HYDERABAD, India — In a nail-biting encounter on May 5, 2025, the Delhi Capitals faced a crushing defeat against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins made a significant impact by winning the toss and choosing to bowl, as his side aimed to salvage their playoff hopes.
Delhi Capitals, sitting fifth on the points table with 12 points from 10 matches, needed a win to boost their chances in the run-up to the playoffs. However, DC’s top order crumbled under pressure, falling to 26 runs for 4 wickets within the powerplay. Cummins led from the front, claiming key wickets including Karun Nair, Faf du Plessis, and Abishek Porel in quick succession.
“We’ll bowl. We’ve talked about a few things, haven’t had a complete game yet,” Cummins said during the toss. “Want to do the basics well.” His strategy paid off. Nair fell for a golden duck, edging the first ball of the match to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. Du Plessis and Porel were dismissed shortly after, reducing Delhi to a precarious position.
After the powerplay, DC struggled further, losing their captain Axar Patel for just six runs, with Harshal Patel taking that wicket. With KL Rahul also out for a mere 10 runs, it was clear Delhi Capitals were in dire straits.
“We should have batted first as well; it looks like a good wicket,” Patel admitted after the match. “These are must-win games; we want to keep the momentum.” His sentiments echoed the urgency DC felt to stay alive in the tournament.
Supporting efforts came from Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma, who provided some resistance with a crucial partnership for the seventh wicket. Their small collaboration came too late for DC, who ended the innings at a disappointing 115 runs for 6 wickets.
The run-out of Vipraj Nigam added to Delhi’s woes, further eroding their chances of constructing a competitive total. “We haven’t been dependent on one player,” Patel noted, emphasizing their strategy to maintain a light and positive environment, hoping to avoid big margin losses.
On SRH’s side, Cummins topped the bowling charts with impressive figures of 3 wickets for just 19 runs in four overs, a performance that kept the Delhi batters on the back foot from the outset. The Sunrisers’ efforts in the field reflected their desire to overturn a disappointing season, sitting at the ninth position with only three wins from ten matches before this game.
With this victory, SRH not only improved their standing but also rejuvenated their hopes of making it to the playoffs, although they still depend on other results to favor them. As for the Delhi Capitals, the pressure mounts as they face critical matches ahead, needing victories in their remaining games to secure a playoff spot.
“We need to turn things around quickly; winning is the only goal,” Patel stressed, looking to the upcoming matches. “We’ve lost a few close games; we need to ensure we do not repeat that.”
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