Delhi Capitals Steal a Win in Super Over Thriller as Mitchell Starc Defends 9 Runs against Rajasthan Royals
Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals played out a thrilling tie, both scoring 188 runs in their 20 overs. Abishek Porel and Axar Patel starred with the bat for Delhi, while Nitish Rana and Yashasvi Jaiswal impressed for Rajasthan. In the Super Over, Delhi posted 13 runs, thanks to Stubbs and Rahul. Rajasthan fell short in reply, handing Delhi a dramatic victory in a match filled with twists.
The IPL 2025 match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 16, 2025, was a classic example of high drama, thrilling action, and nail-biting finishes. The match, played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, ended in a dramatic tie, with both teams posting identical scores in their respective innings. Ultimately, the match was decided in a Super Over, where Delhi Capitals emerged victorious, securing two valuable points to climb to the top of the IPL points table. This match has been one of the most exciting finishes of the season so far, with both teams showcasing resilience and tactical brilliance throughout.
Delhi Capitals’ Positive Start and Finish
Delhi Capitals, batting first after Rajasthan Royals elected to field, put up a competitive total of 188/5 in their 20 overs. The innings had a solid foundation with contributions from various players, but it was the late surge from Axar Patel that gave them the final push to reach a competitive score. The innings began with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel at the crease.
Fraser-McGurk, who had been under pressure to score quickly, started well, hitting two boundaries. However, his stay was cut short when he was dismissed by Jofra Archer in the third over for just 9 runs, leaving DC at 34/1 in the 2.3 overs. Karun Nair, who came in at number three, failed to get going, and he was run out for a duck, putting DC further under pressure at 34/2.
KL Rahul, the ever-reliable middle-order batsman for Delhi, steadied the ship alongside Porel, and the duo built a small partnership. Rahul played an anchor role, contributing 38 runs off 32 balls, but his dismissal by Archer in the 13th over, caught by Hetmyer, left DC at 97/3. It was at this point that Abishek Porel took charge, playing a well-composed knock of 49 runs off 37 balls. Porel anchored the innings with his measured approach, hitting five boundaries and one six. His partnership with Tristan Stubbs (34 not out from 18 balls) was crucial in providing some late fireworks for the Capitals.
The biggest highlight of the innings, however, came from Axar Patel, who came in at number five and unleashed an explosive cameo. He smashed 34 runs off just 14 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. Axar’s aggression, combined with Stubbs’ calm finishing, helped DC reach a competitive total of 188/5 after 20 overs. The late surge ensured that DC had a challenging total on the board, with Rajasthan Royals now needing 189 runs to win.
Rajasthan Royals’ Fiery Start and Poor Finish
Rajasthan Royals, chasing a target of 189, started their innings confidently, thanks to a steady partnership between their openers. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson put up a strong opening stand, and the Royals were off to a flying start. Jaiswal, in particular, played a brilliant knock, scoring 51 runs off 37 balls. He hit three boundaries and four sixes, providing the necessary momentum in the powerplay overs.
However, his stay was short-lived when he was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav in the 13th over, caught at mid-on, leaving RR at 112/2. Sanju Samson, the Rajasthan Royals captain, retired hurt in the sixth over after sustaining an injury. This led to a reshuffling of the batting order, but the middle-order batsmen, Riyan Parag and Nitish Rana, took control of the chase. Parag, who had been struggling for form, managed to score 8 runs off 11 balls before he was dismissed by Axar Patel, reducing RR to 76/3.
Nitish Rana, however, kept RR in the hunt, scoring a vital 51 runs off just 28 balls. He hit six boundaries and two sixes, maintaining a healthy strike rate of 182.14. Rana’s aggressive batting ensured that Rajasthan Royals were still within touching distance of the target, but his dismissal in the 17th over left RR at 161/4.
Dhruv Jurel, who joined the crease after Rana’s departure, managed to score 26 runs off 17 balls, including two sixes. Despite his efforts, Rajasthan Royals found themselves at 188/4 after 20 overs, having failed to find the boundary or take singles in the last few deliveries. The target of 189 had been matched, and the game was headed for a Super Over as Mitchell Starc was the hero for the Delhi Capitals after he managed to defend a total of 9 runs in the last over.
