It was a night to remember at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 16, as the Delhi Capitals edged past the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a high-voltage IPL 2025 clash. The match had everything—an electric Delhi crowd, nail-biting final overs, missed opportunities, and a gripping Super Over finish. With this dramatic win, DC not only secured two points but also climbed to the top of the points table. More than just a win, it felt like a statement of intent from the Capitals.

Both teams finished their 20 overs with identical scores of 188. Delhi recovered from early setbacks, thanks to explosive knocks by Tristan Stubbs (34* off 18) and Axar Patel (34 off 14), to post 188/5. Rajasthan Royals looked poised to chase it down, riding on strong performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana. But needing just 9 runs in the final over, they were stopped in their tracks by Mitchell Starc, who delivered a masterclass in death bowling. His pinpoint yorkers and the last-ball run-out of Dhruv Jurel pushed the game into a thrilling Super Over, where Delhi held their nerve to seal a memorable victory.

DC vs RR: Super Over Full Saga

Rajasthan Royals Bat First

Batters: Riyan Parag & Shimron Hetmyer

Bowler: Mitchell Starc

• Ball 1: Dot Ball – Starc starts with a searing yorker. Hetmyer can’t lay bat on ball.
• Ball 2: FOUR – Full and wide, Hetmyer carves it over midwicket, Royals off the mark.
• Ball 3: 1 run – Full toss worked to long-on. Hetmyer hands the strike to Parag.
• Ball 4: FOUR + No-Ball – Fortuitous edge from Parag flies past the infield. Starc oversteps – free hit coming up.
• Ball 4 (Free Hit): RUN OUT! – Parag tries to sneak a second but KL Rahul is quick with the gloves.
• Ball 5: RUN OUT! – Yashasvi Jaiswal, the new batter, is sent back trying to double. Superb throw from Fraser-McGurk seals his fate.

RR finished on: 11/2
In a five-ball chaos, RR lost two wickets to run outs and missed out on a bigger total despite the no-ball boost.

See Also: BCCI cracks the whip after BGT debacle and internal leaks

Delhi Capitals had a target of 12 runs in Super Over

Batters: KL Rahul & Tristan Stubbs

Bowler: Sandeep Sharma

• Ball 1: 2 runs – Rahul flicks a slower ball to deep midwicket. Close run-out, but safe.
• Ball 2: FOUR – Sandeep again goes short. Rahul slaps it over the backward point.
• Ball 3: 1 run – Rahul calmly takes a single to give Stubbs the strike.
• Ball 4: SIX! – Stubbs finishes in style! Picks the slower one early and launches it into the Delhi sky over midwicket.

DC chase 12 in 4 balls – WIN BY 1 BALL REMAINING

Relive the entire moment ball by ball here;

 

 

 

 

 

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Stubbs Shines, Starc Stuns in Super Over Win

The final over in regulation and the Super Over belonged to two men – Tristan Stubbs and Mitchell Starc. Stubbs was electric at the death, slamming 34* in 18 balls, and finishing it in the Super Over with a crunching six. He had earlier been dropped on 12 by Riyan Parag – a moment that came back to haunt RR. Mitchell Starc, despite being taken apart early by Jaiswal (4, 6, 4 in his first over), bounced back to deliver a masterclass in death bowling. His final over figures of 1-8 under pressure took the game into a Super Over, where he again stood tall.

Other Notable Moments

• Jaiswal's explosive start: 51 off 27 and hammering Starc early set the tone for RR.
• Sanju Samson retires hurt: Looked in fine touch before a suspected side strain forced him off at 61/0.
• Stubbs' game-changing throw: In the 20th over, he ran from wide long-on to stop a certain two, keeping RR to a single, crucial in the context of the tie.
• Sandeep’s meltdown: After a brilliant spell (3-0-14-0), he bowled 4 wides and a no-ball in the 20th, conceding 19 runs.

ALSO SEE: Bumrah’s iconic super over masterclass resurfaces as fans revisit unforgettable clash

DC are on Top of IPL 2025 Points Table

This win was DC’s fifth in six matches, taking them to the top of the IPL 2025 points table. They held their nerve in a game where both teams had multiple chances to close it out. Munaf Patel, DC’s bowling coach, was also in the spotlight – fined 25% of his match fee for a code-of-conduct breach after getting into a heated exchange with match officials during the final moments.

