The 32nd match of the IPL 2025 season will see Delhi Capitals (DC) locking horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 16 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. It’s a crucial encounter for both sides, especially RR, struggling to find form. Delhi Capitals come into the game riding high on confidence.
They currently sit second on the points table, having won four of their five matches so far. Their most recent outing was a strong one, where Karun Nair led the charge with a superb 89-run knock against Rajasthan Royals, helping DC notch up an important win. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals are languishing in the bottom half of the table, placed eighth.
Out of their six matches so far, they’ve managed just two wins. Their most recent fixture ended in disappointment as they went down to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine wickets, despite a gritty 75 from Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Historically, RR have the upper hand in head-to-head battles, having won 21 of the 33 games against DC. But given the Capitals’ current momentum and RR’s inconsistencies, the balance could tilt yet again in what promises to be a high-stakes clash in Delhi.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
“He’s recovering well,” is the official word without any clarity on the availability of Faf du Plessis for a second successive home game. Jake Fraser-McGurk will likely get the long rope with him out injured. Delhi have anyway been fielding only three overseas players in the South Africans’ absence. After his heroics on his comeback, Karun Nair may see himself promoted to the starting XI – maybe even get the opener’s slot.
Jaiswal has three single-digit scores to alternate with his impact knocks of 29, 67 and 75 this season, and DC would rely on Mukesh Kumar to keep the young opener quiet. The pacer has dismissed Jaiswal both times they went face-to-face previously in IPL, conceding only seven runs in nine deliveries he sent down to the batter.
Probable XII: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Sandeep Sharma will be key for RR with the ball. He has a superb record against Delhi — 20 wickets in 18 games with an economy of 7.29 and a dot-ball percentage close to 43%. His early overs could shape the contest.
Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C, wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Nitish Rana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
KL Rahul (c), Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal (vc), Tristan Stubbs, Karun Nair, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Vipraj Nigam, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Yadav
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
KL Rahul, Sanju Samson (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tristan Stubbs, Karun Nair (vc), Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Vipraj Nigam, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc
