In a breathtaking encounter at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Delhi Capitals (DC) pulled off a remarkable one-wicket victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the fourth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
This dramatic win, achieved after chasing down a formidable target of 210, will be etched in IPL history as Capitals’ highest successful run chase and the first time LSG have conceded a chase exceeding 200 runs.
DC captain won the toss and elected to field, a decision that initially seemed to backfire as Lucknow’s batsmen came out firing. The powerplay was a rollercoaster, with Mitchell Marsh starting aggressively against Mitchell Starc. However, debutant Vipraj Nigam provided an early breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous Aiden Markram (15) in the fifth over. Despite this setback, LSG capitalized on the fielding restrictions, reaching a formidable 64/1 at the end of the powerplay.
The middle overs saw Nicholas Pooran unleash a brutal assault on the Capitals’ bowling attack. Nigam and Tristan Stubbs faced the brunt of his aggression as Pooran raced to a blistering half-century in just 24 balls. While Mukesh Kumar managed to dismiss Marsh (72), and Kuldeep Yadav accounted for Rishabh Pant, Pooran remained the dominant force.
Pooran’s dismissal in the 15th over, after a scintillating knock, triggered a noticeable shift in momentum. LSG innings lost its earlier impetus, adding only 40 runs in the remaining 31 legal deliveries. Credit must be given to the Capitals’ bowlers, particularly Starc, for tightening the screws and restricting the scoring. Despite the late slowdown, LSG still managed to post a formidable 209/8, equaling their highest six-hitting tally in an IPL innings (16), a feat they also achieved against the same opponent in Lucknow in 2023.
Chasing a daunting 210 for victory, DC endured a nightmarish start to their innings. Shardul Thakur‘s opening over was a demolition act, claiming the wickets of the explosive Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel in quick succession. Manimaran Siddharth further compounded DC’s woes by dismissing Sameer Rizvi, leaving them at a precarious 7/3.
A brief glimmer of hope emerged as Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel launched a counter-attack, injecting much-needed momentum into the chase. However, Digvesh Patil broke the budding partnership by dismissing Axar (22). Just when it seemed DC were finding their footing, Ravi Bishnoi struck, removing the well-set du Plessis (29). With half their side back in the pavilion, and a daunting 122 runs still required from the last 10 overs, the odds were heavily stacked against DC.
But the drama was far from over. Stubbs and the relatively unknown Ashutosh Sharma refused to surrender. They began to find the boundary regularly, keeping Delhi Capitals’ hopes alive. The equation remained steep, but the duo’s fearless approach injected belief into the DC camp.
Delhi Capitals reached the 100-run mark in the 12th over, but the real fireworks were yet to come. Sharma, in particular, played an innings of sheer brilliance and audacity. Facing what appeared to be an insurmountable situation at 113/6, with a significant target still looming and recognized batsmen running out, the contributions of debutant Nigam (a quickfire 39 off 15 balls) and Stubbs (a resilient 34 off 22 balls) were crucial in setting the stage for Ashutosh’s heroics.
Sharma’s explosive hitting was the defining factor in Delhi Capitals’ improbable victory. His sensational knock of 66 runs from just 31 balls, punctuated by five boundaries and five towering sixes, completely turned the game on its head. He displayed remarkable composure and power under immense pressure, dismantling the Super Giants’ bowling attack and guiding his team to a memorable win.
This thrilling victory not only secured two crucial points for DC but also etched their names in the IPL record books. The successful chase of 210 is their highest ever in the tournament’s history, and it marked the first instance of a team successfully chasing a target exceeding 200 against LSG.
Unsurprisingly, the Player of the Match award was bestowed upon the hero of the hour, Ashutosh Sharma, for his game-changing innings that will be talked about for years to come.
Scorecard:
Lucknow Super Giants: 209-8, Overs 20, Nicholas Pooran 75, Mitchell Starc 3/42
Delhi Capitals: 211-9, Overs 19.3, Ashutosh Sharma 66*, Shardul Thakur 2/19