But on a night where fortunes flipped with every over, Delhi emerged victorious, thanks to cool heads and bold hearts. One Super Over. Countless twists. IPL 2025 just delivered another unforgettable classic.

The 32nd match of IPL 2025 was played between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. There was a super over in this match and Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals in the super over. This was the first super over of IPL 2025. In this match, Delhi Capitals had to score 12 runs to win in the super over. KL Rahul and Stubbs came to bat. KL Rahul scored seven runs in three balls and Stubbs hit a six off one ball to give the team victory.

In this match, the team of Delhi Capitals was batting first. The start of the team of Delhi Capitals was once again bad and Jack Fraser McGurk was out on the ball of Jofra Archer after scoring 9 runs in 6 balls. After that Karun Nair, who played a brilliant innings in the last match, returned to the pavilion after being run out without opening the account. But after that Abhishek Porel and KL Rahul took over the innings. Abhishek Porel scored 49 runs in 37 balls and KL Rahul scored 38 runs in 32 balls. After that Tristan Stubbs scored 34 runs in 18 balls and Axar Patel scored 34 runs in 14 balls to take the team to 188 runs for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. For the Royals team, Jofra Archer took two wickets for 32 runs in four overs. Apart from this, Mahesh Teekshna and Hasaranga got one wicket each.

After this, when Rajasthan Royals came out to chase the target of 189 runs given by Delhi Capitals, they could only score a total of 188 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 51 and Nitish Rana scored 51 runs for the team, while Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 26 and Shimron Hetmyer on 15*.

Delhi Capitals Hold Their Nerve to Win First Super Over of IPL 2025

Talking about the last 6 balls, Hetmyer took only 1 run on the first ball of Starc. After this Jurel came on strike and Jurel could also score only 1 run. Starc was constantly bowling the ball at yorker length, due to which the batsmen were having difficulty in playing big shots. Hetmyer took 2 runs on the third ball. On the fourth ball, he again took two runs. He was trying to hit boundaries again and again. But he was not able to succeed. Now 3 runs were to be scored on two balls. Hetmyer scored 1 run on the 5th ball and then Starc got Jurel run out on the last ball. In such a situation, the score between the two teams reached a tie and the match went into the super over.

Finally the match reached the super over and Rajasthan, batting first, scored 11 runs after losing 2 wickets. In response, KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs gave victory on 4 balls. Stubbs hit a six and gave the team victory.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025 Points Table, Purple Cap and Orange Cap after Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) Match No 32

Twitter reactions after DC wins 32th match of IPL 2025

Finally the DC took it to a super over. extra entertainment for us. 🤩 #DCvRR pic.twitter.com/wEBD0sHmxY

— Gayathri (@Yath_lol) April 16, 2025

Delhi Capitals really said “no stress” and pulled off a Super Over win. Madness! #DCvsRR #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/bMylwkWJFn

— Sahil Porriya (@ByteMePorriya) April 16, 2025

Absolute Cinema 💥💥#DelhiCapitals Won the Match in Super over.. #DCvRR #RRvDC pic.twitter.com/vMXWtRCe7K

— Fukkard (@Fukkard) April 16, 2025

Homeground Super Over win for DC.

Namakku Chepauk la ellam over um Super over dhan. pic.twitter.com/WU2xf7O5mU

— cyanide kuppi (@arjunvish7) April 16, 2025

super over mein NO BALL aur WIDE, woh bhi starc dwara aur free hit pe run out , kyun hila dala na #RRvDC pic.twitter.com/2HgWxEHzgW

— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) April 16, 2025

- Played a slow innings despite being set
- Misfielding and poor throw
- Getting run out due to laziness in the super over

Jaiswal single handedly made RR lose the match. pic.twitter.com/zgjS84z5xZ

— Parmar #AavaDe (@ArrestJaiswal) April 16, 2025

IPL from past few games
- SRH chasing 246 vs pbks
- MI won the match by taking Hattrick Runouts
- Dhoni finished match for CSK
PBKS who lost match after scoring 245 runs yesterday defended 111 against KKR
Dc winning this game in a SUPER OVER

Jay Shah🗿pic.twitter.com/ggZKOhlpjD

— 🦅 ShaRatH 🧡 (@KothaSharathKu1) April 16, 2025

Firstly Congratulations Delhi Capitals for Winning First Super Over OF This Season.

