Mukesh’s Fiery Spell, Rahul’s Fifty Propel DC to Big Win Over LSG

Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their surge in the IPL 2025 standings with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium on Monday. The win sees DC level on points with Gujarat Titans at the top of the table, separated only by net run rate.

The architects of DC’s win were pacer Mukesh Kumar and former LSG skipper KL Rahul. While Mukesh turned the match on its head with a four-wicket haul to restrict LSG to a sub-par 159 for 6, Rahul led the chase with a composed half-century, his third of the season, as DC romped home with 13 balls to spare.

Mukesh Triggers LSG Collapse

After a flying start from LSG openers, who raced to 87 without loss by the halfway stage, Delhi staged a remarkable comeback, conceding just 72 runs in the final 10 overs. Mukesh, who finished with career-best figures of 4 for 33, spearheaded the turnaround with incisive bowling, mixing hard lengths with late reverse swing.

His spell included the key wickets of Abdul Samad and Mitchell Marsh in the 14th over, followed by a dramatic final over where he bowled both Ayush Badoni and Rishabh Pant to keep LSG to their lowest total this season.

“Reverse swing was on offer and Mukesh nailed those yorkers,” said Cheteshwar Pujara on the broadcast, praising the seamer’s execution under pressure.

Bizarre Tactics from LSG

In a surprising move, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant delayed his entry into the batting line-up until the final over, only to be bowled for a duck after facing two deliveries. His unorthodox attempt at a reverse ramp on his second ball led to a comical dismissal, as the ball deflected off his pad onto the stumps.

Mitchell Starc also played a crucial role for DC, dismissing the dangerous Nicholas Pooran with a slower bouncer — the fifth time he has dismissed Pooran in seven T20 matchups.

Rahul Anchors the Chase

Facing his former franchise for the first time since being let go last season, KL Rahul let his bat do the talking. After a slow start, Rahul accelerated superbly, bringing up his fifty off 40 balls and sealing the victory with a six in the 18th over. His knock of 57* also saw him become the fastest player to reach 5000 IPL runs, doing so in just 130 innings.

He found an able partner in opener Abishek Porel, who notched up his maiden fifty of the season (51 off 36 balls), setting a solid foundation for the chase after Karun Nair fell early. Captain Axar Patel, promoted to No. 4, added the finishing touches with a breezy 34* off 20 balls.

DC Surge Continues

This victory not only boosts DC’s net run rate but also puts them firmly in the playoff race. With their bowling attack firing and their top order clicking, the Capitals are shaping into one of the form teams of the season.

Meanwhile, LSG will need to regroup quickly, with questions looming over team strategy and Pant’s unusual batting position.

Match Summary
Delhi Capitals 161 for 2 (Rahul 57, Porel 51, Axar 34*) beat Lucknow Super Giants 159 for 6 (Markram 52, Marsh 45, Mukesh 4-33) by eight wickets.*