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Peter Green - March 23, 2025
Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants both finished outside the top half of the standings last season. Delhi secured 6th place, while Lucknow finished 7th.
Interestingly, these two teams faced off in their final game of the 2024 IPL season. The race for the playoffs was tight, with all teams from 4th to 7th place finishing with seven wins each. However, Royal Challengers claimed the fourth position and advanced to the knockouts.
Both Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants have the potential to surprise. Given LSG’s consistent performances since their debut, they could emerge as underdogs, frequently defying the odds this season.
Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants have faced each other five times in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since LSG’s debut in 2022. LSG leads the head-to-head record with three victories, while DC has secured two wins.
Notably, their latest encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi took place on May 14, 2024. In this match, DC emerged victorious, defeating LSG by 19 runs. This victory marked DC’s first win against LSG and showcased their potential at their home ground.
DC has appointed all-rounder Axar Patel as their new captain, following Rishabh Pant’s departure to LSG. Key acquisitions include fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan, sharpening their pace attack. Additionally, they secured the services of batsman KL Rahul, aiming to strengthen their batting lineup.
LSG secured Rishabh Pant for a record INR 27 crore and named him captain. Pant’s leadership is anticipated to bring a dynamic approach to the squad. The team also appointed former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan as their mentor, aiming to enhance their strategic depth. These strategic changes reflect LSG’s ambition to improve upon their previous performances and make a significant impact in IPL 2025.
Axar Patel (DC): Elevated to captaincy this season, Axar Patel’s leadership and all-round abilities are crucial for DC. His left-arm spin and middle-order batting provide balance, making him a player to watch.
Rishabh Pant (LSG): In a high-profile move, Rishabh Pant transitioned from DC to LSG and now leads the team as captain. His aggressive batting style and wicketkeeping prowess add a dynamic edge to LSG’s lineup.
Nicholas Pooran (LSG): Known for his explosive batting, West Indian cricketer Nicholas Pooran is a key asset for LSG. His ability to clear boundaries effortlessly can shift the momentum in LSG’s favor.
Captain- Axar Patel
Faf Du Plesis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan.
Captain- Rishabh Pant
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, David Miller, Shabaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep.
Their last match in the 2024 IPL season was scheduled at Delhi’s home and they secured a strong win, affecting LSG’s chances of securing a play-off spot completely. It was the second consecutive win for Delhi against LSG and one thing we can see in common in those matches is that LSG owns the high scorer. In fact, In all five meetings between these teams, an LSG batter has been the match’s top scorer in four.
Even though they own such a strong stat, we don’t expect them to secure a victory against Delhi on Monday. Note that LSG recorded the highest first-wicket partnership in four of their last five head-to-head matches against DC. And it’s a solid option to consider in this match.