And All Thanks to Mitchell Starc , KL Rahul And Special Stubbs for Last Six 💀🫡

And Thanx to Jay Shah for this beautiful Script 🌚🙌

Sandeep + Hetmyer 🤡#DCvsRR #RRvsDC pic.twitter.com/skYNvGFQao

— 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 (@Peaceful_Th) April 16, 2025

#Dc won the Match in Super Over
in just 4 balls
Excellent Thriller Match#KLrahul 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZXwlVXWMQx

— Addicted To Memes (@Addictedtomemez) April 16, 2025

Trolled Gambir for Buying Starc for 24 CR'S He won the finals for KKR

Trolled Starc for his first few matches in 2025 (he won the super Over for DC)

THAT'S MITCHELL STARC FOR YOU ❤️

IPL is IPLing#MitchellStarc #DCvsRR #IPL2025 #RRvsDC #delhicapitals #IPL #jofraarcher pic.twitter.com/hSFU3nFFNJ

— ` (@TeamRP01) April 16, 2025

The Arun Jaitley Stadium saw a dramatic moment during the 29th match of IPL 2025 as the Mumbai Indians traveled to play the Delhi Capitals in a tight fight. Delhi chose to bowl and Mumbai openers started aggressively, being headed by Ryan Rickelton's 41 from 25 deliveries. The South African left-handed batsman played the ball sweetly, setting the pace early on, before being foxed by a traditional Kuldeep Yadav googly.

As the innings went on, Mumbai appeared to be in command. Tilak Varma, who walked in after the loss of a few wickets, stole the initiative with a positive mindset. He attacked the DC bowlers and started to pick up steam when the turning point of the innings almost came in the 13th over.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] IPL 2025: Axar Patel's acrobatic effort saves a certain six against MI in match number 29

Costly Confusion in the Outfield

Vipraj Nigam, the left-arm bowler, floated one away outside off to Varma, who tried to slog it out over long-on. What ought to have been a routine catch was turned into a comic-tragic situation. Tristan Stubbs and Jake Fraser-McGurk were rushing in towards the ball, Stubbs from long-on and McGurk coming from deep midwicket. The South African slowed down because he was nervous about colliding with his Aussie mate mid-pitch. That moment’s delay left him mispositioned, and despite stretching for the catch, he spilled it. To make matters worse, the ball trickled over the ropes for four, rubbing salt into Delhi’s wounds. While DC’s fielding faltered, their spin duo held firm. Kuldeep Yadav was impressive again, dismissing both Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav (40 off 28), while Nigam accounted for key wickets of former skipper Rohit Sharma and current skipper Hardik Pandya.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Ashutosh Sharma and Mukesh Kumar Involved in unfortunate collision during DC vs MI match in IPL 2025

Even with their batting depth, MI are struggling in IPL 2025. With just one win from five matches and being ninth in the table, each match is a do-or-die encounter. DC, by contrast, have four wins and are as close to unbeaten as anyone can possibly be and look like a serious title contender.

Stubbs' missed chance may not hurt DC on the scoreboard today, but these moments tend to swing momentum in T20 cricket, and Delhi will hope it does not come back to bite them.

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

After a disappointing loss in the first T20I, South Africa bounced back with a thrilling victory in the second match, leveling the series in a nail-biting finish. Despite Varun Chakravarthy’s outstanding five-wicket haul, India’s bowlers couldn't contain the hosts in the final overs. The local hero, Tristan Stubbs, seized the moment with an unbeaten 47 off 41 balls, guiding his team to victory and thrilling the home crowd. Earlier, South African skipper Aiden Markram put India in to bat under cloudy skies. Marco Jansen made an immediate impact, dismissing the previous game's centurion for a duck, followed by quick wickets from Gerald Coetzee and Andile Simelane, leaving India struggling. Hardik Pandya’s steady 39 off 45 and contributions from Tilak Varma and Axar Patel helped India reach 124/8, a modest total on a tricky pitch.

In response, South Africa started aggressively, with Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton putting up 22 runs in the first three overs before Arshdeep Singh broke through. Chakravarthy then tore through South Africa’s top order, claiming a career-best 5/17, but his efforts went in vain. A late burst by Gerald Coetzee, with 19 off 9 balls, set the stage for Stubbs to carry South Africa across the finish line with six balls to spare, leaving the Indian pacers disappointed.

