IPL 2025: DC emerge victorious over RR in thrilling Super Over, top points table

In a match filled with twists and turns, Delhi Capitals (DC) held their nerve to pull off a thrilling win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a Super Over clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, climbing to the top of the points table.

On a sluggish surface, DC were rescued from a shaky start by impactful late cameos from captain Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, and Ashutosh Sharma, helping them post a competitive total of 188/5. In response, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana scored quickfire fifties to keep RR in the hunt.

However, with nine runs needed off the final over, Mitchell Starc's pinpoint yorkers pushed the game into a Super Over—the first in the IPL since 2022. Starc starred again, restricting RR to 12 runs before Stubbs and KL Rahul calmly chased it down, sealing a memorable first home win of the season for DC in New Delhi.

Super Over Drama Seals the Deal

In the Super Over, DC chose Starc to bowl against Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag. Both batters hit a boundary each, including off a no-ball, but then made critical errors by getting run out on back-to-back deliveries, setting DC a 13-run target.

DC’s chase started with Rahul taking two, then slicing Sandeep Sharma for four. A single followed, and Stubbs finished it in style by smashing a six over deep mid-wicket. This marked DC’s fourth Super Over win in IPL history.

RR's Chase Fueled by Jaiswal and Rana

RR began strongly, with Samson and Jaiswal hitting early sixes. Jaiswal took on Starc, hitting him for multiple boundaries, while Samson hit Mukesh and Mohit for runs before retiring hurt on 31 after a rib injury. Axar Patel broke the opening stand by clean-bowling Parag for eight.

Jaiswal continued his assault with boundaries off Kuldeep and Stubbs and brought up his fifty in 34 balls. But with pressure mounting, he fell trying to go big off Axar. Rana, meanwhile, attacked Axar and Kuldeep to reach his own fifty in just 26 balls before Starc trapped him LBW with a perfect yorker.

DC’s Late Surge with the Bat

Earlier, RR had DC restricted to 111/4 in 15 overs. But a late flourish from Axar (34 off 14), Stubbs (34 off 18), and Ashutosh (15*) powered DC to 77 runs in the last five overs. Their blitz ensured a formidable total on a tough pitch.

Jake Fraser-McGurk and Karun Nair departed early, while Abishek Porel played a fiery knock, hitting Tushar Deshpande for 23 runs in a single over. But disciplined bowling from Sandeep, Hasaranga, and Theekshana slowed DC’s charge until the final five overs.

RR’s Tight Bowling and Missed Chances

Sandeep and Theekshana bowled economically, while Hasaranga extracted sharp turn to remove Porel. Rahul’s innings lacked elevation, and he holed out, while Porel toe-ended a lofted shot. Axar and Stubbs changed gears in the 16th over, with boundaries and sixes against Hasaranga and Theekshana.

Though Axar was dismissed after a quickfire cameo, Ashutosh and Stubbs capitalized on extras and sloppy fielding to collect 19 runs in the final over. Stubbs ended the innings with a six and a dropped chance, giving DC the boost they needed to clinch a dramatic win.

Brief scores:

Delhi Capitals 188/5 in 20 overs (Abishek Porel 49, KL Rahul 38, Axar Patel 34; Jofra Archer 2-32, Wanindu Hasaranga 1-38)
tied with  Rajasthan Royals 188/4 in 20 overs (Nitish Rana 51, Yashasvi Jaiswal 51; Axar Patel 1-23, Kuldeep Yadav 1-33)

Super Over: RR 12/2 in five balls lost to DC 13/0 in four balls

(With IANS Inputs)