Delhi Capitals Outclass Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 Clash

On April 22, Delhi Capitals (DC) put on a masterclass, defeating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by eight wickets in Match 40 of the IPL 2025 at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium. With Axar Patel leading the charge, DC’s clinical performance, powered by KL Rahul and Mukesh Kumar, brought them a step closer to the playoffs.

LSG, sent in to bat after losing the toss, got off to a flying start with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh stitching together an 87-run opening stand. Markram’s stylish half-century looked threatening, but DC’s fast bowler Mukesh Kumar (4/33) turned the game on its head. He dismissed big names like Rishabh Pant, who fell for a duck, and Marsh (45), sparking a collapse. LSG stumbled to 159/6, with Nicholas Pooran’s quick 9 off 5 and a 49-run partnership between David Miller and Ayush Badoni (36) offering some resistance. Still, LSG’s final 10 overs yielded just 72 runs, leaving them short.

Chasing 160, DC’s batters made it look easy. Abishek Porel smashed 51 off 36, while KL Rahul, playing at his old home ground, stayed unbeaten on 57 off 42. Their partnership kept the scoreboard ticking, with Rahul becoming the fastest to 5,000 IPL runs. Though Markram got Porel, Axar Patel (34) stepped up, steering DC to victory with 13 balls to spare.

LSG’s game plan raised eyebrows, especially with Pant batting at No. 7 and some odd lineup choices. Pant’s rough patch with the bat and questionable captaincy didn’t help, leaving LSG stuck in fifth place with 10 points and a shaky net run-rate. DC, meanwhile, jumped to second with 12 points, level with Gujarat Titans.

This win showed DC’s all-around strength, from their sharp bowling to their cool-headed batting. LSG now faces a tough road ahead, starting with their next match against Mumbai Indians. For DC, Rahul’s match-winning knock against his former team sent a loud message: they’re serious contenders for the IPL 2025 title.