After their encouraging victory over Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals are set to carry their momentum into a clash against the strong Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, scheduled for March 30, 2025, in Visakhapatnam.

Sunrisers Hyderabad started their season with a bang but faced a setback against LSG, losing the match by five wickets on March 27, 2025. This defeat highlighted vulnerabilities in their high-octane batting order.

As they venture away from home, captain Pat Cummins will need to rally his team for a turnaround performance.

In contrast, Delhi Capitals will be boosted by the return of KL Rahul, who missed the season opener due to becoming a father. Recognized for his crucial role in India’s recent Champions Trophy victory in Dubai, Rahul was acquired by Delhi for a significant Rs 14 crore. Although he brings a wealth of experience, Rahul opted not to captain the side, leaving the leadership to Axar Patel.

Once a mainstay of the Indian team across all formats, Rahul was not part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad last year and had a disappointing IPL season with LSG, which resulted in his release. His previous confrontations with team owner Sanjiv Goenka added to the narrative of his struggles.

Eager for a fresh start at a new franchise, Rahul remarked, “I’ve been out of the T20 team for a while. I know where I stand as a player, and I know what I need to do to get back. This IPL is an opportunity to rediscover my game and push for a return to the T20 squad.”

His recent training sessions with India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar in Mumbai have set the stage for his comeback in Visakhapatnam, where he aims to stabilize Delhi’s top order, which faltered in the last match. Chasing a target of 211, Delhi was in dire straits at 65/5 but managed a thrilling last-gasp victory thanks to Ashutosh Sharma’s unbeaten 66 off 31 balls and pivotal contributions from others.

Beyond his batting prowess, Rahul is expected to play a significant role in supporting Patel’s captaincy, especially as Patel leads an IPL team for the first time.

DC has historically struggled to clinch matches, but their hard-won triumph against LSG may instill the confidence needed going forward. The team’s potent bowling lineup, led by Mitchell Starc, will be a critical factor in their upcoming match, especially in countering the aggressive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head from SRH.

Sunrisers Hyderabad had a stellar opening match with a score of 286/6, featuring a stunning 106 runs from Ishan Kishan off just 47 balls. However, they faltered in their subsequent match, only managing 190/9 against LSG.

Wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen recognized the need for improvement, stating, “A score of 210-220 would have been par on the wicket. We just didn’t score enough runs.” He noted that losing wickets at strategic moments disrupted their rhythm, emphasizing the need to avoid such pitfalls in the future.

The bowling unit for SRH, spearheaded by Mohammed Shami, Cummins, and Harshal Patel, remains formidable but underperformed against LSG, with Cummins particularly struggling, giving away an average of 15 runs per over. The Australian captain is determined to bounce back and lead effectively.

Teams:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.

Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), KL Rahul (wk), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Faf du Plessis, Donovan Ferreira, Abhishek Porel (wk), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav.

Virat Kohli has never been one to suppress his emotions on the cricket field, often expressing himself openly, even in front of senior players. A remarkable incident unfolded at the conclusion of the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where the former RCB captain appeared to threaten Khaleel Ahmed in the presence of the legendary MS Dhoni.

The Kohli-Ahmed rivalry began during the third over of the match. CSK’s left-arm pacer bowled a bouncer that angled sharply outside. Widely regarded as one of the best players of the pull shot, Kohli attempted to execute the shot but was caught off guard by an unexpected extra bounce, which left him beaten.

Following the delivery, the tension escalated, with both players exchanging fierce glares. While RCB went on to win the match by a commanding 50 runs, the intensity of Ahmed’s stare lingered in Kohli’s mind, prompting him to confront the bowler after the game.

In a video that quickly went viral on social media, Kohli could be seen engaging in what appeared to be a light-hearted threat to Khaleel Ahmed during the customary post-match handshakes with MS Dhoni. Despite the amiable setting, it was evident that Kohli’s annoyance was palpable, and Ahmed seemed to be trying to smooth things over, although his efforts were in vain.

What particularly drew attention was Kohli’s reaction towards Ahmed after their handshake. While he shared a light moment with his national teammate Ravindra Jadeja, his demeanor changed completely as soon as Khaleel Ahmed came into view, showcasing a serious and focused expression.

Though it was challenging to discern the specific words exchanged, keen observers suggested Kohli warned Ahmed about their future encounters on the field.

In the broader context of the match, RCB celebrated a historic victory over CSK at their home ground for the first time since 2008. RCB set a target of 196/7, while CSK struggled, finishing at 146/8 in their 20 overs. As a result, RCB solidified their position at the top of the IPL 2025 points table, with CSK sliding down to seventh place.

In a historic Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a resounding 50-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), ending a 17-year-long wait for a win at the iconic venue. However, it was Virat Kohli’s heartfelt hug for MS Dhoni post-match that truly broke the internet, with fans hailing the emotional moment between the two legends.

RCB’s all-round performance ensured a statement victory, marking CSK’s heaviest defeat at Chepauk in IPL history. With this result in Match 8 of the season, the Bengaluru side also avenged years of losses at this venue since their only win back in 2008.

Patidar leads with the bat, David’s late blitz lifts RCB

RCB skipper Rajat Patidar led from the front, notching up his first half-century as captain. He scored 51 off 30 balls, benefitting from two dropped chances. While the middle order faced hiccups, Tim David’s late flourish — an unbeaten 22 off just 8 balls including three sixes in the final over — helped push RCB to a competitive total.

Earlier, Phil Salt got things going with a quickfire 32 off 16 balls, while Virat Kohli added 31 and Devdutt Padikkal chipped in with 27. Despite losing wickets in their push for quick runs, RCB ended strong, thanks to David’s explosive hitting.

Hazlewood, Dayal decimate CSK’s top order

Josh Hazlewood’s fiery opening spell disrupted CSK’s chase early, removing Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the same over. Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone supported with crucial strikes, and CSK soon found themselves reeling at 75/5 by the 12th over.

Rachin Ravindra showed promise with 41 off 31 balls, but he lacked support. Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin failed to convert their starts, leaving MS Dhoni to wage a lone battle at the end.

Dhoni fights back, breaks record

Despite the loss, Dhoni provided a silver lining for CSK fans. With an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls — including two towering sixes in the final over — he became CSK’s highest-ever run-scorer in IPL history, surpassing Suresh Raina’s tally.

His lightning-quick stumping of Phil Salt was another highlight, leaving fans in awe of the veteran’s reflexes even at this stage of his career.

Noor Ahmad was once again the pick of the bowlers for CSK, returning figures of 3/36 after a 4-wicket haul in the previous match. However, his efforts, along with Pathirana’s two wickets, weren’t enough to stop a determined RCB outfit.

Post-match moment wins hearts

As the dust settled on the field, it was Virat Kohli’s embrace with MS Dhoni that captured fans’ hearts. The camaraderie between the two stalwarts of Indian cricket became an instant sensation on social media, with fans celebrating the moment as a sign of mutual respect and admiration.