The Delhi Capitals began IPL 2025 like a blazing rocket — winning their first four matches in a row with flair and confidence. Fans were dreaming playoffs, maybe even a title. But then, the rocket crashed hard. In their last nine games, DC managed just two wins, missing out on the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. What makes this collapse even more painful? For the first time in IPL history, a team that won its first four matches failed to reach the playoffs. Ouch.
And if you think luck was against them, think again. DC actually got some breaks this season. Remember that no-result against Sunrisers Hyderabad? DC was struggling at 133/7 after 20 overs but got a reprieve when the match was called off. Or the abandoned game in Dharamsala where Punjab Kings were cruising at 122/1 in just 10.1 overs. Despite these chances, Delhi Capitals couldn’t capitalize. So, what went wrong?
First, their opening combinations were a mess. They tried seven different pairs in just 13 matches — from Jake Fraser-McGurk with Faf du Plessis, to KL Rahul with Faf, and even Abishek Porel with Karun Nair. Stability at the top was missing, and it showed in their inconsistent starts. If only they had stuck with one or two combinations, maybe things would have been different.
Batting woes extended beyond the openers. Only KL Rahul made it to the top 20 run-scorers, ranking 6th. The next best, Abishek Porel, was 23rd with 301 runs but had three single-digit scores in his last four innings — far from the consistency needed at the top order. Overseas stars struggled too: Faf du Plessis averaged just 22 with a strike rate of 121 in eight matches, and Fraser-McGurk scored a mere 55 runs in six games.
The backups didn’t inspire confidence either. Sameer Rizvi averaged 21 with a strike rate of 117, while Karun Nair, after a blazing 89 early on, managed only 65 runs in his next six innings. The batting lineup lacked firepower when it mattered most.
On the bowling front, Mitchell Starc was their highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 10 innings but leaked runs at an economy over 10 — hardly the kind of control a team needs. Kuldeep Yadav started strong with 10 wickets in six games but then lost his wicket-taking ability, claiming just one in his last five innings. Mukesh Kumar, bought for 8 crores, took 11 wickets in 11 matches but was expensive, conceding runs at over 10 an over, including a disastrous 27-run over that crushed their chances against Mumbai Indians.
So, Dilliwalo, this season was another bitter pill. A rocket start, yes, but a chaotic middle and a crash landing. Four seasons in a row without playoffs, despite immense talent and high hopes. The question remains — when will Delhi Capitals break this cycle and truly rise? For now, it’s another year, another heartbreak.
