KL Rahul special forces Rishabh Pant's LSG to capitulate against DC 2nd time in IPL 2025
Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant just couldn’t find his rhythm against former side Delhi Capitals, as KL Rahul turned the spotlight onto himself with a match-winning knock in front of his old home fans. In a clash loaded with storylines, it was Delhi who came out on top once again, completing the double over LSG with a six-wicket win at the Ekana Stadium on April 22.
Despite LSG showing glimpses of recovery in recent matches, this outing turned into yet another frustrating chapter in Pant’s stint with the franchise. On the other hand, KL Rahul, donning DC colours, delivered a composed 57* off 42 balls to anchor the chase and reaffirm his value—beyond just his price tag.
Rahul’s innings also saw him become the fastest batter to reach 5000 runs in IPL history, achieving the feat in just 130 innings. And while the result helped Delhi climb level on points with Gujarat Titans at the top of the IPL 2025 table, it exposed key flaws in LSG’s middle-order once again.
Batting first, LSG got off to a dream start with an 87-run opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. But what followed was a familiar collapse. As Pant continued to hold himself back from coming to the crease, the middle order failed to capitalise on the platform.
Mitchell Starc once again got the better of Nicholas Pooran, dismissing him for the fifth time in T20s. That triggered a domino effect, with LSG going from 87/1 in 10 overs to 159/6 by the end of the innings. While Ayush Badoni added some late runs as an impact sub, Pant’s two-ball duck—his second against DC this season—only amplified fan frustration.
DC’s bowling gambit pays off
Delhi captain Axar Patel’s bold bowling decisions proved crucial. Opting to bowl first, Axar opened the attack himself, delivering two overs inside the powerplay. Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, and debutant Dushmantha Chameera were all rotated carefully, each getting one early over.
Axar’s gamble—bowling himself out by the 7th over—proved effective, especially against openers Markram and Marsh, who aren’t known for their prowess against spin. The DC skipper conceded just 29 runs in his four overs, allowing his pacers to strike in the latter stages.
Though the opening stand went untroubled initially, bringing in Kuldeep Yadav only after the 11th over sparked the eventual collapse. It was a bold plan that took time to click—but clicked just in time.
