Pratiksha Ghosh
New Delhi, May 22 2025:Delhi Capitals’ (DC) roller-coaster season in the IPL 2025 came to an unceremonious halt after a 59-run defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) on Wednesday, officially ending their hopes of making the playoffs.
Despite a promising start—winning four of their first six matches—DC faltered in the latter half, losing five of their last six completed games.
Speaking after the match, DC head coach Hemang Badani pointed to instability at the top of the batting order as one of the team's major downfalls.
Throughout the season, DC struggled to find a consistent opening pair, trying as many as seven different combinations. Among those were duos like Faf du Plessis with Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul with Fraser-McGurk, and Abishek Porel partnering Fraser-McGurk. However, the lack of consistent starts meant constant shuffling.
“Our opening partnership didn’t click. While other teams were dominating the powerplay, we struggled,” Badani admitted. “A settled opening pair is only possible when they give you solid starts. Without that, changes are inevitable.”
Statistically, DC's opening pair had the lowest average in the league, managing just 19.23 runs per innings.
The campaign also saw individual flashes of brilliance but lacked sustained impact. Karun Nair’s standout 89 off 40 balls against MI in Delhi was a highlight, particularly his aggressive takedown of Jasprit Bumrah. Yet, he couldn't maintain the momentum, managing only one score above 30 in the next six outings and struggling even when promoted to open.
KL Rahul, another senior figure, had an inconsistent season as well. Initially batting at No. 4, he moved up the order at his own request during a match against Gujarat Titans, scoring an unbeaten 112. However, the switch didn't work in subsequent games.
“We expect experienced players like KL, Faf, and Karun to read the game and execute accordingly,” said Badani. “With younger players, we offer more guidance, but the seniors should be able to handle game scenarios and match-ups effectively.”
Delhi’s bowlers also faltered under pressure, especially in the critical final overs of the match against MI. The last two overs yielded 48 runs, with Mukesh Kumar and Dushmantha Chameera conceding heavily, allowing Mumbai to post a challenging total of 181. Despite a sluggish surface, Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 73 off 43 balls and Naman Dhir’s explosive cameo shifted the momentum firmly in MI’s favor.
“Our bowling was spot-on for 18 overs, but we lost our way at the death. On a slower pitch, we should’ve gone for cutters and wide yorkers. At this level, if you miss your mark, batters like Surya will make you pay,” Badani noted.
DC also missed the presence of captain Axar Patel, who was sidelined due to illness. His absence not only weakened their spin attack but also left the team short of left-hand options in the batting order.
“Axar would’ve been crucial, both with the ball and with his batting. On a surface like this, his left-arm spin and his ability to counter someone like Santner would’ve helped immensely,” said Badani.
Reflecting on the season, Badani said it was the failure to seize key moments that ultimately cost DC a playoff spot.
“The IPL is a marathon. We had a fantastic start, but in a long tournament, consistency matters. We had several matches where we were in control but failed to finish—like the losses to Mumbai at home and against KKR, where we let it slip despite having the upper hand,” he explained.
Delhi Capitals will play their final game of the season against Punjab Kings in Jaipur on May 24, aiming to end their campaign on a positive note.
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