Delhi Capitals sealed the Super Over victory over Rajasthan Royals with two balls remaining, showcasing nerves of steel in a pressure-packed finish at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
The thrilling contest was pushed to a Super Over after both Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals posted identical scores of 188 – marking the first match of IPL 2025 to be decided through a Super Over.
Chasing 188, explosive half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 37) and Nitish Rana (51 off 28), along with a crucial contribution from skipper Sanju Samson (31 off 19) before he retired hurt, helped Rajasthan Royals level scores at the end of 2nd innings.
Batting first in the Super Over, Delhi Capitals set a target of 12 runs. In response, KL Rahul made quick work of the chase, scoring 2, 4, 1, and finishing it off with a six in just four deliveries to clinch the win for DC.
Royals Let It Slip in Death Overs
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that seemed to pay off for the first 15 overs. However, a late assault by Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs powered Delhi Capitals to a strong total of 188/5.
Delhi’s innings began with a steady partnership between Abhishek Porel and KL Rahul, who anchored the innings but struggled to accelerate. Porel scored 49 off 37 balls, while Rahul managed 38 off 32. Their conservative approach meant Delhi couldn’t fully capitalize during the middle overs.
Jake Fraser-McGurk was dismissed for 9, and Karun Nair was run out without scoring. Ashutosh Sharma added a handy 15 off 11 balls towards the end.
The real turnaround came in the final five overs, where Delhi hammered 76 runs, thanks to the explosive hitting of Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs. Axar struck 34 off just 14 balls with 2 sixes and 4 fours, while Stubbs remained unbeaten on 34 off 18, also hitting 2 sixes and 4 fours. Their power-hitting ensured Delhi finished with momentum on their side.
Rajasthan Royals kept things tight initially but failed to contain Delhi in the death overs. Maheesh Theekshana was the most expensive, conceding 40 runs in 4 overs with 1 wicket. Jofra Archer claimed 2 wickets, while Wanindu Hasaranga took 1.
