Delhi Capitals Clinch IPL Classic Against Rajasthan Royals After Super Over Thriller in Delhi

In a dramatic encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals (DC) edged out Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a nerve-wracking Super Over finish after the two teams were tied at 188. With nine runs needed off the final over and six wickets in hand, RR appeared to be cruising to victory — but Mitchell Starc had other plans.

Starc’s Super Over Heroics

Starc, who had endured a rough start to the night, turned the match on its head in the final over of regulation. Delivering five accurate yorkers under immense pressure, he restricted RR to just eight runs and took the match into a Super Over. With RR needing three off the last two balls, Starc kept his cool, forcing a single and then denying Dhruv Jurel the two runs required off the final delivery.

RR’s troubles continued in the Super Over, where chaos reigned. They managed just 11 runs, losing both Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal to run outs in just five deliveries. DC chased the 12-run target in style, with Tristan Stubbs pulling Sandeep Sharma for a six to finish the game in four balls.

Stubbs Steals the Show

Stubbs was the star of the evening, playing a match-defining cameo. His unbeaten 34 off just 18 balls in the death overs was crucial in taking DC to 188. He and Axar Patel (34 off 14) blasted 42 runs in the last three overs, setting a competitive total on a pitch that had consistently witnessed first-innings scores over 200.

The South African youngster was given a reprieve on 12 when Riyan Parag dropped a regulation catch, and he made RR pay. Stubbs was also involved in a brilliant fielding effort in the final over, sprinting from long-on to restrict a shot to a single — a moment that proved vital with RR needing three from two balls.

RR Collapse Under Pressure

RR looked firmly in control during their chase. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (51) and Sanju Samson (retired hurt on 22) gave them a flying start, reaching 61 in just 5.3 overs. However, Samson's untimely injury — suspected to be a side strain — disrupted the momentum.

Nitish Rana, who was dropped on 20 by Stubbs, capitalized with a quickfire 51. But DC clawed their way back into the contest. Starc returned to dismiss Rana with a lethal in-swinging yorker, and with 9 needed off the final over, RR's lower middle order crumbled under pressure.

Archer and Axar Lead the Bowling Charge

For DC, Axar Patel was once again impressive with the ball, finishing with 1 for 23. Starc’s eventual match-winning figures were 1 for 36, but it was his final over that will be remembered as one of the finest in IPL history. Jofra Archer also contributed with 2 for 32.

Earlier, DC had struggled after losing early wickets, with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Karun Nair falling cheaply. Abishek Porel provided an early spark with a 23-run assault on Tushar Deshpande and top-scored with 49. KL Rahul, though steady, couldn't accelerate and fell for 38 off 32 balls.

Points Table Impact

With this victory, DC moved to the top of the IPL 2025 points table, registering their fifth win in six games. For RR, it was a night of missed opportunities — dropped catches, an 11-ball final over from Sandeep Sharma that included four wides and a no-ball, and a Super Over implosion that cost them a game they had almost sealed.

Questions Over Tactics

The match also reignited the debate around RR’s overuse of left-right batting combinations, which some feel disrupts momentum more than it creates advantages. While their top order looked solid, tactical over-engineering may have contributed to the collapse at the death.