Delhi Capitals continue to impress in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025, maintaining their unbeaten streak after securing a commanding six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, despite their flawless 4-0 record, DC sit in second place on the points table, trailing Gujarat Titans on net run rate.

Delhi Capitals are the only team yet to lose a match this season, having won all four of their opening fixtures. Their latest victory came over RCB, marking the Bengaluru-based team’s second consecutive home loss. However, Delhi’s net run rate of 1.278 places them just behind Gujarat Titans, who sit at the top with a marginally superior rate of 1.413.

Net run rate (NRR) often plays a critical role in determining table rankings when teams are level on points — as is the case currently between DC and GT.

KL Rahul breaks into Orange Cap top 10

Delhi’s skipper KL Rahul, who played a pivotal role in the win against RCB with an unbeaten 93-run knock, has climbed to the 8th position on the IPL 2025 Orange Cap leaderboard. His composed innings was instrumental in helping DC chase down the target with 13 balls to spare, further bolstering their run rate and team morale.

The Orange Cap is awarded to the season’s highest run-scorer, and with this performance, Rahul is steadily positioning himself among the tournament’s leading batters.

England’s newly appointed white-ball captain Harry Brook has finally spoken out about his two-year ban from the Indian Premier League (IPL), calling his international commitments a greater priority than franchise cricket. The batter was acquired by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 mega auction for Rs 6.2 crore but pulled out days before the season began — a decision that led to his suspension from IPL auctions until 2027.

In an interview with The Mirror, Brook stated that he was at peace with his choice and would continue to prioritise representing England across formats.“This is my priority. England is the way forward for me and franchise cricket can almost take a step back for little while,” said the 26-year-old. “At the end of the day, I enjoy playing cricket for England more than anything else. To lose a little bit of money here and there, I’d take that any day to play for England.”

Brook added that he would not participate in any franchise tournaments in the near future, focusing instead on England’s packed international calendar leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.

IPL ban not officially communicated, says Brook

Interestingly, Brook claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had not formally informed him of the two-year IPL ban. “They haven’t told me,” he said, while acknowledging that the decision aligns with the tournament’s rules. “If I do get banned, fair play. That’s the rules they put in place, but I’m completely committed to playing cricket for England,” he added.

The decision comes in the wake of growing club-versus-country debates, especially with star players like Brook having to manage workloads across formats and continents.

Brook was recently named England’s new white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s departure, with a clear mandate to revitalise the team’s fortunes in both ODI and T20 formats after a string of underwhelming performances at global tournaments.

The young skipper is also a key figure in England’s red-ball setup. With 11 Tests scheduled until the end of the upcoming Ashes in January, and over two dozen white-ball fixtures before the 2026 T20 World Cup, Brook will play a central role in balancing leadership, form, and fitness.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar has openly criticised his team’s middle-order collapse during their six-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite a promising start, RCB failed to maintain momentum, crumbling under pressure as spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam turned the game around.

In a post-match statement, Patidar expressed disappointment at the team’s poor shot selection and lack of composure. “60 for one, and then 90 for four — that is not acceptable,” he said. Though Patidar acknowledged that the batters were in good mental space and showed intent early on, he criticised their inability to assess the conditions properly.

Phil Salt gave RCB a blazing start, taking the score to 61/1 within the fourth over. But a series of quick wickets saw them slide to 91/4 and eventually post a below-par 163/7. Tim David’s late 37-run knock offered some resistance, but it was too little, too late.

“We thought it would be a nice batting track. We were lacking in assessing the conditions and the situation,” Patidar added.

KL Rahul guides DC to comfortable win

Player of the Match KL Rahul anchored DC’s chase with a composed unbeaten 93, helping his side reach the target with 13 balls to spare. Speaking after the match, Rahul credited his sharp reading of the wicket to his time behind the stumps.

“It was slightly tricky, but consistent and one-paced. Watching 20 overs from behind the stumps helped me assess the pitch,” Rahul said. Familiarity with the ground also played a role: “This is my home ground, I know it better than anyone else,” he added.

Rahul’s calculated shot selection and deep understanding of field placements were pivotal in navigating the chase.

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel lauded his team’s growing confidence, as they extended their winning streak to four matches. He revealed that bowling spin in the powerplay was a strategic decision based on surface behaviour and match-up analysis.

“Everyone is playing with confidence. I felt RCB preferred pacers, so we introduced spin early,” Axar said.

He also heaped praise on Rahul for his adaptability and composure: “Having a player like him, who can change positions and play mature innings, is a huge asset. He’s carried his Champions Trophy form here.”