IPL 2025: Nair’s Stunning 89 Goes in Vain as Mumbai Indians Defeat Delhi Capitals by 12 Runs in A Thriller

Mumbai Indians roared back to form with a thrilling 12-run victory after defending a total of 205 against Delhi Capitals. Karun Nair’s blistering 89 off 40 balls had put Delhi in a strong position, threatening to snatch the game away following Tilak Varma’s standout knock of 59 that anchored MI’s innings. However, a spirited comeback by the bowlers in the latter half of the chase turned the tide, sealing a memorable win and ending the Capitals’ four-match unbeaten run in IPL 2025.

The game was won in the second half of Delhi Capitals’ innings, where Mumbai Indians held their nerve despite Karun Nair’s explosive start. After a punishing PowerPlay, MI clawed their way back by picking up wickets in nearly every over post the 13th, applying relentless pressure. A key turning point came when the ball was changed after the 13th over — a move that proved instrumental for MI’s spin duo, Karn Sharma and Mitchell Santner. The pair combined to claim four of the five wickets during DC’s dramatic slide from 119/1 to 160/6. Their efforts laid the foundation for a chaotic penultimate over, where MI executed three run outs, sealing a stunning comeback and a memorable win.

Early Onslaught Sets Tone as MI Capitalise on PowerPlay Opportunities

Mumbai Indians posted 59 in the PowerPlay, thanks to a couple of explosive overs that gave their innings early momentum. Mitchell Starc, in his search for swing, over-pitched and was punished for 30 runs in his first two overs by Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma. Rickelton showcased his skill against the moving ball with a couple of elegant strokes — a flick and a cover drive — to get into his groove. Sharma, on the other hand, pierced the off-side field and even executed a risky lap shot that flew off the top edge for six.

Mukesh Kumar proved a tougher challenge with his hard lengths, conceding only 27 from his three PowerPlay overs. Leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam then made a vital breakthrough, trapping Sharma LBW in an over that cost just two runs. However, Suryakumar Yadav, promoted to No. 3 for the game, made his intentions clear by launching a six off the very first ball he faced, complementing the aggressive start from Rickelton.

Delhi Fights Back Through Spin, But Tilak Holds Firm

Delhi Capitals clawed their way back into the contest once the spinners were introduced. Kuldeep Yadav struck shortly after the PowerPlay, deceiving Ryan Rickelton with a googly and ending his brisk 21-ball 45. With the pitch offering turn, Delhi sensed an opportunity to tighten the screws. However, Tilak Varma, much like Suryakumar Yadav before him, got off the mark with a boundary and maintained the pressure.

The pair stitched together a 60-run stand off just 33 deliveries, finding at least one boundary in every over of their partnership. Suryakumar initially struggled to build momentum, reaching 29 off 24 balls, but picked up pace with a six and a four off Vipraj Nigam to enter the forties. Just as he began to settle in, Kuldeep struck again, having him caught at long-off. The Capitals tightened their grip further when Nigam removed Hardik Pandya in similar fashion, though Tilak continued to anchor the innings confidently from the other end.

Kuldeep Shines, But Dhir’s Late Surge Pushes MI Beyond 200

Kuldeep Yadav wrapped up his spell with excellent figures of 4-0-23-2, kicking off the final five overs with a tidy one that conceded just eight runs. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma brought up his eighth IPL half-century in just 26 balls and appeared poised to accelerate further.

However, it was his partner Naman Dhir who stole the show in the death overs. Taking the lead in a 62-run partnership with Tilak, Dhir unleashed a fiery 38 off just 17 deliveries, propelling Mumbai Indians past the 200-run mark. The young batter showcased smart shot selection, expertly using the angles and mixing in lap shots to pick up boundaries and give MI a strong finish.

Karun Nair’s Fiery Return Rattles MI in PowerPlay Blitz

Drafted in as an Impact Substitute following Faf du Plessis’ injury, Karun Nair—playing his first IPL match since 2022—was thrust into action after just one ball. Jake Fraser-McGurk fell on the very first delivery from Deepak Chahar, forcing Nair to immediately face a searing inswinging yorker. He handled it expertly and then launched a breathtaking counterattack, particularly targeting Mumbai’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

Nair raced to a 22-ball half-century, laced with eight fours and two sixes—26 of those runs coming off Bumrah alone, as he dispatched the pacer to all parts of the ground. While he had kickstarted his innings with three boundaries off Trent Boult, it was the aggressive assault on Bumrah that flipped the PowerPlay script and had Mumbai Indians on the back foot early.

Nair-Porel Partnership Puts DC in Control Before MI Fightback

Abhishek Porel played the perfect supporting role, but it was Karun Nair who stole the spotlight, answering every challenge from Mumbai Indians with a flurry of boundaries. As MI introduced spinners during the middle overs, Nair kept the scoreboard ticking with an array of sweeps that maintained the tempo of the chase. The duo’s 119-run partnership for the second wicket looked to have swung the match firmly in Delhi Capitals’ favour, as they reached the halfway mark of the target in just 10 overs with ample wickets in hand. However, MI’s Impact Player Karn Sharma broke the stand by dismissing Porel, who was caught in the deep trying to clear the ropes for a second consecutive six.

Nair continued to apply pressure, taking two boundaries off Karn and another off Mitchell Santner. But against the flow of the game, Santner produced a sharp turner that beat Nair’s bat and ended his scintillating 40-ball 89. The wickets kept tumbling — Axar Patel chipped in briefly with a couple of boundaries before falling to a leading edge off Bumrah. Sharma then struck again, removing Tristan Stubbs with a top-edge to make it four wickets in four overs. Despite the collapse, Delhi remained in the hunt, needing just 47 off the last five overs with the in-form KL Rahul still at the crease.

Karn, Boult and MI’s Fielding Heroics Seal Dramatic Turnaround

Karn Sharma delivered a memorable performance, finishing with figures of 4-0-36-3, including the crucial dismissal of KL Rahul in the 16th over. Rahul top-edged a slog sweep, gifting a simple return catch to Karn, who had now decisively tilted the match back in MI’s favour. The pressure intensified as Trent Boult followed up with a masterclass in death bowling, nailing six consecutive yorkers in the 17th over and conceding just three runs, leaving Delhi Capitals needing 39 from the final 18 balls. DC responded with a 16-run over, as Vipraj Nigam smacked Mitchell Santner for a six off the first ball. However, Santner quickly bounced back, having Nigam stumped to halt the momentum.

The 19th over, bowled by Bumrah, began with promise for DC — Ashutosh Sharma sliced two boundaries — but ended in disaster. In a bid to retain strike, Ashutosh was run out attempting a second run. On the very next ball, Kuldeep Yadav suffered a similar fate, also run out trying for a second. MI then sealed their sensational comeback with a stunning direct hit from Santner off the final delivery, registering a third run-out in three balls and securing a thrilling victory from the jaws of defeat.

What Lies Ahead for MI and DC

Mumbai Indians will enjoy a three-day breather before their next challenge — a high-octane home clash against the dominant Sunrisers Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals will look to regroup quickly as they prepare to host the Rajasthan Royals on April 16, aiming to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.

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