A week after their chaotic exit from Dharamsala amidst geopolitical turbulence, Delhi Capitals return to their fortress at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, seeking to re-ignite their playoff ambitions against table-toppers Gujarat Titans.
Delhi’s campaign has stuttered. Just one win in their last six completed games leaves them scrambling for momentum at a crucial juncture. Their last outing was suspended midway, with Punjab cruising at 122/1 in 10 overs. While the abandonment spared them another probable defeat, it only adds to their inconsistencies of late. Further compounding matters is the unavailability of Mitchell Starc, who has opted out of the remainder of the season.
GT, meanwhile, are close to sealing a top-two finish. With 16 points in 11 games, a solitary win in their remaining three will confirm qualification. Buttler’s confirmed departure post-league phase is a future problem – for now, he remains a lynchpin of an elite top order. Their top three – Buttler, Gill, and Sai Sudharsan – are all among the top-five run-getters this season.
Match Details
- Match: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans, Match 60, IPL 2025
- Date: Sunday, May 18
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Pitch & Ground Report – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Average 1st inns score | 215 (since IPL 2024) |
| Par score | 180 (without dew) |
| Spin v Pace (Wkts) | 26 vs 19 |
| Spin v Pace (Econ) | 8.23 vs 10.45 |
The pitch remains dry and conducive for batting early on, though it tends to grip as the ball gets older. Dew could play a role later in the evening, nudging par scores upwards. Spinners have held sway this season at this venue – expect them to be in play again.
Tactical Insights & Matchups: DC vs GT
Kuldeep vs Susharsan: One wicket, 22 runs in 20 balls – can keep him quiet
Buttler vs Spin: Kuldeep and Axar have dismissed Buttler thrice each in T20s.
Rabada v DC Openers: Has 5 dismissals of du Plessis and 3 of KL Rahul.
Probable XIs
Delhi Capitals:
Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (wk), Karun Nair/Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (C), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, T Natarajan
Unavailable: Mitchell Starc
Likely late arrival: Mustafizur Rahman
Gujarat Titans:
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Arshad Khan, Gerald Coetzee/Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna
Unavailable post-league: Jos Buttler (but available for this game)
Fantasy Dream11 Picks
Wicketkeepers
- Jos Buttler (C/VC): 500 runs in 11 games, SR 170+ at this venue.
- Tristan Stubbs: Reliable finisher, clean striker.
- Abishek Porel: Impactful cameos at the top.
Batters
- Shubman Gill (C/VC): 508 runs, but average of 15.25 in 4 games at Delhi.
- Sai Sudharsan (C/VC): 509 runs at 56.55, Mr. Consistent.
All-rounders
- Axar Patel (C/VC): All-phase player, key with both bat and ball.
- Sai Kishore: Dry pitch could suit his subtle changes in pace.
Bowlers
- Prasidh Krishna: High-impact wicket-taker, has dismissed KL Rahul thrice.
- Mohammed Siraj: Effective in PP; has 18 wickets in 14 games vs DC.
- Kuldeep Yadav: Quiet phase, but could thrive against GT’s lefties.
- Dushmantha Chameera: Pace off, effective on Delhi’s surface.
Player Stats & Matchups to Know
Mohammed Siraj vs DC
- Matches: 14 | Wkts: 18 | SR: 16.9 | BBI: 2/23
KL Rahul vs Prasidh Krishna
- Runs: 67 | Balls: 59 | SR: 113.5 | Dismissals: 3
Jos Buttler in Delhi (T20s)
- Inns: 8 | Runs: 357 | SR: 170.8 | 100s/50s: 1/2
Shubman Gill in Delhi
- Runs: 61 in 4 innings | Avg: 15.25 | SR: 117.3
Captaincy Picks
- Jos Buttler – Proven match-winner with excellent numbers at Delhi
- Sai Sudharsan – Consistency personified, top-2 run-getter this season
- Shubman Gill – In-form, but beware of Delhi struggles
- Axar Patel – Dual value and matchups favour him