See Also: Varun Chakravarthy Dominates South African Batters Once Again

Breakdown of Tristan Stubbs's Innings 

South Africa's chase in the second T20I against India may have looked comfortable by the scoreboard, but a deeper look into Tristan Stubbs' innings reveals the challenge he faced. Set to chase 125, South Africa had early momentum, but Varun Chakravarthy’s superb bowling performance put India back in the game. Stubbs found himself in a tough situation, needing to balance aggression with caution to guide his team home. His 47 off 41 balls was a display of calm, calculated batting that ultimately saw the Proteas level the series.

The first few overs of Stubbs' innings were challenging, as he adjusted to a slow pitch and India's disciplined bowling. His dot-ball percentage in the initial overs was relatively high, indicating the pressure to rotate strike and keep the scoreboard ticking. As shown in the data, his dot percentage varied through the overs, often reaching as high as 100% in specific overs, which underscored India’s tight field placements and the difficult conditions. Despite these obstacles, Stubbs patiently built his innings, carefully choosing moments to accelerate.

Stubbs' approach against spin and pace highlighted his tactical adaptability. Against spin, he played cautiously, maintaining a strike rate of 80.00, focusing more on rotating strike than taking unnecessary risks. On the other hand, he was much more effective against pace, where he struck at a brisk 168.75. This contrast in performance was crucial, as India’s spinners were relentless, but Stubbs managed to compensate by taking advantage of the pacers when he found opportunities. His ability to play according to the bowler and the conditions kept South Africa’s hopes alive.

Strike rotation was a significant part of Stubbs' strategy, with a rotation rate of 41.46%. This steady rotation helped ease the pressure during the middle overs, keeping South Africa within reach without a rapid loss of wickets. Stubbs ensured that partnerships kept building, allowing him to anchor the innings and set up a foundation for a late flourish. His boundary percentage was modest at 17%, showing that his game plan was not centered around aggressive boundary-hitting but rather on stabilizing the innings and keeping India’s bowlers at bay.

In the end, Stubbs’ innings was a fine example of composure under pressure. Despite Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul that threatened to derail South Africa’s chase, Stubbs’ maturity and adaptability led them to victory with six balls to spare. It was a performance that didn’t rely solely on power but on intelligent cricket and calculated risks, turning a seemingly straightforward chase into a memorable, hard-fought triumph for South Africa.

See Also: Varun Chakravarthy's Consistent Form Shines Again in South Africa

In a stunning display of power hitting and clinical bowling, the Delhi Capitals surged to a crucial 19-run victory over the Lucknow Super Giants, keeping their slim IPL playoff hopes alive in a riveting encounter on Tuesday. The Capitals’ commanding performance was spearheaded by Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs, who delivered sensational fifties to set up an imposing total of 208 for 4.

Explosive batting from Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs set the stage for Delhi Capitals

Porel’s blistering 58 off just 33 balls, supported by Shai Hope’s brisk 38, laid a solid foundation as the pair stitched together a formidable 92-run partnership in just 49 balls. Stubbs then took charge with a breathtaking 57 not out off 25 deliveries, including three fours and four towering sixes, forming crucial stands with Rishabh Pant (33) and Axar Patel (14 not out) to propel the Capitals to a daunting total.

Ishant Sharma displays clinical bowling keep Delhi’s playoff hopes alive

The bowlers, led by Ishant Sharma’s early strikes, maintained the pressure on the Super Giants, restricting them to 189 for 9 despite Nicholas Pooran’s explosive 61 and Arshad Khan’s valiant unbeaten 58. Delhi’s triumph not only bolstered their own playoff aspirations but also paved the way for the Rajasthan Royals’ qualification, leaving the Lucknow Super Giants on the brink of elimination.

See Also: Mixed reactions from fans as Pant’s comeback IPL comes to end

With this crucial win, the Capitals moved level on points with Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with their playoff fate now hanging in the balance, contingent on a series of other results.

Delhi Capitals (DC) will begin their 17th IPL season with the single goal of breaking their championship drought. The Delhi-based team has been a part of the T20 league since its establishment, but it has yet to claim the elusive title. With Rishabh Pant’s recovery and a star-studded team, DC would start the season as a strong contender, and it remains to be seen whether they will eventually conclude the season as winners.

