After facing their first defeat in IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals are determined to bounce back strong as they prepare to take on Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, April 16. With four wins in five games, Delhi has shown consistency this season, and a win against Rajasthan will help them re-establish momentum. Meanwhile, veteran pacer Mohit Sharma spoke candidly ahead of the match, shedding light on the rule changes in IPL 2025 that have offered bowlers a bit of breathing room.
One of the biggest changes this season has been the reintroduction of saliva to shine the ball — a practice that was banned for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, teams now have the option to change the ball after the 10th over in the second innings, a move aimed at minimising the impact of dew, which traditionally disadvantages bowlers during night games.
Speaking about this rule in particular, Mohit Sharma said, “There’s definitely some assistance for the bowlers now. In our last game, the first ball had already been used for 12 overs and was slightly wet with dew. Once we switched balls around the 13th or 14th over, Karn Sharma got it to turn to Stubbs — that’s something you rarely see with a wet ball. The new ball, being harder and drier, makes it easier to bowl yorkers. Even though it starts getting soft again by the 15th or 16th over, those few overs make a big difference.”
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Reflecting on Delhi’s narrow 12-run loss to Mumbai Indians, Sharma acknowledged the collapse in the middle order but emphasised the importance of learning from setbacks.
“This is a long tournament. Losses are part of the journey. Sometimes, a timely defeat actually helps you regroup, reassess and come back stronger. That loss came at the right time for us,” he added.
‘Impact of saliva is 110%’
Delhi Capitals pacer Mohit Sharma ahead of DC vs RR clash@amitkumar104 ✍️ https://t.co/nvVjKtZkZt#DC #MohitSharma #DCvsRR #IPL #IPL2025
— TOI Sports (@toisports) April 16, 2025
Sharma also heaped praise on teammate Kuldeep Yadav, who has been instrumental in DC’s bowling success. “Kuldeep has been phenomenal. Whether it’s small grounds or bowling with dew, his control and effectiveness have stood out. The way Axar is using him — in pressure situations, to break partnerships, or shift momentum — has been brilliant. He’s being used very tactically.”
On the leadership front, Mohit Sharma shared his thoughts on playing under Axar Patel, who is leading Delhi Capitals this season.
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He explained, “Axar and I go way back, we’ve played a lot of cricket together. As a captain, he hasn’t changed a bit. He’s calm, keeps the dressing room atmosphere light, and never complicates things. After the loss to Mumbai, his message was simple: what’s gone is gone, let’s control what we can and focus on what’s next.”
Heading into the match, the Rajasthan Royals have had a more turbulent campaign, with two wins and four losses from six matches. Delhi, on the other hand, are high on confidence and sit comfortably with four wins out of five. Wednesday’s clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium promises to be an exciting contest, as both sides look to find rhythm heading into the business end of the tournament.
