Ahead of a crucial clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2025 have received a major boost as star opener Faf du Plessis has reportedly regained full fitness. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has been opening for DC but has been battling his own inconsistency (and an injury of his own) on one of the more consistent franchises in the league, gave an update on du Plessis' availability for the match. "I think he's available tomorrow, from what I understand. He should be available for selection, is my understanding," revealed McGurk when asked about the availability of DC's senior opening batsman.

Although du Plessis has only played three games in IPL 2025 due to various fitness issues, he has made an impact with a half-century. DC cannot have found a better time for his addition to the top order, as he brings experience and power before an important fixture at Arun Jaitley Stadium. As a former skipper of RCB, du Plessis may be able to provide useful information to DC in that regard. 

Delhi Capitals Targeting Top Spot Against RCB

Delhi Capitals sneak up the table with 12 points and are looking for another win to secure the top spot. A victory for Delhi Capitals against RCB will seal their chances of a playoff berth, as well as a top-two finish and a huge advantage when heading into the knockout stages of the IPL.

Also Read: IPL 2025: KKR vs PBKS match abandoned – Which team gained the most?

Clearly, RCB has had a good season so far, and they're desperate to be sure of their playoff position too. Delhi Capitals fancied their chances last time they met earlier this IPL 2025 season at Chinnaswamy, where they scored 163/7 in just 18.5 overs, led by KL Rahul's unbeaten 93*, but much has changed since then. RCB was aggressive, and if another great batting performance is what Delhi Capitals are hoping for, then their batsmen that are familiar with Arun Jaitley's good batting pitch and established spinners for this match, like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, are the ticket they hope will lead them to success. On the other hand, if Faf du Plessis is back in the squad, then Delhi Capitals will attempt to find the winning formula again.

The Faf team's experience will help take some pressure off the young batting group and give them a platform at the top of the innings. With both teams aiming to arrive at their tipping point for a well-fought season, keep an eye out for how Du Plessis is the catalyst that delivers Delhi Capitals the chance to finish last week's game heroically in IPL 2025.

We are ready for the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (DC vs MI) match in the 29th game of the IPL 2025 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel revealed the reason why Faf du Plessis was missing from the match. 

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis is now serving for Delhi Capitals. He has played three matches in the IPL 2025, while he missed their third game of the season against Chennai Super Kings due to a fitness issue. Although he made a comeback in their next game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Du Plessis is again missing in their latest fixture against Mumbai Indians.

See Also: IPL 2025: Why is Fazalhaq Farooqi not playing in RR vs RCB Match 28

Faf du Plessis is injured: DC captain Axar Patel

During the toss of the DC vs MI match, home skipper Axar Patel chose to field first after winning the toss. He then revealed almost an unchanged squad, but with the absence of Faf du Plessis. The DC captain revealed that the former South African star was injured. 

Faf du Plessis already scored a match-winning half-century

Delhi Capitals are the only unbeaten side in the IPL 2025, as they are leading the points table with eight points after four matches, where they have won all their fixtures. Faf du Plessis is their third leading run-scorer this season with 81 runs in three games, with an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of 155.76. He started the season with a crucial 29 runs against Lucknow Super Giants after his team had a horrible start (7/3) while chasing the 210-run target. 

In their next game, while Delhi Capitals thrashed SunRisers Hyderabad by seven wickets, Du Plessis slammed a match-winning 50 off 27 balls with the help of three fours and three sixes. In their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the former RCB skipper scored only two runs. 

Coming back to the DC vs MI match, it is the first at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi in the IPL 2025. While the hosts are hoping to continue their strong start, Mumbai Indians are desperate to claim their second win of the season while playing their sixth match. 

In IPL 2025 match 17 between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), during the toss, DC skipper Axar Patel has shared something about their today's first XI that no one is expecting. Faf du Plessis is out of the playing XI. Patel shared the information during the toss.

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According to the DC skipper, the experienced South African batter is not fit to play today's game, which is held in MA Chidambaram Stadium. Young Indian talent Sameer Rizvi has been included in the team for today's game, in place of the veteran batter. Delhi Capitals have started their Indian Premier League 2025 campaign with a good rhythm—they are now currently at the second spot on the points table, just behind the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The Delhi-based franchise has outclassed Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their previous two encounters. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings are lacking their consistent form, currently at the 8th spot in this 10-team league. So far, they played 3, lost 2, and won only 1 match. For today's match, CSK has made couple of changes in their playing XI. Devon Conway's first appearance in the yellow jersey of the season, Jamie Overton is not playing the match and Mukesh Choudhary replaced Rahul Tripathi.

Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings Playing XI

 Delhi Capitals (Playing 11): Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul (WK), Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohit Sharma.

Impact Subs: Mukesh Kumar, Karun Nair, Darshan Nalkande, Donovan Ferreira, and Tripurana Vijay.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.

Impact Subs: Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Shaik Rasheed, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Nathan Ellis

IPL 2025  is coming with another exciting contest between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals both teams have a rich history of having good competition with each other. It can be clearly depicted with the head-to-head count where the last 30 matches of these teams have mostly been won by Chennai Super Kings who are leading the chart with 19 wins against the Capitals and D too not far behind they too have clinched 11 victories against the Kings. 
Though Chennai leads the victory margin the current scenario is really against them and the game they are playing is really an outdated one type. Delhi's current form is just amazing with the available resources they clinching the way hard and finding new stars out of it. That's why they are second on the points table. Axar Patel the captain is leading the team in the best way possible. Whereas in Chennai it is looking completely contrast their batting seems the very first issue. Either they play too slow or they lose wickets early which puts them in a difficult position. It's going to be 4th game of CSK and they have to find the rhythm back until it's too late.

Read More: IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals Playing 11 vs Chennai Super Kings

Some players can change the course of the match on their own somewhat some players can create a major effect and contribute to their team in the best way possible. 

1. Mitchell Starc
 The left-arm Australian pace bowler is just an ace card for Delhi Capitals who is been on the wicket tally every time the two games he has played have been really spot on. In the first match against Lucknow, he opened his account with three wickets. In the next game against Sunrises Hyderabad, he took fifer and became the Purple Cap holder raising the highest wicket-taker in the league. Though Starc may not be with the same pace in recent times he is still effective and can be a huge threat to Chennai Super Kings who are tracking a way to win the game. 

Read More: IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings Playing 11 vs Delhi Capitals
2. Khaleel Ahmad
 Khaleel Ahmad has been a lucky triumph card for Chennai Super Kings who had delivered great in these three matches. In his first match against Mumbai Indians, he took three wickets and in his next match against Banglore, he took 2 wickets and against Rajasthan, he took 1 wicket, where he is third highest wicket-taker in the league with Shardul Thakur where both of them have taken 6 wickets. 
3. Faf Du Plessis
Faf Du Plessis looks in good touch with the bat in this IPL he has given a great start to the team in these two matches he scored 30 runs against Lucknow and a wonderful 50 against Hyderabad, he is been a delicate player over the years when he was belonged to Super Kings too where things have been changed for him now. But the contribution is as slaying as it was earlier. 

Indian Premier League (IPL) has often had this tradition of building great camaraderie between players of various nationalities. One such incident was also witnessed in the Delhi Capitals (DC) camp, where Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs, along with Jake Fraser-McGurk, recently displayed their dancing skills. Together with the DC team, the three are now in Chennai, getting ready for their forthcoming IPL 2025 matchup with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The match will take place on Saturday, April 5, in the afternoon at ΜA Chidambaram Stadium.

After the 2024 Indian Premier League, DC's management fired Rishabh Pant, and this season, Axar Patel has been named captain. Under the new manager, the Capitals have had a strong start to the season, defeating the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in both of their games. DC is presently in second place on the IPL 2025 points standings, with four points from two games.

Also Read: https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-royal-challengers-bengaluru-vs-gujarat-titans-match-highlights/ 

To give their supporters a sneak peek at the entertaining dancing moves of three of their top foreign players, the Delhi team uploaded a video to their X handle. It included Tristan Stubbs, Faf du Plessis, and Jake Fraser-McGurk dancing to a funky song.

Watch the video below.

Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf Du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs got moves. 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/H1NzkK56uQ

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 3, 2025

Remaining match for Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025

April 5: Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings in Chennai, 3.30 PM

April 10: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru, 7.30 PM

April 13: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians in Delhi, 7.30 PM

April 16: Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals in Delhi, 7.30 PM

April 19: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, 3.30 PM

April 22: Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow, 7.30 PM

April 27: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Delhi, 7.30 PM

April 29: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi, 7.30 PM

May 5: Delhi Capitals vs SunRisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad, 7.30 PM

May 8: Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings in Dharamsala, 7.30 PM

May 11: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans in Delhi, 7.30 PM

May 15: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians in Mumbai, 7.30 PM

"Delhi Kidnaps Faf du Plessis!": Hilarious Video Shows His IPL 'Initiation'

Faf du Plessis Relishing the Delhi's Spirit in a Fun Promo VideoThe Delhi Capitals have taken the internet by storm with a fun promo video featuring Faf du Plessis. In a great surprise, du Plessis found himself at the center of a silly initiation, and became an honorary "Delhi-ite". The video made in association with PUMA Cricket encapsulates the entertainment and happy-go-lucky team spirit of the IPL franchise.

Watch video:

We always knew @faf1307 is a true Delhi-ite 😂🫶 @DelhiCapitals #PUMAxDC pic.twitter.com/NsYaJ12TSR

— PUMA Cricket (@pumacricket) March 31, 2025

Also Read:-Will BCCI Clear Samson or Keep Him in Doubt?

A Fun Way to Showcase Team SpiritThe video shows du Plessis in a series of comical situations with his teammates Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav lounging around him in a goofy assortment of things. From a mock interrogation to just simply bonding as a team, the video served up a great amount of energy and laughter. Du Plessis' facial expressions combined with the goofy activities of his teammates made for just that much more fun.Further adding to the laughter, the video really benefited from allowing us to see the close-knit nature of the Delhi Capitals team. Fans took to social media to love the friendly atmosphere that seemed to come so easy to the players. Many also commented on how well they channeled friendship while competing against one another.This marketing initiative not only has fans excited for the start of the IPL season, but also re-emphasizes...

Virat Kohli full support for Rajat Patidar, the new captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), calling him the team’s future leader. Kohli, who has been the great player of RCB since the IPL began in 2008 and led the team for over a decade, believes Patidar has what it takes to move the team forward. Speaking at RCB's Unbox event on Monday, Kohli spoke to the fans and shared words of encouragement for Patidar.

"The next guy to lead you is going to be here for a long time, so give him all your support. He’s a brilliant talent and a fantastic player we’ve all seen that. He has a smart mind and will do a great job for this amazing team, taking it forward. He has everything needed to succeed," Kohli said that.

Rajat Patidar, who has taken over as RCB captain from Faf du Plessis, has earned big opportunity from Virat Kohli. Kohli remains hopeful that RCB will finally win its first IPL title. Despite being one of the most popular teams in the league, the trophy has always remained out of reach.

Virat Kohli on Rajat Patidar, "The Guy gonna come next will lead you for long time. Give him all the Love you can."#RCBUnbox #RCB #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/DrMcLiPSug

— IPL 2025 (@ipl2025official) March 17, 2025

 
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"It feels amazing to be back. The excitement and happiness are the same as every season. I've been with RCB for 18 years, and I absolutely love this team. We have a fantastic squad this time, with a lot of talent. Personally, I’m really excited for this season," Kohli said.

Patidar, who has also played for India, shared his gratitude and determination to live up to expectations. "Legends like Virat bhai, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle have played for RCB. I grew up watching them and have always loved this team. Now, getting the chance to lead one of the biggest teams in T20 cricket makes me even happier," he said.

Delhi Capitals has named former South African cricketer Faf du Plessis as its IPL vice-captain. With his captaincy skills and aggressive batting, Faf is a seasoned player who will be an asset to the team.

Faf will be backing the team captain and leading Delhi Capitals at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, which is among the most famous cricket stadiums in India. His cool and calm nature of playing cricket will help the team, especially during crucial situations.

Being a former South Africa captain, Faf is set to likely captain young players and lead the team to victory. People want to know how he captains apart from the fact that he is a captain, and they want his captaincy to lead Delhi Capitals to victory this year.

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Faf Du Plessis - The Vice Captain of Delhi Capitals at the Kotla. 🫡🔥pic.twitter.com/G5zxarb75B

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 17, 2025

Faf's international T20 experience also makes him a valued member of the team. His composure and leading from the front will be indispensable in guiding Delhi Capitals out of challenging matches. He has fans waiting for his captaincy and anticipating the team's success.

Faf will also help build and form the team for the younger players. As a vice-captain, he will play a critical role in making critical decisions during a game.

Faf du Plessis reaffirmed his reputation as a world-class player with an extraordinary innings that powered Morrisville Samp Army to their second successive victory in the Abu Dhabi T10. The South African maestro played a scintillating knock of 75* off just 32 deliveries, steering his team to a commanding 36-run win over New York Strikers.

Faf leads the charge with batting brilliance

The former South African skipper, known for his composure and adaptability, delivered a batting spectacle that left fans in awe. Du Plessis smashed 5 boundaries and cleared the ropes 6 times with massive sixes, treating the Abu Dhabi crowd to a breathtaking display of power and precision. His 32-ball blitzkrieg came at a crucial time, as he single-handedly lifted Samp Army to a daunting total of 135/1 in their allotted 10 overs.

