Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will clash in Match 4 of IPL 2025 on Monday, March 24, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Both teams aim to kick off their campaign with a victory after narrowly missing the playoffs last season due to net run rate.
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Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Preview
The IPL has always seen players go up against their former teams, but this season, the stakes feel even higher. KL Rahul, once the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), will now don the Delhi Capitals (DC) jersey, while Rishabh Pant, the IPL’s most expensive auction signing, will take on his former team DC as an LSG player. Adding to the drama, their campaigns begin with a face-off in Visakhapatnam on Monday evening.
Rahul’s departure from LSG was marked by a tense exchange with team owner Sanjiv Goenka following the team’s IPL 2024 exit. Goenka later emphasized the need for “players with a mindset to win,” while Rahul spoke about his desire to feel “loved and cared for.” On Monday, Rahul kicks off his journey with DC at their secondary home in Visakhapatnam, relieved of captaincy duties—now entrusted to Axar Patel following Pant’s “devastating” exit. Meanwhile, Pant takes charge of LSG at a venue where he was given a hero’s welcome last year after making a remarkable comeback from a career-threatening accident.
With Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul swapping teams this season, both Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants carry inside knowledge of their former stars, even as their squads have undergone significant reshuffles. The coaching staff has also seen changes, bringing in fresh ideas and personnel. However, a familiar challenge remains—how to elevate themselves into the elite tier of the competition.
Delhi Capitals have strengthened their squad, particularly their bowling attack, with the additions of Mitchell Starc, Mohit Sharma, and T Natarajan. They also retain key bowlers like Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. Playing their first two games in Visakhapatnam, DC will be eager to make the most of home conditions. The last time they played here, Kolkata Knight Riders dismantled their bowling attack. With a revamped pace unit this season, DC will be hoping to flip the script and put LSG’s depleted bowling lineup under pressure instead. DC’s pace attack struggled in IPL 2024, recording the worst economy rate (10.7) among all teams, increasing the pressure on their revamped bowling unit.
Rahul leads all batters in IPL runs since 2018, amassing 3,958 runs.
Meanwhile, LSG faces a significant challenge with all their key Indian pacers either injured, in rehab, or, in Mohsin Khan’s case, ruled out entirely. Adding to their woes, Harry Brook has withdrawn from the tournament again. On paper, both Delhi Capitals and the injury-hit Lucknow Super Giants appear among the weakest teams this season, making this an ideal moment for them to face off. Since IPL 2022, LSG boast the highest win percentage (73%) when batting first. Pooran has been the most dominant six-hitter in T20s since 2024, smashing 187 sixes—far ahead of Heinrich Klaasen, who sits at 117.
Data suggests that opening the innings could be a viable option for Pant, given LSG’s strong middle-order spin-hitters, Nicholas Pooran and David Miller. Among 29 batters with 400 or more runs against spin in IPL middle overs since 2019, Pooran has the highest strike rate (154.31), while Miller follows with 135.38—nearly 10 runs higher than Pant. Pant, who has played all 111 of his IPL matches for DC since debuting in 2016, will face his former team for the first time on Monday. Meanwhile, Rahul, who led LSG to consecutive playoff appearances, has an opportunity to make a statement with the bat, carrying forward his aggressive approach from India’s Champions Trophy triumph.
Mitchell Marsh enjoyed a successful IPL 2022 with DC, scoring 251 runs, including a top score of 89. In IPL 2023, he impressed with the ball, taking 12 wickets at an average of 14.16. However, due to recurring injuries, he now joins LSG purely as a batter.
After missing out on the playoffs last year, both sides have a chance to secure an early victory and build momentum. That opportunity awaits in Visakhapatnam, and mastering the conditions here will be crucial for DC as they aim to set the tone for their IPL campaign. Given these dynamics, the contest is shaping up to be a battle between LSG’s batting firepower and DC’s reinforced bowling attack.
Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Head-to-Head
LSG hold a 3-2 advantage, with both of Delhi Capitals’ victories coming in the previous season.
- Matches Played: 5
- Won by Delhi Capitals: 2
- Won by Lucknow Super Giants: 3
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
- First-ever Fixture: April 07, 2022
- Most-recent Fixture: May 14, 2024
Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
The previous IPL match at this venue saw Kolkata Knight Riders amass 272 runs, setting a record at the time. With LSG’s pace attack weakened, DC have a prime opportunity to unleash their batting firepower in what could be a run-fest. Notably, both IPL games played here were won by the team batting first.
