New Delhi [India]: A dramatic final over from Mitchell Starc pushed the clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) into the first Super Over of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.
With RR needing nine runs off the final over, Starc held his nerve and conceded just eight, dragging the contest into a Super Over. Batting first in the tie-breaker, RR posted 11 runs, setting a target of 12 for DC.
Absolutely electric finish today and another thriller at @IPL 2025! @DelhiCapitals and @rajasthanroyals battled hard, taking us to the season’s first super over. Congratulations to the Capitals on this unforgettable win! https://t.co/zs4ZYk2ixT
— Thakur Arun Singh (@ThakurArunS) April 16, 2025
KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs stepped up for DC in the Super Over, facing RR’s Sandeep Sharma. The duo made short work of the target, sealing victory in just four deliveries.
Earlier, RR’s chase of a challenging 189-run target began with openers Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal taking on Mukesh Kumar early, collecting 15 runs in the second over. Jaiswal then targeted Mitchell Starc, smashing 19 runs off his over, including two boundaries and a six.
A potential breakthrough came when Mohit Sharma induced a mis-hit from Samson, but Ashutosh Sharma dropped the catch. Taking full advantage, Samson responded by hitting a four and a six off Vipraj Nigam to close the powerplay.
However, Samson retired hurt in the sixth over due to a stiff back, prompting Riyan Parag to join Jaiswal. RR ended the powerplay at a strong 63/0 with Jaiswal unbeaten on 27.
DC skipper Axar Patel broke the partnership, dismissing Parag for 8 (11) in the ninth over. Nitish Rana then came in, and Jaiswal brought up his fifty in the 12th over.
Kuldeep Yadav struck in the 14th over to remove Jaiswal for 51 off 36 balls, an innings that featured three fours and four sixes. Dhruv Jurel joined Rana at the crease, and the two pushed the scoring along.
Rana had a lifeline in the 15th over when Stubbs dropped a sitter off Axar Patel. He capitalized immediately, hammering 16 runs in the same over and followed it up with more aggressive batting against Kuldeep Yadav.
Jurel joined the charge with a six off Mohit Sharma. Rana brought up his second IPL 2025 fifty in the 17th over but was dismissed by Starc in the 18th, ending with 51 off 28 balls, laced with six fours and two sixes.
In the final over, Starc once again delivered under pressure, restricting RR to just eight runs and sending the game into a Super Over.
𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩-𝙄𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙨 😎
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2025
An emphatic way to seal a famous victory 🔥#DC fans, you can breathe now 😅
Updates ▶ https://t.co/clW1BIQ7PT#TATAIPL | #DCvRR | @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/2jgxDegvxS
In the tie-breaker, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer took strike for RR, with Starc continuing for DC. Parag was run out on a free hit, and Jaiswal, who came in next, also got run out. RR managed 11 runs.
KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs batted for DC in response. Facing Sandeep Sharma, the duo took only four balls to chase down the target, sealing a thrilling victory.
Fiery with the ball 🔥 Ice cool in his mind 🧊
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2025
For his clutch bowling performance under pressure, Mitchell Starc wins the Player of the Match award 🫡
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/clW1BIQ7PT#TATAIPL | #DCvRR | @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/cy9TqpbZjE
Earlier in the evening, a strong middle-order performance led by skipper Axar Patel and South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs lifted Delhi Capitals to 188/5 in 20 overs.
Batting first, DC’s innings was set in motion by opener Abhishek Porel, who took the attack to Tushar Deshpande, smashing 23 runs in the second over.
However, the Capitals lost momentum after Jake Fraser-McGurk was dismissed for 9 by Jofra Archer, followed quickly by Karun Nair who fell without scoring.
Porel, unfazed, stitched together a valuable 63-run stand with KL Rahul, who made a composed 38 before falling to Archer, his second wicket of the innings. Porel missed his fifty by one run, scoring 49 off 37 balls (5 fours, 1 six), dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga.
The real acceleration came from skipper Axar Patel, who blasted 34 from just 14 balls with four boundaries and two sixes before being dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana.
Stubbs anchored the innings alongside Axar, and later with Ashutosh Sharma (15*), finishing unbeaten on 34 off 18, which included two fours and two sixes. He scored 12 off the final over bowled by Sandeep Sharma, who conceded 19 runs, lifting DC to a competitive total.
Among RR bowlers, Jofra Archer stood out with 2/32, while Hasaranga and Theekshana took one wicket each.