Delhi Capitals will aim to shrug off the topsy-turvy period of late and get straight into action in the upcoming 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League. Here’s a side who struggled in the tournament from 2013 to 2018 before mending ways with playoff qualification in the next three seasons. However, DC were once again pegged back thereafter finishing 5th, 9th and 6th across the last three editions.
The talking point for DC ahead of the 2025 IPL season is the withdrawal and subsequent two-season ban of Harry Brook from the auction. DC had got Brook at the auction and he was a vital player but with him gone, they will now have to change their batting personnel. With Faf du Plessis being named vice-captain, he now becomes a direct replacement for Brook in the side. What it also does is that the position of KL Rahul is now changing. It remains to be seen how he fits in.
DC named Axar Patel as their skipper which seems a bold move. Axar’s meteoric rise for Team India played a part in this decision. DC are a side that has a good batting unit and a solid pace-bowling segment. They will also rely on two spinners to hand them 8 overs. It’s expected to be a pace-domination strategy. DC now need to get the balance right and that’s a task for the management led by Hemang Badani and Kevin Pietersen.
Here are 5 reasons why the Capitals can make their presence felt in the IPL 2025 season alongside highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
The presence of Axar Patel as skipper can help DC calm down
Axar Patel has become a main asset for Team India in white-ball cricket. He has played key roles for the side in their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and then the ICC Champions Trophy wins under Rohit Sharma. Axar picked nine wickets in the T20 World Cup at an average of 19.22 and another 5 wickets with an economy rate of 4.39 in the Champions Trophy. He has also raised his level as a batter, making him a potent all-rounder.
The stage is now set for the left-arm spinner to mould DC. Being an integral part of India will help him gain a lot of confidence and the learnings may reflect well in his captaincy. It’s a big chance for him to shine. Axar has 239 wickets in T20s at 27.15. He also owns over 3000 runs in the format.
DC’s batting has a nice blend despite Brook’s withdrawal
DC will now look up to Jake Fraser-McGurk and du Plessis as openers. Fraser-McGurk impressed largely in the nine matches he played for DC last season. He struck at a stupendous 234.04 and scored 330 runs at 36.66. He is someone who can set the power play on fire. 266 of his runs came in the first six overs at a strike rate of 250.94. He averaged a solid 53.20. Du Plessis is one of the legends in IPL and he will be the perfect foil from the other end. He could be asked to play a longer knock with others revolving around him.
Abishek Porel and KL Rahul provide more meat and substance. By chance if Porel struggles to find his rhythm, DC can utilise the in-form Karun Nair, who is a viable option from the bench. Axar can be a floater and to keep the right and left hand combination, he could promote himself to number 5. As finishers of the team, you have Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma.
KL Rahul’s versatility and change of approach can help DC
Rahul has been one of the most consistent batters in the IPL and owns a truckload of runs. He has largely been opening in the tournament earlier for Punjab and Lucknow, respectively. Now with DC, his role will need to change. Rahul could come in at number 4 for the side and asked to play a more proactive brand of cricket. His strike rate was a concern when he opened for Punjab and LSG despite the runs. So DC will not want his 500-600 runs a season but a more impactful presence given they have Faf upfront.
If Rahul can shred his caution and go more in the aggressive frame of mind, his stroke play will boost DC. Also he doesn’t have the burden of captaincy. This will work well for him. Rahul either at three or 4 will have a set role and this comes as a strength and also an opportunity.
A prolific pace attack on offer with excellent death bowling
DC managed to get Mitchell Starc in the auction. He is the leader of this pack. Starc grew into his mould at the latter stages of the IPL last season for KKR and helped them win the trophy. A fresh Starc can set things on fire. He can be versatile across any stage. Backing Starc is another left-arm pacer T Natarajan. The former SRH pacer is superb at the death. The presence of Mohit Sharma will help DC. He is another excellent customer in the middle and death overs. And then you have Mukesh Kumar, who can be impactful in the power play and also come in when needed at the death. DC also have Darshan Nalkande and Dushmantha Chameera as back-ups.
DC’s team balance and presence of two solid spinners will aid them
DC have a set batting unit until number 7 with a good mix atop, middle and lower-middle order. They can also use four prominent bowlers and then bring someone like Mukesh or Mohit as an Impact Player. So DC will have a sox-bowling option strategy with 4 pacers and two spinners. By chance if they need an extra batter as Impact Player when in trouble, Nair can come in. In this case, they will play 5 bowlers and extract the 20 overs.
In Kuldeep and Axar, you have two seasoned international spinners which are massive. Their 8 overs will be crucial for DC.
Strengths of DC
A solid bowling unit if everyone stays fit. There can be consistency across phases. They have depth in batting and also can still name a replacement for Brook as a security on the bench.
Weaknesses of DC
A third spin option would have helped them. Chameera isn’t a like-to-like replacement for Starc. So Starc needs to remain injury-free. Another all-rounder would have helped DC.
Verdict of DC
DC need to get their balance right in terms of batting positions. If things click for them, then a top-four berth is likely. They get an able skipper in Axar, and the pace unit, in particular, is serious. The batting has the ingredients to come good as well.