Delhi Capitals Stumble in IPL 2025 Playoff Race After Mumbai Indians Defeat
In the ever-unpredictable world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Delhi Capitals (DC) have once again found themselves teetering on the edge of heartbreak. The franchise, formerly known as Delhi Daredevils, has a history of coming tantalizingly close to glory, only to falter at critical junctures. From the star-studded squad of 2009 featuring AB de Villiers, Virender Sehwag, and Gautam Gambhir losing to Adam Gilchrist’s Deccan Chargers in the semi-finals, to reaching the IPL 2020 final only to be outclassed by Mumbai Indians (MI), the wait for a maiden title continues to haunt the capital side.
The IPL 2025 season began as a fairy tale for DC under the astute leadership of Axar Patel. A blistering start saw them clinch four consecutive victories, including commanding wins over heavyweights like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Fans dared to dream of a playoff berth locked in early. However, the turning point came in a dramatic clash against Mumbai Indians, where DC squandered a winning position in spectacular fashion. A bizarre collapse saw Ashutosh Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohit Sharma run out off three consecutive deliveries, handing MI two crucial points on a platter.
This loss appears to have shattered DC’s confidence. Since the defeat to MI, the team has managed just two wins in six matches, with their latest outing against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) resulting in a dismal total of 133 runs. A rain-interrupted match spared them a likely loss, granting a solitary point. Now, languishing in fifth position with 13 points from 11 matches, DC’s playoff hopes hang by a thread. Ahead of them, RCB (16 points), PBKS (15 points), MI (14 points), and GT (14 points) occupy the top four spots, intensifying the competition.
Analyzing DC’s struggles, Jiostar expert Piyush Chawla pinpointed the team’s inconsistent top order as a major concern. ‘DC have already tried six or seven combinations at the top. Their biggest bet was Jake Fraser-McGurk, which hasn’t paid off recently. I believe they should stick with him—when he fires, he delivers explosive starts in the powerplay. If not, it’s no worse than the current situation. DC are in a do-or-die scenario and need bold decisions,’ Chawla remarked. He further emphasized the criticality of the upcoming matches against PBKS, GT, and MI, stating, ‘They need to win at least two, ideally all three, and for that, their experienced players must step up.’
Echoing similar sentiments, former Team India batting coach Sanjay Bangar highlighted the chaos in DC’s batting lineup during the SRH game. ‘When the top three perform, it eases pressure on the middle order and boosts dugout morale. But losing two or three wickets in the powerplay creates complete disorder. Being half down for under 60 runs put DC in an impossible position,’ Bangar observed. Historically, DC have struggled with early collapses—data from IPL 2023 and 2024 shows they lost their top order within the first six overs in over 40% of their matches, a trend persisting into 2025.
As the league stage nears its climax, DC face a daunting task with must-win games looming large. The passionate fanbase, long starved of silverware, will hope Axar Patel can inspire a miraculous turnaround. Can the Capitals defy the odds and secure a playoff spot, or will IPL 2025 be another chapter of ‘so near, yet so far’? Only time, and some gritty cricket, will tell.