What stood out was Faf’s ability to pace his innings masterfully. He began with calculated strokes, gradually shifting gears to unleash an onslaught on the Strikers' bowlers. Despite their efforts to contain him with variations and tight lines, Du Plessis remained unperturbed, anchoring the innings with sheer dominance and poise. His unbeaten knock not only set a competitive target but also demoralized the opposition bowlers.

Defending a target of 136, the Samp Army bowlers delivered a clinical performance to dismantle the New York Strikers’ batting lineup. The disciplined bowling attack maintained a tight grip throughout the innings, stifling the opposition’s scoring rate and inducing errors under pressure.

Wickets fell at regular intervals, with the Strikers unable to build significant partnerships. Despite their best efforts, the Strikers could only muster 99/7 in their 10 overs, falling well short of the target. The coordinated effort from Samp Army’s bowlers ensured that the pressure created by Faf’s heroics with the bat translated into a dominant performance in the field.

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Samp Army's bowlers seal the deal

With this emphatic victory, Samp Army have solidified its position as a formidable contender in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament. Back-to-back wins have not only boosted their confidence but also sent a clear message to their rivals about their intent to claim the title.

As Faf du Plessis continues to lead by example, the Morrisville Samp Army have emerged as a team to watch, combining individual brilliance with collective effort. With momentum on their side, they are well on their way to making a serious bid for the Abu Dhabi T10 crown.

Kolkata Knight Riders had a memorable previous edition, earning their third-ever IPL title after a massive gap of ten years. With an optimum mix of reliable players and a robust coaching staff, the team bet all the odds and claimed success. But, their retained list had several polar opinions from critics and fanatics, as they haven't retained the captain who led to their triumph.

With their retention list comprising of emerging and experienced campaigners, they haven't opted for having the Right-to-Match (RTM) option as they have filled all the spots so that it will be some new players venturing into the defending champions' side. That said, here are the potential five-player picks that the Knight Riders would go all out for in the forthcoming 2025 IPL Mega Auction. 

Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis could be one of the primary targets for the Men in Purple management, as he ticks the boxes of an experienced power batter and a reliable captain. Considering that the side only has INR 51 Crore left in their purse, they can give their all to buy him, as they can rely on his captaincy expertise.

With just three editions for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he has taken them twice to the final stages of the playoffs; the side can rest assured in giving him the captaincy position for the upcoming editions. In the last edition, he has made 438 runs in 15 matches at a decent average of over 30.

Ishan Kishan

The Kolkata Knight Riders will not change their powerful hitting lineup for IPL 2025. They can, however, target young Indian wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan, who has been freed by the Mumbai Indians, keeping in mind that the team also requires a reliable wicketkeeper. Kishan is known for his aggressive batting and power-hitting ability.

Kishan could be an excellent addition to KKR's star-studded batting lineup, which includes Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. Kishan has recently been uneven with the bat, but recent matches in the local arena have helped to boost the confidence of all franchises in the Mega Auction. In 2024, he made 320 runs in 14 games, averaging at 23. 

Mohammed Shami

The Kolkata Knight Riders will now want to add an experienced fast bowler to their team for the IPL 2025. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, they might want to sign experienced Indian bowler Mohammed Shami. The right-arm bowler is now recovering from a knee injury sustained during his outstanding 2023 Cricket World Cup performance, in which he took an incredible number of wickets in just a few games.

Surprisingly, he has been released by the Gujarat Titans. The KKR management is expected to spend a large sum on him at the mega auction in Jeddah since he has played an essential role in whichever squad he has been a member of in his cricketing environment. Also, with several other franchises putting all their efforts into his acquisition, he could probably be one of the most expensive players in the upcoming mega auction.

Also Read: IPL 2025: 5 players Royal Challengers Bengaluru should target for in the upcoming IPL Mega Auction

Phil Salt

Phil Salt excelled in the top order for KKR in the IPL 2024. His aggressive hitting style might help the squad get off to a fast start. In this case, KKR wants to return him to the team for another season. Phil Salt was pivotal to KKR's successful season last year, scoring 435 runs at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 182 in 12 innings, including four fifties.

Despite his excellent performance, KKR dismissed him due to a surplus of players. On the other hand, Salt is an aggressive top-order batsman who maintains wickets and has league experience. Given his achievements, the three-time champions would go all and out for bringing him back to the side, even with the unavailability of an RTM card. 

Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi symbolises a solid IPL-batter package, thanks to his aggressive approach in obtaining crucial runs. He has consistently performed for any team he has ever represented, frequently stepping up when the squad needed him the most.

His ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed makes him essential. Tripathi's IPL experience and ability to score crucial runs make him a solid pick for any club. His retention would offer the squad stability and a player around whom to build tactics. In his 2024 stay, he scored 165 runs in just six matches, with a remarkable strike rate above 140.