Letting Rishabh Pant go, that’s a huge blunder. This is something many, including me, had said when Delhi Capitals (DC) decided to release their captain before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. But, looking at the squad the Capitals have assembled, maybe one can let that decision slide. There is no doubt that DC will field the best/strongest XI of any team in IPL 2025. This is a big claim, but fear not; I’ll back it.
New KL Rahul & Crazy JFM
Delhi Capitals had assembled a great batting order. Three of their top five can be labelled generational talents. Let’s start with the top order. KL Rahul has basically replaced Prithvi Shaw, who was DC’s opener from 2018 to 2024. Rahul isn’t a dasher like Prithvi but generally offers consistent runs. Some have questioned his lack of intent, but that won’t be the case. Rahul has himself said that in IPL 2025, people will see a new version of him now that he’s attained freedom from the Lucknow Super Giants. From what he’s been seeing, we might see the KL Rahul of 2016-18. The version of Rahul who matches AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru and smashed T20I tons against West Indies and England.
Also, KLR leads the side. Axar Patel is the other captaincy option, but Rahul is just more tested. He’s unfortunately led teams with depleted batting resources, and changing that with DC’s explosive batting could be what he needs to prove to the world that he isn’t a poor captain.
Jake Fraser-McGurk struck at 234.04 while averaging 36.66 last season. Yes, there are his numbers. Irrespective of how Rahul bats, the Capitals will be off to a flier even if JFM plays just 10 balls. If he manages to play the entire powerplay, you might have already lost the match. He’ll be backed up by another 22-year-old like him, Abhishek Porel. The southpaw has talent in abundance, and if not for Nitish Kumar Reddy, he would have probably won the Emerging Player of the Year award last season.
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Scary middle-order & finishers
Harry Brook, who missed the last season, returns to the Capitals. He’ll bat at 4, and according to the situation, either Tristian Stubbs or Axar Patel can bat at 5. Brook might be untested in IPL, and one can see what sort of a talent he is in Test cricket. Some may say it won’t translate, but when someone is featuring below Don Bradman in specific records, I dare not question their potential. The same goes for Stubbs; he’s found success in every format, against every team, and in any league or tournament he’s played in the last 12 months. Stubbs averaged 54 while having a strike rate of 190.90 in IPL 2024. These freakish stats might not be replicated, but anything close will do.
Axar can come in as the spin basher and offers a handy left-arm hitting option while Ashutosh Sharma will be the designated finisher. He just fits right in at number 6 or 7. He hits pace for fun, and since the Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to be a batter’s paradise, he shall thrive. One mustn’t forget that Stubbs has an impeccable record in the death over last season and can partner Ashutosh.
DC cover all bases in bowling
For the batting one team has, it’s the bowling that wins you matches and trophies. There is a reason why, despite having Kohli, de Villiers, and Gayle, Bengaluru never won an IPL title. DC has got some great bowlers in their squad. They have two left-arm pacers in T Natarajan and Mitchell Starc. Nattu can bowl up front in the death while Starc might be used mostly in the powerplay. Mukesh Kumar has become the great middle and death overs bowler. He’s played for the Capitals for two seasons and was among the wickets last year. For death bowling, they can also bring in Mohit Sharma while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be there to rule the middle overs. Axar can be used in the powerplay as well.
Delhi Capitals’ best playing XI for IPL 2025
1. KL Rahul (c)
2. Jake Fraser-McGurk✈️
3. Abishek Porel (wk)
4. Harry Brook✈️
5. Tristan Stubbs✈️
6. Ashutosh Sharma
7. Axar Patel
8. Mitchell Starc✈️
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Mukesh Kumar
11. T Natarajan
Impact Player: Sameer Rizvi/Mohit Sharma
Remaining Squad: Karun Nair, Faf du Plessis✈️, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmantha Chameera✈️, Donovan Ferreira✈️, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari
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