The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 rolls into Visakhapatnam tonight as Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) lock horns in the fourth match of the season at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. The action begins at 7:30 PM IST, promising an enthralling start to the cricketing week.
This encounter marks a significant chapter for both teams, particularly for former LSG captain KL Rahul, who embarks on a fresh journey with Delhi Capitals. Freed from captaincy responsibilities, Rahul will be a key figure in DC’s batting lineup at their adopted second home in Visakhapatnam. The captaincy reins for DC now rest on the shoulders of Axar Patel, following Rishabh Pant‘s departure from the team. Interestingly, Pant will be leading the visiting team.
Beyond the individual narratives of Rahul and Pant, this match is a crucial test for both franchises as they aim to forge new identities after significant squad overhauls in the off-season. Both teams are eager to make a strong early statement in the tournament.
The team from Delhi has bolstered its squad with impactful additions like Faf Du Plessis, Mitchell Starc, Mohit Sharma, and T Natarajan, adding experience and firepower to its ranks. They have also retained a strong core of players including Mukesh Kumar, Abishek Porel, the explosive Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tristan Stubbs, and the wily Kuldeep Yadav.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants have brought in Shardul Thakur, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, and Abdul Samad, while retaining key players from last season such as Nicholas Pooran and Ravi Bishnoi. However, LSG face an immediate challenge in their bowling department, with their frontline Indian fast bowlers – Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep – all currently sidelined with injuries.
History suggests that this encounter could be a high-scoring affair. The last IPL match at this venue witnessed a staggering 272 runs scored by Kolkata Knight Riders. Given the injury concerns plaguing the LSG pace attack, the host will be keen to exploit this vulnerability and showcase their attacking prowess. Adding another layer of intrigue, both previous IPL matches hosted at this stadium were won by the team batting first, a statistic that could influence the captains’ decision at the toss.
Head-to-Head:
Lucknow Super Giants hold a slight edge in previous encounters, leading DC three wins to two. Notably, Delhi’s victories came in the last season, setting the stage for a potentially close and competitive battle tonight.
Where-to-Watch:
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