In a dramatic encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals in a Super Over to cap off a pulsating contest. The Royals seemed to be cruising towards victory after half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana laid a strong foundation. However, Mitchell Starc produced a masterclass in the final over, defending nine runs to push the game into a Super Over.
Despite conceding 10 runs in the first three deliveries of the Super Over, Delhi bounced back with back-to-back run-outs of Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal, restricting Rajasthan to 11/2. In response, KL Rahul cracked a boundary, and Tristan Stubbs sealed the win with a six off a short ball from Sandeep Sharma.
With this victory, the Capitals have now won five of their last six matches and have surged to the top of the IPL 2025 table as the only team with 10 points.
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Rajasthan Regain Control After PowerPlay Carnage
Following a golden duck in his previous outing, Jake Fraser-McGurk kickstarted Delhi Capitals’ innings with intent, smashing two boundaries off Jofra Archer in the opening over. Partnering him, Abhishek Porel tore into Tushar Deshpande in a brutal second over that leaked 23 runs, as Porel dispatched a mix of full-tosses, length deliveries, and a sluggish short ball for four boundaries and a six.
However, Delhi’s momentum quickly stalled. Fraser-McGurk’s lean patch continued as he miscued a wild swing and was caught at cover. Karun Nair, coming off a sparkling 89 in his last game, was run out for a duck after a miscommunication with Porel—falling inches short despite a possible dive. Rajasthan’s Maheesh Theekshana and Sandeep Sharma then tightened the screws with back-to-back economical overs to end a fiery PowerPlay on a quiet note.
Sri Lankan Spin Duo Choke Capitals’ Momentum in the Middle Overs
After losing two early wickets in the PowerPlay, Delhi Capitals opted for a cautious rebuild, with KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel aiming to steady the innings. Rahul briefly broke free with a towering six off Tushar Deshpande, but Wanindu Hasaranga’s clever changes in pace and subtle variations began to grip on the surface, drying up the scoring rate.
Bowling in tandem with fellow Sri Lankan Maheesh Theekshana, Hasaranga mixed in his googlies effectively, keeping the batters guessing. Porel managed to cut a googly for four, and Rahul lofted Theekshana for a maximum to bring up a hard-earned fifty-run stand.
However, just as the partnership threatened to blossom, Jofra Archer returned with slower deliveries and finally dismissed KL Rahul—marking the first time he’s done so in IPL history. Porel survived a faint edge that wasn’t picked up by the fielders, but his reprieve was short-lived as Hasaranga got the better of him on the very next ball, keeping the visitors in control.
Axar, Stubbs Power Capitals to Explosive Finish
Axar Patel’s blistering 34 off just 14 deliveries ignited a late surge for Delhi Capitals, shifting the momentum decisively from the 16th over onward. The left-hander went after Wanindu Hasaranga, carving two boundaries through both sides before unleashing a powerful slog-sweep for six. The over ended with a key miss as Riyan Parag dropped a difficult catch off a fiery Tristan Stubbs.
Axar didn’t let up, punishing Theekshana with a flurry of aggressive strokes—dispatching two full-tosses for a four and a six, followed by a pull to the boundary. His departure did little to slow down Delhi’s charge, as Ashutosh Sharma and Stubbs combined to take 16 off Jofra Archer’s over, with three clever boundaries behind the wicket.
Sandeep Sharma’s chaotic final over—featuring four wides and a no-ball—only added to Rajasthan’s woes. Stubbs capitalized with a four and a towering six, pushing Delhi to a competitive 188/5. The Royals were left frustrated, especially after Theekshana shelled a regulation chance off the last delivery, capping a sloppy fielding effort.
Samson, Jaiswal Dominate Early Before Injury Forces Captain to Retire Hurt
Chasing 189, Rajasthan Royals got off to a flying start as Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal launched a counter-attack with a flurry of boundaries. The duo took full advantage of the dew, with Jaiswal taking Mitchell Starc to the cleaners—hammering two fours and a six in a costly 19-run over.
