When Delhi Capitals chased down 164 with four overs to spare on a sun-drenched Sunday in Visakhapatnam, it wasn’t just a win — it was a statement. Mitchell Starc, the Australian fireball, ripped through Sunrisers Hyderabad's batting lineup for 5 for 35 in just four overs — the first five-wicket haul of the TATA IPL 2025Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. The crowd, packed into the 25,000-seat venue, fell silent as wickets tumbled — then erupted as Delhi Capitals cruised to victory by seven wickets, leapfrogging into the top two of the points table.
Starc’s masterclass: The bowling performance that changed the game
It was a spell that will be replayed for years. Starc, swinging the ball both ways with lethal precision, dismissed SRH’s top order like they were batting in a net session. He had Abhishek Sharma caught behind in the third over, then removed Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins with back-to-back yorkers. His fifth wicket — Zeeshan Ansari, lbw to a searing in-swinger — came with the score at 148. The numbers don’t lie: 4 overs, 35 runs, 5 wickets. No bowler had reached that mark in IPL 2025 until then. Even more telling? Starc bowled only four overs — the minimum allowed — and still finished with the best bowling figures of the tournament so far.He wasn’t alone. Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner, turned the middle overs into a trap. Three wickets in four overs, including the key dismissals of Travis Head and Aiden Markram. His 3 for 22 wasn’t flashy, but it was surgical. While SRH’s bowlers — including Mohammad Shami and Harshal Patel — kept the runs in check, they couldn’t break the back of the chase. The pressure built by Starc and Kuldeep made the target feel smaller than it was.
Chasing perfection: Du Plessis and Fraser-McGurk dismantle SRH
If Starc broke SRH’s spirit, Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk buried it. Du Plessis, 36 and playing like a man half his age, cracked five sixes in his 50 off 27 balls. He targeted the leg side with ruthless efficiency, pulling and cutting with timing that left fielders stranded. Fraser-McGurk, the 22-year-old Australian all-rounder, added 38 off just 21 deliveries — a reminder of why DC bought him for ₹12 crore. Their 81-run opening stand in under 10 overs set the tone.Wickets fell — du Plessis out at 81, Fraser-McGurk at 96, KL Rahul at 115 — but the damage was done. The required run rate had already dipped below 5.5 by the 12th over. When Axar Patel walked out to finish things, he didn’t even need to hit a boundary. The victory was never in doubt. DC reached 166 for 3 in 16 overs, with 24 balls to spare. The crowd didn’t just cheer — they stood, clapped, and chanted.
Leadership under pressure: Axar Patel’s quiet command
While Starc and du Plessis grabbed headlines, it was Axar Patel who orchestrated the win. As captain, he didn’t make a single misstep. He brought Starc on early, trusted Kuldeep in the powerplay, and didn’t panic when wickets fell. He rotated his bowlers with precision, saved his spinners for the death, and let his batters play. SRH’s captain — widely reported to be Abhishek Sharma — struggled to find answers. His decision to bat first on a pitch that offered early swing looked questionable from the outset. When Starc took the first wicket in the second over, SRH never recovered.It was a textbook example of how captaincy can make or break a game. Axar didn’t need to speak loudly. His decisions did the talking.
The ripple effect: What this win means for IPL 2025
Delhi Capitals, who opened their campaign with a last-ball thriller against Lucknow Super Giants, now have two wins from two matches. Their net run rate has jumped into the top five. For the first time in years, they look like genuine title contenders — not just a team with star power, but one with balance, discipline, and nerve.SRH, on the other hand, are in freefall. Two losses, no wins, and a batting lineup that collapsed under pressure. Their top order — once feared — looked tentative. Their bowling, while decent on paper, lacked the cutting edge. With the tournament only a week old, their playoff hopes are already hanging by a thread.
The match drew 392,700 views on the official IPL YouTube highlights within hours — a sign of how much fans care about this clash. And with Delhi Capitals now riding a wave of momentum, the IPL 2025 narrative is shifting. The spotlight is no longer just on the big franchises — it’s on the teams that execute.
Behind the scenes: The stadium, the officials, the stakes
The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, though not one of India’s most famous venues, delivered a near-perfect matchday. Clear skies, a lively crowd, and immaculate outfield. Match referee Vengalil Narayanan Kutty oversaw proceedings without incident, while umpires Abhijit Bhattacharya and Ulhas Gandhe made no controversial decisions — a rarity in today’s high-stakes T20 environment.For the players, this wasn’t just another game. For Starc, it was redemption after a quiet start to the season. For du Plessis, it was proof he still belongs among the elite. For Axar Patel, it was validation as a leader. And for SRH? A wake-up call.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Mitchell Starc’s performance compare to past IPL five-wicket hauls?
Starc’s 5 for 35 in four overs is the most economical five-wicket haul in IPL history for a bowler delivering fewer than five overs. Only three bowlers have taken five wickets in four overs or fewer since 2008, and none matched his strike rate of 2.4. His previous best in IPL was 4 for 18 in 2020 — this was a quantum leap.
Why did Sunrisers Hyderabad struggle despite having experienced bowlers?
SRH’s bowling unit, though star-studded, lacked cohesion. Shami and Harshal Patel bowled well but were too predictable in line. Cummins, returning from injury, wasn’t at full rhythm. And with Starc and Kuldeep dismantling the top order early, SRH’s middle-order batsmen never got a chance to settle — a classic case of pressure compounding error.
What impact does this win have on Delhi Capitals’ playoff chances?
With two wins from two games and a net run rate of +1.82, Delhi Capitals are now in the top two. They’ve shown they can win both chasing and defending — a rare trait. With only 14 matches left, their momentum could carry them into the playoffs even if they lose half their remaining games. Their bowling depth, led by Starc and Kuldeep, is now their biggest strength.
Who was the standout performer besides Starc?
Faf du Plessis was the quiet assassin. His 50 off 27 balls came at a strike rate of 185.1, with six boundaries and five sixes — the most aggressive fifty of the tournament so far. He didn’t just score runs; he changed the game’s tempo. Without him, DC might have needed the full 20 overs — and even then, the pressure could have been too much.
Why didn’t Zeeshan Ansari’s 3 wickets matter more for SRH?
Ansari’s 3 for 42 was the best SRH could manage, but he bowled in the middle overs — when DC’s top order was already set. His wickets came too late: Rahul, Pant, and Axar Patel — all lower-order batsmen who were already playing freely. By then, the game was won. His figures look good on paper, but they didn’t alter the outcome.
What’s next for Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad?
DC face Chennai Super Kings next in a high-stakes clash at Chepauk — a true test of their away-game mettle. SRH, meanwhile, travel to Kolkata to face the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, with their confidence shaken. A loss there could knock them out of playoff contention before the month ends.
