. Axar’s field placements and timely bowling changes were spot on, especially the decision to bring Mukesh Kumar back into the attack when LSG were building momentum.

Mukesh responded with a brilliant 4-wicket haul, and it was clear that Axar’s faith in him paid off. His tactical decisions helped restrict LSG to a below-par 159 on a pitch that wasn’t offering much turn or bounce. But Axar wasn’t done as with the bat, he came in after the dismissal of Porel and added the finishing touches with a classy 34* off 20 balls, which included 4 powerful sixes. His aggressive yet calculated hitting ensured there were no hiccups in the chase, and he partnered seamlessly with KL Rahul to take the Capitals home with 13 balls to spare.