Samson joined the party with a powerful pull for six off Mukesh Kumar, and then brought up the 50-run stand with a lofted drive over mid-off. Though Ashutosh Sharma had a chance to break the partnership, he couldn’t hold on to a towering 53-metre skier from Samson off Mohit Sharma.
The Royals’ captain continued in aggressive fashion, dispatching short balls from Vipraj Nigam into the crowd. However, just as the chase seemed well under control, Samson appeared to injure his ribs attempting a cut shot. Despite trying to battle through, he was eventually forced to walk off the field, dealing Rajasthan a significant blow in the chase.
Tense Finish Beckons as Capitals, Royals Trade Blows
With the match finely balanced, Axar Patel introduced himself right after the PowerPlay and immediately exploited the surface’s grip and slowness. Riyan Parag struggled to time the ball, playing and missing repeatedly before Axar eventually rattled his stumps to claim his first wicket of the season.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, joined by Nitish Rana, shifted gears in a 12-run over bowled by Tristan Stubbs. But just when Jaiswal looked to accelerate, he miscued a pull off Kuldeep Yadav. Mohit Sharma, stationed at the boundary, produced a sensational save to deny a certain six. Mukesh Kumar’s forgettable night continued as he was clipped for a four by Rana before relying on slower deliveries to regain control.
Jaiswal brought up his half-century, but his celebration was short-lived as he holed out at long-on off Kuldeep, leaving Rajasthan needing 73 from the final six overs. Delhi sniffed a chance, especially after Rana got a reprieve—Stubbs misjudged a catch on the ropes. Rana capitalized with a boundary, setting up a thrilling finish with the game hanging in the balance.
Starc’s Ice-Cool Nerves Force First Super Over Since 2022
With Rajasthan Royals needing 31 off the final three overs, Nitish Rana continued his aggressive approach by pulling Kuldeep Yadav deep into the stands and then skillfully reverse-sweeping for another boundary. Dhruv Jurel, after overturning an LBW decision via DRS, cashed in with a towering six off a full-toss from Mohit Sharma. Rana brought up a crucial half-century with a deft scoop past the keeper, keeping the Royals in the hunt.
However, Mitchell Starc returned with nerves of steel. Mixing slower deliveries with searing yorkers, he trapped Rana LBW with a pinpoint delivery before nearly removing Shimron Hetmyer—who edged a yorker for a fortunate four. The Capitals maintained their brilliance in the field, with Sameer Rizvi denying Jurel a six and Stubbs nearly pulling off a stunning save on the ropes.
Needing nine runs in the final over, Starc once again delivered an exhibition of precision death bowling. His relentless yorkers restricted the Royals to just eight runs, tying the game and taking it to a dramatic Super Over—the first in the IPL since 2022.
What’s Next for Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals
The Delhi Capitals will now hit the road as they gear up to face current table-toppers Gujarat Titans in an afternoon clash on April 19 (Saturday) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Later that evening, the Rajasthan Royals will return to their fortress in Jaipur to host the Lucknow Super Giants, aiming to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
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FAQs
Who won the DC vs RR match that went to a Super Over?
Delhi Capitals edged past Rajasthan Royals in a thrilling Super Over at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
What triggered the Super Over between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals?
Mitchell Starc defended nine runs in the final over with pinpoint yorkers, taking the match to a Super Over.
Who were the top performers for Delhi Capitals in the match?
Axar Patel (34 off 14), Tristan Stubbs, and Mitchell Starc were standout performers for DC, with crucial contributions in both innings and the Super Over.
Why did Sanju Samson retire hurt during the chase?
Sanju Samson walked off after suffering a rib injury while attempting a cut shot during Rajasthan’s chase.
When and where will Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals play their next matches?
DC will face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 19 (afternoon), while RR will host Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur later that evening.
