Delhi Capitals Crush Sunrisers Hyderabad with 7-Wicket Triumph in Visakhapatnam

In a one-sided affair at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Delhi Capitals (DC) delivered a masterclass to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 7 wickets in the 10th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. With a lethal bowling performance led by Mitchell Starc and a clinical chase spearheaded by Faf du Plessis, DC showcased their dominance in all facets of the game, leaving SRH reeling in their second consecutive loss of the season.

SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first, banking on their explosive batting lineup to set a daunting total on a pitch known for favoring high scores. SRH made one change, bringing in debutant spinner Zeeshan Ansari in place of Simarjeet Singh, hoping to bolster their bowling attack. DC, riding high after a thrilling last-ball win over Lucknow Super Giants in their opener, welcomed back KL Rahul from paternity leave, slotting him into the middle order at the expense of Sameer Rizvi. Led by Axar Patel, DC stuck with their core unit, trusting their balanced squad to deliver.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s decision to bat first backfired spectacularly as Mitchell Starc unleashed a fiery spell that left their top order in tatters. The Australian pacer struck early, dismissing Abhishek Sharma for a duck in the first over via a brilliant run-out orchestrated by Tristan Stubbs’ sharp fielding. Starc then dismantled the batting lineup, removing Ishan Kishan (8) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (4) in quick succession, reducing SRH to a precarious 25/3 inside three overs.

Travis Head, SRH’s in-form opener who had started IPL 2025 with scores of 67 and 47, offered brief resistance. He smashed Starc for two boundaries in the fourth over—his first-ever T20 fours against the bowler—but his aggression proved short-lived. Axar Patel persisted with Starc for a third over, and the gamble paid off as Head (22 off 12) edged a ramp shot to KL Rahul behind the stumps, leaving SRH at 37/4 in the fifth over.

With the top order decimated, SRH’s hopes rested on Heinrich Klaasen and the relatively untested Aniket Verma. The duo mounted a spirited counterattack, stitching together a 77-run partnership off just 40 balls. Klaasen (32 off 19) took the attack to Starc, pulling him for a six and drilling a cover drive for four, while Aniket Verma emerged as the surprise package. The 23-year-old, playing only his fourth T20 match, displayed remarkable composure and audacity, hammering five fours and six sixes in a blistering 74 off 41 balls. His assault on Axar Patel (two sixes in an over) and Kuldeep Yadav brought SRH back into the game, lifting them to 114/4 by the 11th over.

However, just as SRH seemed to regain momentum, DC struck back. Kuldeep Yadav, introduced into the attack, dismissed Klaasen with a well-disguised googly, caught brilliantly by Vipraj Nigam running back from cover. Abhinav Manohar (4) and Pat Cummins (5) fell in quick succession to Kuldeep and Mohit Sharma, respectively, triggering another collapse. Aniket’s valiant knock ended in the 16th over when he holed out to Jake Fraser-McGurk off Kuldeep, who finished with 3/22 in his spell.

Starc returned to wrap up the tail, dismissing Harshal Patel (8) and Impact Substitute Wiaan Mulder (1) in the 19th over to complete his maiden T20 five-wicket haul (5/35). SRH were bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs, a total that seemed well below par given the batting-friendly conditions in Visakhapatnam.

Chasing 164, Delhi Capitals approached the task with confidence, buoyed by their strong batting lineup and the form of their openers, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Faf du Plessis. The duo got off to a flyer, capitalizing on SRH’s pace-heavy attack. Fraser-McGurk (38 off 32) survived an early dropped chance off Pat Cummins, while du Plessis (50 off 27) unleashed his trademark wristy flicks and powerful drives.

The pair raced to 81 in just 8.2 overs, with du Plessis reaching his fifty in style, flicking Harshal Patel through midwicket for four. SRH’s bowlers struggled for control, with Mohammed Shami and Cummins unable to find the right lengths on a surface offering little assistance. Just as DC appeared to cruise toward victory, debutant Zeeshan Ansari provided a glimmer of hope for SRH.

Ansari struck twice in the 9th over, dismissing Fraser-McGurk, caught at deep midwicket, and du Plessis, bowled by a skiddy delivery. KL Rahul, making his DC debut, started explosively with a six and a four off Shami but fell to Ansari for 15, bowled around his legs, leaving DC at 115/3 in the 12th over. With three quick wickets, SRH sensed an unlikely comeback, but DC’s depth proved too strong.

Tristan Stubbs (25* off 16) and Abishek Porel (34* off 19) steadied the ship, combining for an unbeaten 51-run stand off 28 balls. Stubbs played with calm assurance, while Porel sealed the deal in style, lofting Mulder for a massive six over deep midwicket in the 16th over. DC completed the chase with 166/3 in 16 overs, winning with 24 balls to spare.

Mitchell Starc’s 5/35: The left-arm pacer’s early burst (3 wickets in the powerplay) and late strikes handed DC the upper hand, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Aniket Verma’s 74: A lone warrior for SRH, his fearless knock kept them in the game, though it wasn’t enough.
Faf du Plessis’ 50: The veteran’s aggressive start ensured DC never lost momentum in the chase.
Zeeshan Ansari’s 3/42: The debutant’s triple strike offered SRH a faint chance, but it came too late.
Kuldeep Yadav’s 3/22: His wickets at crucial junctures stifled SRH’s recovery.

Mitchell Starc, reflecting on his match-defining spell, said, “It’s been a good day. We were fantastic all around. You have to think outside the box in T20s, and I’m glad it worked out today. It’s great to form new relationships with this young group.”

Axar Patel, DC’s captain, praised his team’s adaptability: “We focused on our plans, not SRH. Starc’s rhythm early on allowed us to push him for a third over, and it paid off. Our experienced players give me options, and we executed well.”

Pat Cummins, visibly disappointed, admitted, “Aniket gave us a score, but we lost too many early wickets. Not all were bad shots—run-outs hurt us too. It happens.”

This victory marked DC’s second straight win, cementing their status as early contenders in IPL 2025. With Starc firing, du Plessis in form, and a versatile bowling attack featuring Kuldeep and Axar, DC look poised for a strong campaign. Their next challenge will be to maintain this momentum as they head to Delhi for their home leg.

For SRH, it’s a second defeat in three games, raising questions about their ultra-aggressive batting approach. After posting 286/6 in their opener against Rajasthan Royals, they’ve faltered twice, managing sub-200 totals on batting-friendly pitches. Cummins and coach Daniel Vettori will need to reassess their strategy, especially with tough fixtures against Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans looming.

The 10th match of IPL 2025 will be remembered for DC’s ruthless efficiency and SRH’s inability to adapt. Starc’s fiery spell, Aniket’s heroics, and du Plessis’ masterclass defined a contest that showcased the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. As the tournament rolls into its second week, DC’s statement win in Visakhapatnam signals their intent, while SRH must regroup quickly to salvage their campaign. For now, the Vizag leg ends on a high for Delhi Capitals, who head home with four points and a swagger in their step.