Delhi Capitals (DC) recorded their fifth win of the IPL 2025 season on Wednesday (April 16) to reclaim the top spot on the 10-team points table. However, their victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Arun Jaitely Stadium was far from smooth.
RR tied with DC’s first innings score of 188, resulting in the match going into the Super Over, where the home team emerged victorious.
During the game, DC's wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul scored 38 off 32 balls with two boundaries and as many sixes while batting at No. 4. His approach was questioned by veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara.
"KL, being the senior player, I think he wanted to play 15-20 balls and then go out. But, at the same time, he should have attacked a bit more, because he was set, he had enough chance to look at the pitch, and he knew the conditions well by then," Pujara said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo.
"He was trying but he was just trying to muscle the ball out. There are times when you can't connect the ball things don't go your way. Also, his batting order has changed a bit, too. So, I mean, he is just trying to figure out. He normally does go hard in the powerplay, but after that, that is the period where he needs to be a little more aggressive. It looked like he wanted to save his wicket rather than play his natural game,” he added.
Pujara was rather blunt in his assessment as he further stated that it seemed like Rahul was playing to save his wicket.
"Today it looked like he was a bit cautious, he wanted to save his wicket rather than play his natural game. we have seen this season, the way he has been batting. It he is batting like that, he will be winning more matches than try and set up that big total that the team is aiming for. It could be him playing in the fourth or fifth gear, if he carries on playing like that. That's the role I look at him, doing well for the team rather than," Pujara remarked.
Mitchell Starc starred with the ball in DC’s thrilling win over RR. The left-arm quick delivered a phenomenal last over for the Capitals when the Royals needed nine runs to win.
Starc used all his experience bowling against Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel and managed to push the game into the Super Over, conceding just eight runs.
After returning with the figures of 1/36 in four overs, Starc gave away 11 runs in the Super Over, which was chased down by the home team in just four balls with KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs leading the charge.
