New Delhi: Delhi Capitals (DC) will look to bounce back strongly when they host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 48 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Tuesday.
Delhi, led by Axar Patel, have enjoyed a relatively successful season so far, registering six wins from nine matches to sit comfortably in the top four. In contrast, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have struggled to find consistency, managing just three wins from their nine outings, and languishing in seventh place on the points table.
Despite a narrow six-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their previous game, Delhi appear a more settled unit. KL Rahul, in particular, has rediscovered his form in the T20 format, amassing 369 runs at an average of 52, including three half-centuries. His contributions at the top will be crucial alongside the explosive Abhishek Porel and veteran Faf du Plessis, who returns to the XI.
Delhi's bowling attack will be spearheaded by the experienced Mitchell Starc and the wily Kuldeep Yadav. While Starc has 11 wickets to his name, Kudeep has impressed with his economy rate of just 6.55 and has emerged as a key weapon in the middle overs.
In contrast, KKR find themselves in a precarious situation. Their last match against Punjab Kings was washed out after a brief start to their innings, leaving them with a solitary point. Rahane, captaining the side, remains their leading run-scorer with 271 runs, but the middle order, including Rinku Singh and Andre Russell, has failed to fire consistently.
There are concerns in Kolkata's camp regarding their bowling unit as well. Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Vaibhav Arora have all picked up 11 wickets each, but the attack has lacked penetration at crucial moments. All-rounder Sunil Narine has been one of the few bright spots, contributing with both bat and ball.
In head-to-head encounters, KKR enjoy a slight advantage over DC, having won 18 of their 34 meetings. However, with Delhi's current form and the advantage of playing at home, the hosts will be confident of narrowing that gap.
The match is expected to be played under clear skies, with temperatures hovering between 22 and 34 degrees Celsius. The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium has traditionally been batting-friendly, although teams chasing have generally fared better. Consequently, the toss could play a significant role, with both captains likely to opt to bowl first.
With their playoff aspirations gaining momentum, Delhi Capitals are tipped to edge past Kolkata Knight Riders and solidify their place in the top half of the table.
