The 2025 Indian Premier League season saw its first Super Over as Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals at home. The scores were tied (188) before the Capitals defeated RR in the Super Over at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Mitchell Starc, who starred when RR required nine runs off the final over, stepped up in the one-over eliminator. Mitchell Starc is our Player of the Day.
Mitchell Starc conceded 20 runs in his opening spell, with 19 coming in his second over. However, Mitchell Starc showed his brilliance when RR were cruising at 158/2 in 17 overs. He dismissed a well-set Nitish Rana, which was the match’s turning point. Mitchell Starc bowled searing yorkers when RR required nine runs off the last over. With two required off one ball, Dhruv Jurel was run-out.
Mitchell Starc instilled all his experience when RR were in the driving seat (required 31 runs off 18 balls). This was when he dismissed Rana, who was batting at 51 off 27 balls. Starc’s astute yorkers makes him our Player of the Day.
Aussie speedster changed the course of the game in the Super Over for DC
Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc nails his yorkers to bamboozle RR chase as DC return to the top of the points table with first win on their ‘real’ home turf. After a see-sawing 40-over skirmish highlighted by Mitchell Starc’s yorkers, Delhi Capitals pipped Rajasthan Royals in a Super Over at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Despite losing skipper Sanju Samson to an injury early during the 189-run chase, Rajasthan Royals maintained their grip on proceedings almost till the end. It took the whole roster, from Yashasvi Jaiswal to Nitish Rana and finishers Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel, to take the game deep. But when left-arm speedster Mitchell Starc decided to roll up his sleeves with his famed yorker assortment, the league reconnected with the Super Over madness for the first time in four years.
Even the nerves of the tie-breaker didn’t hamper Mitchell Starc’s irresistible accuracy, forcing the Hetmyer-Jaiswal-Riyan Parag trio to run hard between wickets, turning desperation into two run-outs with a ball to spare. Rajasthan Royals fans were left fuming after the team’s defeat to Delhi Capitals, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. The DC vs RR match was decided in the Super Over, and questionable strategical decisions by the hosts led to a defeat.
In the Super Over, RR were batting first, and decided to go with left-handers against DC pacer Mitchell Starc. During the run-chase Starc was pivotal for DC, and when RR needed 31 off 18 balls, he conceded only eight runs in the 18th over and also got 50-up Nitish Rana, with a yorker. In the final over with RR needing nine runs, Starc’s heroics enforced a Super Over, and then once again, he came out on top, restricting them to only 11/2.
However Mitchell Starc was surprized with RR mentor Rahul Dravid’s bizarre decision making during the super over and openly spoke about it.
Was a bit of surprise to see left handers come in- Mitchell Starc
Speaking after the match, Starc revealed that he was surprised by RR’s decision to send left-handed batters against him in the Super Over. The home side and their head coach Rahul Dravid decided to go with Shimron Hetmyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal was the other left-handed batter. Starc only faced problems against Riyan Parag, who is right-handed, and Dravid’s plan didn’t work out.
Speaking after the match, Starc was asked about RR’s decision to go with left-handed openers in the Super Over
“Was a bit of a surprise to see left-handers come in with my angle as the ball was tailing back in. Got one wrong there with the side line no-ball, but we had the batting depth then to chase that down”, he said.
The win sent DC to top of the IPL 2025 points table with 10 points in six matches, packed with five wins and a defeat. Meanwhile, RR are eighth with two wins and five losses. Axar Patel’s captaincy has been a breath of fresh air for DC this season, as they were skippered by Rishabh Pant until last season.