Delhi Capitals will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. This IPL 2025 fixture promises to be exciting, especially with both teams eager to return to winning ways.
Current Standings Show a Sharp Contrast
So far, Delhi have performed well. They have won four out of five matches and are placed fifth in the standings. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have struggled. With just two victories in six games, they are currently in eighth place.
Both Sides Aim to Recover from Recent Losses
Previously, Delhi lost a close match against Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, Rajasthan suffered a heavy defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who beat them by nine wickets. As a result, both sides now face questions about their team combinations and individual performances.
Delhi Could Consider Key Changes
Delhi’s major concern has been the poor form of Jake Fraser-McGurk. The Australian opener has failed to impress in five games. Therefore, the team may drop him for Donovan Ferreira. Karun Nair, who scored 89 runs as an impact substitute against Mumbai, has made a strong case for himself.
Additionally, Delhi might open with Abishek Porel and either Karun Nair or KL Rahul. Notably, Rahul had opened earlier this season against Chennai Super Kings. Apart from a possible change at the top, Delhi are likely to retain the rest of their playing XI.
Rajasthan Royals Struggle with Consistency
In contrast, Rajasthan Royals continue to search for form. Their spin bowlers, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, have not troubled opposition batters. Hence, the team could drop Theekshana and bring in Kwena Maphaka to boost their bowling.
Moreover, Rajasthan have frequently shuffled their middle order. This has limited opportunities for Shimron Hetmyer, who hasn’t faced enough deliveries. Skipper Sanju Samson has also had an inconsistent run. As a result, the team needs to settle on a stable batting line-up soon.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Looking ahead, the pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium is known to favour batters. Consequently, fans can expect a high-scoring encounter. Delhi, with their deep batting order, could make full use of these conditions.
Meanwhile, the weather on Wednesday is expected to be hot. Temperatures could reach up to 39°C during the day and drop to around 29°C at night.
Probable Playing XI’s
Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel (C), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C/WK), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande.
