IPL 2025: DC vs RCB – Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

Delhi Capitals (DC) are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 46 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, April 27.

Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Preview

Virat Kohli turned his previous visit to the Arun Jaitley Stadium into a spectacle, transforming a regular Ranji Trophy match into a three-day festival. The excitement surrounding him still lingers, and this time, fans rooting for Kohli will also be loudly supporting a Delhi Capitals (DC) victory.

Currently sitting third in the Orange Cap race, Kohli is averaging 65.33 — his second-best showing after his remarkable 2016 season when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) reached the final. Impressively, five of his six half-centuries this season have come in winning causes, and since 2022, he has recorded the second-highest percentage of team runs (26.12%) in victories, trailing only Shubman Gill.

Kohli returns to the Kotla with fond IPL memories, having amassed 483 runs in ten innings at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 145.5 — his best figures at any venue where he has played more than five matches. With RCB undefeated in five away games, they will be banking on another Kohli masterclass to avoid slipping into a three-way tie with Gujarat Titans and DC, all locked on 12 points.

In KL Rahul, Delhi Capitals (DC) have their own powerhouse — a player who has completely transformed his T20 game. The focus on grinding out long innings has made way for an aggressive, boundary-driven approach. When these two sides clashed earlier this season, Rahul led DC to victory with a commanding performance at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

At the halfway mark of the campaign, Rahul stands as DC’s leading run-scorer, amassing 323 runs at a blazing strike rate of 153.80. He heads into the RCB encounter fresh off an unbeaten 57 against his former team, Lucknow Super Giants.

Rahul’s outstanding form has anchored DC’s top order in the absence of Faf du Plessis, who was sidelined with a groin injury but is now fit and available for this contest. With Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, and Axar Patel all firing, DC possess the firepower to go toe-to-toe with RCB’s formidable batting lineup.

Beyond the Kohli vs Rahul showdown, the contest also features a fascinating subplot between two of the most celebrated fast bowlers — Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

From a playoff perspective, there’s a lot riding on this clash. Both RCB and DC, who underwent major squad overhauls at the mega auction, are chasing the dream of a title run. A victory here would significantly boost their chances of securing a coveted top-two finish.

The heat is intensifying in Delhi — both on the field and in the skies. With temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius and a heatwave warning issued, the IPL points table mirrors the conditions, with the top three teams locked on 12 points each. Amid this sweltering backdrop, a confident Delhi Capitals side hosts a buoyant Royal Challengers Bengaluru outfit, who are unbeaten on the road, as both teams fight for crucial points in the playoff race.

It’s a battle between two evenly-matched sides, both riding high on recent victories powered by strong bowling performances. Against Lucknow Super Giants, DC staged an impressive comeback with the ball after a rapid start from the opposition, eventually restricting them to 159 and chasing it down with ease. RCB too found themselves under pressure against Rajasthan Royals but clawed their way back, with their spinners tightening the screws in the middle overs before Josh Hazlewood delivered a brilliant penultimate over to seal their first home win of the season. In what promises to be a high-scoring encounter at the Kotla, once again, it might come down to which bowling attack can hold its nerve under pressure.

When these two teams last met, KL Rahul rose to the occasion with a commanding innings on a challenging Chinnaswamy pitch, handing RCB their second loss in a sequence of three home defeats. His celebration — pounding his chest and driving his bat into the ground like a sword — was a fiery declaration: “this is my ground.” Now, the spotlight shifts to Virat Kohli, back at his fortress — the Arun Jaitley Stadium — where thousands recently flocked just for a glimpse of him during a Ranji Trophy game. Can Kohli turn up the heat this time and make Delhi his own once more?

Rahul has had the upper hand against Hazlewood in the IPL, hammering 76 runs at a strike rate of 173 while being dismissed just once in five innings.

DC’s Mitchell Starc, meanwhile, has struggled with the new ball, leaking runs at 11.40 in the powerplay — a key factor behind DC’s overall economy rate of 9.8, the third-worst in the tournament.

For RCB, spin has played a pivotal role in their success. In their six wins, RCB’s spinners have combined for 17 wickets at an average of 26 and an economy rate of 8.33. In stark contrast, during their three defeats, the spin unit has managed just one wicket at a staggering average of 139 and an economy of 9.26.

RCB’s Tim David has been a destructive presence in the middle order, boasting a strike rate of 212 — second only to Heinrich Klaasen among batters who have faced at least 30 deliveries this season.

RCB’s fortunes this season have closely mirrored Kohli’s form — they have won every game where he has registered a half-century. Since the start of 2024, RCB have clinched nine wins in 11 matches whenever Kohli has crossed the 50-run mark.

Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is closing in on history, needing just three more wickets to surpass Piyush Chawla (192) and become the IPL’s second-highest wicket-taker.

For DC, skipper Axar Patel has been in punishing form with the bat, striking at 202 — the second-best strike rate among batters who have faced at least 50 balls this season, behind only Nicholas Pooran, who is blazing away at 268.

Delhi Capitals are one of only two teams to strike at over 150 against spin in IPL 2025, finding the boundary every five balls. However, their aggressive approach comes at a cost — they have lost 22 wickets to spin this season, the second-most after Chennai Super Kings’ 26.