While the Andhra Premier League in August saw 200 breached just once in 19 matches, that isn’t a true reflection of the pitch quality due to the disparity in player standards. Across all T20s in Visakhapatnam, runs have been scored at a rate of 9.2 per over—ranking third among Indian venues, only behind Hyderabad (9.7) and Bengaluru (9.2).
Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Team News and Predicted XII
Delhi Capitals – Team News
Rahul joined the squad on the eve of the match in Visakhapatnam but may not be available due to personal reasons. If he is absent, DC have a solid backup in Karun Nair, who recently had an outstanding domestic white-ball season. Meanwhile, Jake Fraser-McGurk, who shone in IPL 2024, has struggled in T20s since, managing just 188 runs in ten BBL innings for Melbourne Renegades, with 95 coming in a single knock.
Harry Brook’s withdrawal from the IPL could disrupt DC’s plans, but it also presents an opportunity to reinforce their top order. Additionally, with LSG expected to feature three to four left-handers in their middle order, Axar Patel’s impact through the middle overs may be limited. This scenario could make Kuldeep Yadav and Tristan Stubbs’ part-time off-spin even more crucial for DC.
Delhi Capitals – Predicted XI
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Faf du Plessis
- Abishek Porel
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Tristan Stubbs
- Axar Patel (capt)
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Sameer Rizvi/Mohit Sharma
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mitchell Starc
- T Natarajan
- Mukesh Kumar
Lucknow Super Giants – Team News
LSG have roped in Shardul Thakur as an injury replacement for Mohsin Khan, but their Indian fast-bowling core has been significantly weakened. Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep are all recovering from injuries and are unlikely to be available for the opening game.
Meanwhile, with Axar Patel and Abhishek Porel being the only left-handers in DC’s top seven, LSG’s spinners could play a crucial role, especially given their depleted pace attack.
Lucknow Super Giants – Predicted XI
- Yuvraj Chaudhary
- Mitchell Marsh
- Rishabh Pant (capt, wk)
- Nicholas Pooran
- Ayush Badoni
- David Miller
- Abdul Samad
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Rajvardhan Hangargekar
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Shamar Joseph
- Prince Yadav
Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Players To Watch Out For
Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals)
Axar Patel is set to take on full-time IPL captaincy for the first time. As one of DC’s four retained players, he has played a crucial role in India’s victories at the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, providing both batting flexibility and reliability with the ball.
While he has previously captained Gujarat in 23 matches across formats, including domestic white-ball competitions, leading in the IPL presents a completely different challenge.
Shardul Thakur (Lucknow Super Giants)
After going unsold initially, Shardul Thakur’s impressive domestic performances for Mumbai with both bat and ball have secured him a late call-up to LSG.
His planned county stint with Sussex, which could have strengthened his case for India’s England tour, is now off. This IPL stint presents another opportunity for Thakur to showcase his all-round abilities and stay in contention for the national team.
Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Delhi Capitals win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 40-50
- Lucknow Super Giants Total: 160-170
- Match Result: Delhi Capitals win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 50-60
- Delhi Capitals Kings Total: 170-180
- Match Result: Lucknow Super Giants win the match
When and Where To Watch Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Monday, March 24, at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
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: IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals Preview – Squad Analysis of DC And Starting XI
Also Read: IPL 2025: Lucknow Super Giants Preview – Squad Analysis of LSG and Starting XI
FAQs
What is the head-to-head record between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants?
LSG lead 3-2, with both of DC’s wins coming in the last season.
Where will the DC vs LSG match take place?
The match will be played in Visakhapatnam, DC’s temporary home for two games.
Who are the key players to watch in DC vs LSG?
KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant face their former teams, while Mitchell Marsh, Axar Patel, and Nicholas Pooran could play crucial roles.
How have the teams revamped their squads for IPL 2025?
DC strengthened their bowling with Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan, while LSG replaced injured pacers by bringing in Shardul Thakur.
What is the impact of Visakhapatnam’s pitch on the game?
The venue has seen high-scoring matches, including KKR’s 272-run record in IPL 2023, favoring teams batting first.