As supporters eagerly anticipate Rishabh Pant’s comeback and DC’s first game against the Punjab Kings on March 23, we look at the top four players from the capital-city arsenal.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant will be the most significant player from the Delhi Capitals team to watch out for in IPL 2024. All eyes will be on the wicketkeeper-batsman when he returns to the game after a 15-month absence. Rishabh’s first goal would be to score big and win back into the T20I squad.

Following a life-threatening injury and quick recovery, we can be confident that he will return to his swashbuckling form quickly. In his IPL career, he has made 2838 runs in 98 matches, with over 15 half-centuries and one triple-digit figure.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav’s prowess with the ball since joining Delhi Capitals has boosted his career graph, and the next IPL season will be essential for him. While he appears to be a lock for the T20 World Cup team, a downturn in form might force the selectors to make a painful decision.

Given his outstanding success in the red-ball format, the shorter forms would be a litmus test of his performance. The next IPL season will be vital for him, and his performance will be constantly followed. In his IPL career, he has 71 wickets in 73 matches, with an economy of 8.13. 

See also: IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals probable playing XI and impact player strategies

Kumar Kushagra

Kumar Kushagra was one of the most expensive uncapped players in the IPL auction this season. The world took note of Delhi Capitals’ latest addition when he fetched a hefty Rs 7.2 crore at the auction. The wicket-keeper hitter has been making massive runs in domestic cricket and is regarded as the best-emerging potential.

At only 19, he has already accomplished some remarkable things. With a superb performance of 266 in the Ranji Trophy in 2017, he became the youngest player in first-class cricket to reach 250. This season, he delivered some impressive performances for Jharkhand in domestic cricket. 

Tristan Stubbs

Tristan Stubbs, a South African wicketkeeper-batter, joined the Delhi Capitals. He was formerly a member of the Mumbai Indians (MI) team but did not have enough opportunity to demonstrate his abilities with the five-time winners.

Stubbs may be an ideal fit for DC’s desire for an aggressive middle-order batter who can expedite scoring in the late innings, as the team primarily lacks a robust middle-order lineup. Despite being only 23 years old, Stubbs has played 73 T20s and scored 1,478 runs with a strike rate of more than 150. 

The Delhi Capitals (DC) released 11 players before the IPL 2024 auction. They have a budget of 28.95 crores and nine spots available. DC may also sign four foreign players, which is an essential factor.

A few holes in their roster must be filled by selecting the correct combination of players in the IPL 2024 auction. So, here’s a list of the top three likely Delhi Capitals choices in the next mini-auction. 

• Narayan Jagadeeshan

N Jagadeesan was a Kolkata Knight Riders member in the IPL 2023. The Tamil Nadu player saw little action in a squad full of wicketkeepers and openers. He has scored just a mere 89 runs in his six-match campaign.

Given Rishabh Pant’s recuperation, the Delhi Capitals management might consider him one of the choices for their wicketkeeping needs. He is also a safe keeper behind the wickets, and providing Jagadeesan a continuous opportunity to demonstrate his goods will be something to look out for. 

• Murugan Ashwin

Despite some solid performances in the IPL, Murugan Ashwin hasn’t got the proper scope to display his spin talents, especially given his prior affiliations with former organisations. Ashwin has 35 wickets in 44 matches with an economy of 8.01.

His best season came in the IPL 2020 when he took ten wickets in nine games. Among the many Indian spinners, Ashwin has struggled to carve out a place for himself in the IPL. As a result, it is a positive factor for the Delhi Capitals to leverage him for their long-term spin requirements and aid their leading players, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

• Tristan Stubbs

The Delhi Capitals have dropped Phil Salt and Sarfaraz Khan from their team, and they want at least two wicketkeeper bats to replace Rishabh Pant. Pant’s health is questionable, and DC want a middle-order hitter like Stubbs, who can be explosive and keep wickets.

Stubbs has drastically improved and can be deadly with the willow, and also providing support to the budding wicketkeeper, Abhishek Porel. Stubbs was with the Mumbai Indians (MI) but did not have as many opportunities. He is a versatile batter who can bowl useful off-spin, depending on the situation.