Among bowlers who have delivered at least 10 overs in the powerplay this season, Mitchell Starc has the highest economy rate, conceding at 11.37 runs per over.

KL Rahul has scored 741 runs in 16 innings against RCB at an average of 74.1 and a strike rate of 147.31, with four fifties and a hundred. Rahul’s average against DC is the second-best among those with best averages against a team, behind his average of 74.23 against MI.

Virat Kohli has scored 1103 runs at an average of 50.13 and a strike rate of 136.67 against the Delhi team in all T20s (IPL and CLT20), with 10 fifties. Kohli also averages 60.45 at the Arun Jaitley stadium in T20s.

Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Recent Form

Delhi Capitals WLWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru WWLWL

Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Head-to-Head

RCB lead DC 12-19, with one match having no result. Since 2021, DC have won just two of their last seven encounters with RCB. At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, DC have registered four wins and six losses against RCB.

• Matches Played: 32
• Won by Delhi Capitals: 12
• Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 19
• Tied: 0
• No Result: 1
• First-ever Fixture: April 30, 2008
• Most-recent Fixture: April 10, 2025

Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Both games at Kotla have seen high-scoring encounters, but spinners like Kuldeep and Vipraj Nigam, who have utilized flight and turn, have taken key wickets. Spin has accounted for 13 wickets, giving away 9.1 runs per over, while pacers have conceded 10.2 runs per over. With dew expected, the team batting first will need to set a substantial target. Given the evenly matched sides, predicting the par score remains challenging.

In Delhi’s two games this season, Mumbai Indians defended 205 with a 12-run win, while DC narrowly defended 188 against RR, pushing the game to a Super Over before clinching victory. In 2024, the average first-innings total across the five matches in Delhi was 235, the highest of any venue. For the DC-RCB match, the pitch had a greenish tinge the day before the game, but is expected to support good strokeplay and, with its grass cover, likely reduce the impact of reverse swing.

Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Team News and Predicted XI

Delhi Capitals – Team News

Faf du Plessis hasn’t played since April 10, but with his fitness now confirmed, he is expected to return as the fourth overseas player. Du Plessis was among the first to take the nets, and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who attended the pre-match press conference, confirmed that the South African is ready to play. Recently, DC have not utilized all their overseas slots in the playing XI, and with Du Plessis fit, he may be included as an Impact Player.

KL Rahul could be a strong option for DC to counter Hazlewood and Yash Dayal, with the right-hander boasting strike rates of 172.72 and 205.26 against them, respectively. However, both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya have successfully limited Rahul’s scoring, with strike rates of 111.22 and 106.25 against them.

Delhi Capitals – Predicted XI

1. Abishek Porel
2. Faf du Plessis
3. Karun Nair
4. KL Rahul (wk)
5. Axar Patel (capt)
6. Tristan Stubbs
7. shutosh Sharma
8. Vipraj Nigam
9. Michell Starc
10. Kuldeep Yadav
11. Mukesh Kumar
12. Dushmantha Chameera

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Team News

RCB have a stable playing XI and are unlikely to make changes, especially with no injury issues to worry about.

They also have a strong response lined up against Mitchell Starc’s early spells, with Virat Kohli and Phil Salt holding an edge over the left-arm pacer. Kohli has scored 88 runs off 51 balls without being dismissed by Starc in T20s, while Salt has hammered 44 runs off just 19 deliveries against him.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Predicted XI

1. Virat Kohli
2. Phil Salt
3. Devdutt Padikkal
4. Rajat Patidar (capt)
5. Jitesh Sharma (wk)
6. Romario Shephard
7. Tim David
8. Krunal Pandya
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Yash Dayal
12. Suyash Sharma

Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Players To Watch Out For

Kuldeep Yadav (Delhi Capitals)

Kuldeep Yadav has been Delhi Capitals’ standout performer, combining accuracy with 12 wickets at an economy rate of 6.3 – the joint-best alongside Varun Chakravarthy.

He has gone without a wicket only once this season and has been instrumental in DC’s effective middle-overs bowling, where they give away just 8.4 runs per over. His impact at home has been notable too, highlighted by his 2 for 23 spell against Mumbai Indians in a game where MI still managed 205.

Krunal Pandya (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

In his ninth IPL season, Krunal Pandya has matched his career-best tally with 12 wickets – all coming in victories and the joint-second-most among spinners. His key double-strike, supported by Suyash Sharma’s tight spell, paved the way for a win against Rajasthan Royals three nights ago.

While they may not command the same fear factor as Varun Chakravarthy or Sunil Narine, the RCB pair remains vital as the playoffs approach.

Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Prediction

Scenario 1

• Toss: Delhi Capitals win the toss and bat
• Powerplay Score:  60-70
• Delhi Capitals Total: 210-220
• Match Result: Delhi Capitals win the match

Scenario 2

• Toss: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bat
• Powerplay Score: 55-65
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru Total: 200-210
• Match Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the match

When and Where To Watch Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details

The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday, April 27, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.

Read More: Saved by the Game: How Cricket Became Andrew Flintoff’s Lifeline After Top Gear Tragedy

FAQs