DC vs LSG Preview – Delhi lock horns with Lucknow in their opening encounter

Delhi Capitals will take on Lucknow Super Giants in Match 4 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. This match is not only important for the teams but also for the players involved, particularly KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, who have swapped franchises ahead of the season.

Capitals enter the season with a fresh perspective under the leadership of Axar Patel. The team has seen major transformations, with Rahul joining as the new wicketkeeper-batter after Pant’s release. Delhi’s strength lies in their top order, with Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Rahul putting up a solid top-three. However, Patel’s inexperience as a full-time captain will be a concern. The middle order, featuring young talents like Ashutosh Sharma and Abhishek Porel, has the potential to make a difference, while Mitchell Starc will be leading the bowling attack. However, there are reports that Rahul is unlikely to play that game as confirmed by Australia’s women’s cricket team captain Alyssa Healy, who is the wife of Starc.

On the other hand, LSG has invested heavily in Pant, acquiring him for INR 27 crore and naming him captain. The squad consists of a power-packed batting lineup with Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller. However, their bowling attack will be a weak link, due to lack of experience. Injuries to pacers Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Avesh Khan also will be a threat they need to look into.

Pitch Report

The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam is set to host two of Delhi Capitals’ matches in the tournament’s opening week. The pitch is known for producing high-scoring games, where batters can trust the surface to play their shots. However, bowlers, especially pacers, can find some early movement with the new ball. Spinners have also found help in recent times, making an impact as the game progresses. While the pitch provides a good balance between bat and ball, the batters need to make the most of the conditions.

Probable Playing XI

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, T Natarajan.

Impact Players: Ashutosh Sharma/Karun Nair

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan.

Impact Players: Abdul Samad/Akash Deep