Mukesh Kumar's Fiery Four-Wicket Haul Powers DC to Commanding Win Over LSG

Delhi Capitals Beat Lucknow Super Giants by 8 Wickets to Close Gap at Top of IPL 2025 Table

Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their strong run in the IPL 2025 season with a dominant 8-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The victory brought DC level with Gujarat Titans at the top of the points table, with only net run rate separating the two teams. The match was highlighted by Mukesh Kumar's best-ever IPL performance, as he took 4 for 33 to break LSG's momentum and restrict them to 159 for 6.

Mukesh Kumar's 4-wicket haul and KL Rahul's unbeaten
fifty lead Delhi Capitals to an 8-wicket win over LSG in
 IPL 2025, closing gap on table toppers. @BCCI/IPL

KL Rahul, who was previously let go by LSG, guided DC to an easy chase with a calm unbeaten half-century. His effort, along with contributions from Abishek Porel and Axar Patel, ensured DC chased down the target with 13 balls to spare.

Mukesh Kumar Leads the Fightback

LSG looked set for a huge total after reaching 87 for no loss by the tenth over. Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh gave them a strong start, with Markram reaching his half-century off just 30 balls. However, DC turned the game around thanks to an incredible spell by Mukesh Kumar.

Mukesh used hard lengths and deadly yorkers to stop the flow of runs. He dismissed Abdul Samad with a return catch and bowled Marsh with a perfect yorker. In the final over, after being hit for three boundaries by Ayush Badoni, he came back strongly to clean bowl both Badoni and Rishabh Pant. Mukesh’s four-wicket haul brought LSG's run flow to a halt, as they managed only 72 runs in the last 10 overs.

LSG’s Confusing Batting Order

One of the most talked-about moments of the match was LSG captain Rishabh Pant walking in to bat at No. 7, with just two balls left in the innings. This was the first time Pant batted that low in an IPL game since 2016. He faced two balls, missed the first and deflected the second onto his stumps off his pads, falling for a duck.

Ayush Badoni, playing as an Impact Player, gave LSG a small boost with his quickfire 36 off 21 balls. Still, their total of 159 was their lowest of the season.

Mitchell Starc Strikes Again

Mitchell Starc, who returned to the playing XI, got rid of Nicholas Pooran with a clever slower bouncer. This marked the fifth time in seven innings Starc has dismissed Pooran in T20 cricket.

KL Rahul Shines Against Former Team

This was KL Rahul's first match against his former side LSG since being released by the franchise. The reunion turned out to be memorable for Rahul, as he played a match-winning knock of 57* off 41 balls. He also achieved a major milestone by becoming the fastest batter to reach 5000 IPL runs, doing so in his 130th innings.

Rahul was calm and composed during the chase. After a slow start, scoring 19 off his first 20 balls, he picked up pace and brought up his half-century with a slog-swept six off Ravi Bishnoi. He finished the chase with a six in the 18th over, sealing a convincing win for DC.

Porel and Axar Support Rahul

Opener Abishek Porel also played a key role, scoring 51 off 36 balls for his first fifty of the season. Porel built a solid partnership with Rahul after Karun Nair fell early. Once Rahul found his rhythm, Porel kept rotating the strike and played some confident shots.

Axar Patel, DC's captain, had a great day both with the ball and bat. He bowled four overs early in the innings and conceded just 29 runs. With the bat, he smashed an unbeaten 34 off 20 balls, starting aggressively and never looking back.

DC’s Tactical Bowling Plan Pays Off

DC captain Axar Patel showed smart captaincy by bowling his four overs in the first seven overs, allowing Kuldeep Yadav to bowl in the middle and death overs. Kuldeep’s spell in the 11th, 13th, 15th, and 17th overs gave away only 33 runs, building pressure during crucial phases.

Dushmantha Chameera, playing his first match of the season, also made an impact by taking the first wicket, which began LSG's collapse after their strong start.

LSG’s Troubles Continue

This loss adds to LSG's troubles in IPL 2025. Their batting collapse, poor use of resources like Mayank Yadav, and questionable captaincy decisions, such as sending Pant in so late, hurt their chances of posting a competitive total.

The team had a great powerplay, scoring 51 runs, with Markram being the aggressor. However, once he fell for 52 trying to hit over the off-side boundary, the rest of the batting line-up couldn’t keep the momentum.

DC Climb Up the Table

With this win, Delhi Capitals have now equaled Gujarat Titans in points. Their strong net run rate is a positive sign as they push towards playoff qualification. KL Rahul is in great form, Mukesh Kumar has hit his peak, and the team is clicking at the right time.

Conclusion: DC in Top Form as Playoffs Approach

Delhi Capitals' all-round performance against LSG highlighted their strength as a serious title contender. Mukesh Kumar's sensational four-wicket spell, Rahul’s composed half-century against his former team, and Axar Patel’s all-round brilliance sealed the win.

As the tournament progresses, DC looks to be peaking at the right moment, with players stepping up in crucial games. For LSG, however, it’s time to regroup and address their middle-order woes if they want to remain in the race for playoffs.

Stay tuned for more IPL 2025 match updates, scores, and in-depth analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. Who won the DC vs LSG match in IPL 2025?
   Delhi Capitals won the match against Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets in IPL 2025.
2. What were Mukesh Kumar’s bowling figures in DC vs LSG 2025?
   Mukesh Kumar took 4 wickets for 33 runs, his best-ever IPL performance.
3. How many runs did KL Rahul score against LSG in IPL 2025?
   KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 57 runs to guide Delhi Capitals to victory.
4. What was the total score of Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals 2025?
   LSG scored 159/6 while DC chased it down with 161/2 in IPL 2025.
5. Why didn’t Rishabh Pant bat earlier against DC in IPL 2025?
   Rishabh Pant came in at No. 7 and batted only in the last over, scoring a duck.
6. Who scored the fastest 5000 runs in IPL history?
   KL Rahul became the fastest player to reach 5000 IPL runs in just 130 innings.
7. Who was the top scorer for LSG in the match against DC 2025?
   Aiden Markram was the top scorer for LSG with 52 runs off 33 balls.
8. Which bowler dismissed Nicholas Pooran in DC vs LSG 2025?
   Mitchell Starc dismissed Nicholas Pooran with a clever slower bouncer.
9. How did Abishek Porel perform for DC against LSG 2025?
   Abishek Porel scored 51 runs off 36 balls, his first fifty of the IPL 2025 season.
10. What is DC’s current standing after beating LSG in IPL 2025?
    Delhi Capitals are now level on points with Gujarat Titans, separated only by net run rate.