Super Over Drama
The match ended in a tie, with both teams having posted identical totals in their 20 overs. The Super Over, which would determine the winner, was equally dramatic. Rajasthan Royals batted first in the Super Over and managed to score just 11 runs for the loss of two wickets in 0.5 overs. Mitchell Starc, who had already bowled brilliantly in the regular innings, was tasked with bowling the Super Over for DC, and with both the batters, Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal, run out and it was a small target for the Delhi Capitals.
DC’s response was composed and clinical. With just 13 runs required to win, DC’s Tristan Stubbs and KL Rahul managed to hit the required runs with relative ease. Stubbs played a brilliant knock, and with Rahul’s support, they chased down the target in 0.4 overs, securing the win for Delhi Capitals in a thrilling Super Over.
Points Table and Conclusion
This match’s dramatic finish had significant implications for the IPL 2025 points table. Delhi Capitals’ victory helped them secure two crucial points, pushing them to the top of the standings with 5 wins and 1 loss from 6 matches, accumulating 10 points and a net run rate of +0.744. On the other hand, the Rajasthan Royals’ failure to win, despite a solid performance, left them in a precarious position in the table. With just two wins and five losses, RR remained at the bottom half, with only 4 points and a negative net run rate of -0.714 after 7 matches.
Delhi Capitals secured a thrilling Super Over victory against Rajasthan Royals, marking one of the most exciting finishes of IPL 2025. The match was full of drama, from the high-scoring innings to the nail-biting conclusion in the Super Over. Mitchell Starc played a pivotal role in both the regular innings and the Super Over, sealing the win for DC and taking them to the top of the points table. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals, despite putting up a strong fight, will have to regroup as they continue their campaign.
TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day
When it comes to the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day, it has to be Sanju Samson’s retirement hurt that shifted the momentum. Rajasthan Royals began their chase of 189 against Delhi Capitals in commanding fashion. With signs of dew on the ground and a quick start needed, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson gave the side a dream start. After a quiet first over from Mitchell Starc, Samson immediately changed the tone with a massive six off Mukesh Kumar’s first delivery. Jaiswal soon joined the party with a straight six that sent the ball out of sight.
By the end of the fourth over, RR had raced to 45 without loss, with Jaiswal on 26 from 15 balls and Samson on 16 from 9. Samson continued his aggressive approach, smashing Mohit Sharma and debutant Rasikh Salam Nigam for boundaries and towering sixes. He looked in complete control, racing to 31 off 19 deliveries, with two fours and three sixes at a strike rate of over 160. But just when RR looked well in control at 60 for no loss in 5.2 overs, the turning point arrived. After missing an attempted cut shot, Samson appeared in discomfort and required physio attention for his left side. His exit proved costly, as the Royals failed to maintain their early tempo and lost their grip on the chase.
TCNI’s Hero of the Day
Mitchell Starc rose to the occasion for Delhi Capitals in a dramatic finish against Rajasthan Royals, delivering a match-winning spell that included a nerve-wracking final over and a composed Super Over. With RR needing just 9 runs off the last over and six wickets in hand, the odds were stacked against DC. However, Starc held his nerve, conceding only 8 runs and forcing the game into a tie, a moment that shifted the momentum completely. In his four-over spell, Starc gave away 36 runs and picked up the crucial wicket of Nitish Rana, who was threatening with a rapid 51 off 28 balls.
But his true impact came in the pressure moments, first, in the final over where he mixed pace, lengths, and pinpoint accuracy to deny RR the win, and then in the Super Over, where he dismissed two batters in just five balls, restricting Rajasthan Royals to a mere 11 runs. Delhi Capitals chased down the Super Over target with ease, scoring 13 runs in just four balls to seal a thrilling win. Being the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, there is only one, Mitchell Starc, whose calm under pressure and match-turning overs secured two vital points for DC.
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