By Krishna Dua 🏏 IPL 2025 Today: DC vs PBKS Showdown – Will Starc or KL Rahul Shine in the Capital?
As the heat intensifies in IPL 2025, fans are bracing for a high-octane clash today between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. With stars like Mitchell Starc firing with the ball and KL Rahul leading the PBKS charge, this encounter promises to be one of the standout games of the season.
In this blog, we provide an in-depth match preview, detailed pitch report, updated IPL 2025 squads, current player form, and expert fantasy cricket tips.
🗓️ Match Details
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Match: Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS)
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Date: May 23, 2025
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Time: 7:30 PM IST
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Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
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Streaming: JioCinema, Star Sports
🏟️ Pitch Report – Arun Jaitley Stadium
The pitch at Delhi has traditionally been a batting-friendly surface, offering good bounce and carry early on. However, as the game progresses, spinners tend to come into play, especially in the middle overs. The average first innings score here in IPL 2025 has hovered around 175-185. Chasing has worked well, thanks to the shorter boundaries and evening dew.
Dew Factor: Likely to influence the second innings
Best Strategy: Win toss and field first
👥 DC vs PBKS: Updated Squads for IPL 2025
🔵 Delhi Capitals (DC)
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Batters/WK: Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Karun Nair, Donovan Ferreira
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All-Rounders: Axar Patel, Sameer Rizvi, Ajay Mandal, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari
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Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Dushmantha Chameera
🔴 Punjab Kings (PBKS)
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Batters/WK: KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, Sediqullah Atal
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All-Rounders: Ashutosh Sharma, Manvanth Kumar
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Bowlers: T. Natarajan (leading pacer), support from a mix of local and overseas bowlers
🌟 Key Players to Watch – IPL 2025 Match Preview
🔥 Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals)
The Aussie speedster has rediscovered his rhythm in IPL 2025, consistently bowling at 145+ km/h and striking early. He will be key to breaking the PBKS top order, especially with the new ball.
🔥 KL Rahul (Punjab Kings)
Now at the helm of PBKS, KL Rahul’s calm leadership and classical stroke play make him the anchor around which the Punjab innings revolves. If he gets going, PBKS can post or chase down any total.
🔥 Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals)
A dynamic middle-order batter, Stubbs is among DC’s top run-getters this season. He can accelerate the innings effortlessly and is also handy behind the stumps.
🔥 Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals)
Axar continues to be the glue in the DC setup — containing runs with the ball and finishing games with the bat. His all-round skills make him a top fantasy pick.
🔥 T. Natarajan (Punjab Kings)
Known for his pinpoint yorkers, Natarajan has been clinical at the death. His ability to keep run rates in check will be crucial against Delhi’s power hitters.
| Player | Matches | Runs/Wkts | Avg/Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 9 | 328 runs | Excellent (Avg 41) |
| Mitchell Starc | 8 | 14 wkts | Lethal (Eco 7.5) |
| Tristan Stubbs | 7 | 220 runs | Consistent |
| Axar Patel | 9 | 120 runs, 9 wkts | All-Round Star |
| T. Natarajan | 8 | 12 wkts | Reliable |
🧠 Fantasy Cricket Tips – DC vs PBKS
Looking to win big in fantasy leagues today? Here are your expert picks and strategies:
🎯 Must-Have Picks:
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KL Rahul – Current form and leadership role
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Mitchell Starc – Powerplay wicket-taker
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Tristan Stubbs – X-factor with bat and gloves
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Axar Patel – Dual utility in both innings
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T. Natarajan – Valuable in the death overs
🧩 Suggested Fantasy XI:
Batters: KL Rahul (C), Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs
WK: Donovan Ferreira / Abishek Porel
All-Rounders: Axar Patel (VC), Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma
Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T. Natarajan, Mohit Sharma
✅ Tip: Choose Starc or Stubbs as captain in small leagues; KL Rahul or Axar in grand leagues.
🔍 Head-to-Head – DC vs PBKS
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Matches Played: 32
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DC Wins: 16
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PBKS Wins: 15
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Last Encounter (2024): DC won by 5 wickets (Stubbs – Player of the Match)
📣 Final Verdict – Who Will Shine?
It’s a battle between Delhi’s explosive pace and Punjab’s solid batting. If Starc strikes early, DC will have the upper hand. But if KL Rahul anchors the innings and PBKS survives the powerplay, expect a close chase.
Prediction:
Delhi Capitals have a slight edge with home advantage and bowling firepower. However, Punjab Kings will fight hard to keep their playoff hopes alive.
📌 IPL 2025 – What’s Next?
Today’s DC vs PBKS showdown is crucial in the context of playoff positioning. With just a few games left in the league stage, every match counts. Stay tuned for more match previews, fantasy tips, and performance reviews as IPL 2025 rolls on!
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