Delhi Capitals are enjoying a strong campaign in IPL 2025 so far. What’s clicking for them, and what sets them apart from the rest?
In a tournament as volatile and unpredictable as the Indian Premier League, dominance is never bought, it is built. And in IPL 2025, no team is building their story better than the Delhi Capitals (DC).
Six games, five wins. Different heroes in all matches. What was initially dismissed as a rebuilding year after the loss of their former skipper Rishabh Pant has turned into a revelation. If ever there was a lesson in how to turn heartbreak into hope, DC are scripting it with purpose.
Solid auction strategy
In the IPL 2025 mega auction, Delhi lost their long-time leader and fan-favourite Rishabh Pant to Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore, a move that left the Capitals’ faithful stunned and the team’s prospects questioned. But cricket often rewards the ones who adapt. And DC didn’t just adapt, but they transformed as well.
Armed with a clear strategy and focus, the Capitals walked into the auction with surgical precision. They retained a strong core — Tristan Stubbs, the South African dynamite whose finishing skills have matured beautifully, Kuldeep Yadav, whose resurgent form has made him a middle-over menace, Axar Patel, now the captain and heartbeat of the squad, and the gutsy young keeper-batter Abhishek Porel, who’s emerged as an unlikely opening hero.
From securing the calm and calculated KL Rahul, to snapping up Mitchell Starc, arguably the most feared T20 new-ball bowler in the world, and adding the evergreen Faf du Plessis, DC covered every base. Karun Nair, Ashutosh Sharma, and Vipraj Nigam brought the X-factor, young Indian flair with the hunger to shine on the big stage.
Read More: IPL 2025, DC vs RR, Highlights: Starc’s precision helps Delhi win a thriller, go top of the table
A new hero every night
What truly sets DC apart this season, however, is unpredictability. In a league where teams often ride the form of one or two stars, the Capitals have unleashed a new match-winner in nearly every game.
Match 1 vs LSG: Reeling at 66/5 chasing 210, DC were staring at defeat. Then came a miraculous partnership between Ashutosh Sharma (68* off 31) and Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15) to pull off one of the greatest turnarounds in IPL history.
Match 2 vs SRH: Mitchell Starc turned back the clock with a five-wicket haul, dismantling Hyderabad’s top order in a brutal spell. Faf’s composed fifty sealed the deal.
Match 3 vs KKR: KL Rahul played a textbook innings, anchoring the chase with a majestic 77 off 51 and reminding critics why he’s still a match-winner.
Match 4 vs RCB: Under pressure, Rahul doubled down with an unbeaten 93, guiding DC to a confident six-wicket win in a tricky chase.
Match 6 vs RR: After losing McGurk and Karun Nair early, the young Abhishek Porel anchored the innings with 49 runs and gave the team a solid base, on which Rahul, Stubbs and Axar capitalised upon.
Read More: IPL 2025, RCB vs DC, Highlights: Rahul’s 93*, Vipraj-Kuldeep 4-35 help Delhi maintain clean sheet
Defined roles in the team
Perhaps the most understated aspect of DC is clarity. Every player knows exactly what is expected from them. Abhishek Porel and McGurk attack the powerplay. Karun Nair takes on the No 3 mantle with the flair of a veteran. KL Rahul provides structure and stability at No. 4, floating gears as needed. The middle and lower orders- Stubbs, Axar, Ashutosh, and Vipraj- come in waves, ensuring there’s never a quiet phase.
With the ball, Starc and Mukesh Kumar handle the early pressure, Kuldeep and Axar throttle the middle overs, and the remaining overs are stitched together with smart matchup-based bowling options.
Impressive bench strength
DC’s bench strength is a story in itself. T. Natarajan, the man with the deadliest yorkers in crunch overs, is yet to be called upon. Dushmantha Chameera, with his searing pace, hasn’t bowled a ball yet. This abundance of riches will allow the Capitals to rotate seamlessly in the latter half of the tournament, managing player fatigue, and tactically adjust to surfaces and opponents.
Read More: Karun Nair’s brilliant run continues into IPL 2025: Reasons for his transformation
The Axar Patel effect
Leadership in T20 cricket is about more than just bowling changes and field placements—it’s about belief. And Axar Patel, once seen as the quiet workhorse, has stepped into the captain’s shoes with surprising authority.
His calm demeanour belies a fierce strategic mind. He leads by example, chipping in with economical spells, landing finishing blows with the bat, and always being the glue when the team looks wobbly. The trust he exudes has permeated the dressing room, turning rookies into game-winners and seniors into mentors.
His words in the post-match presentation will prove how calm and composed he has been throughout. “I am having a lot of fun on the field and off the field. I am doing what I think is right. I am not following a template. I back myself. I am not too experienced [as a captain] but it’s not like I am turning to other people for help. Of course, I listen to everyone, but I back myself for the decisions I am making. Because you need to know what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. I am enjoying myself so far,” he said after winning the close encounter against Rajasthan.
In a format that demands instant impact and unrelenting intensity, the Capitals have struck a rare equilibrium: the calm of experience meets the fire of youth.
The road is long. The playoffs are still distant. But momentum matters, and the Capitals have seized it like a lifeline.
Read More: IPL 2025: Teams that have punched above their weight in first two weeks
