MUMBAI: Facing a daunting situation where they have to win both their last two league matches to give themselves a chance to qualify for the playoffs, the Delhi Capitals are badly missing Australian left-arm pace ace Mitchell Starc (14 wickets in 11 matches@26.14), who decided against travelling back to India after his terrifying experience at Dharamsala during the war-like situation.
Starc also has to join the Australian team in its preparations for the World Test Championship final against South Africa from June 11-15 at Lord's, London.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In Starc's absence, DC suffered a 10-wicket thrashing by Gujarat Titans, as their openers Sai Sudharshan (108 not out) and skipper Shubman Gill (93 not out), raced away to 205 for no loss in 19 overs while chasing 200 in their last match in Delhi on May 18.
Who's that IPL player?Ahead of his team's do-or-die match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, former India pacer and Delhi Capitals' bowling coach Munaf Patel admitted his side will miss Starc in this key match, especially on the normally pace-friendly Wankhede wicket, but there was no point in dwelling over it.
"“We don’t have our main bowler in Mitchell Starc and we have to decide who has to bowl with the new ball. It will matter because he is our main fast bowler who (he) bowls at 145 kmph, swings the ball. Obviously, coming off that loss (to GT), here at the Wankhede where the ball does move (off the surface) and there is bounce, there has been a lot of discussion on it. It matters 100 per cent, but when there is no option, you have to think of other alternatives, you cannot get stuck thinking 'oh he is not there now, what will happen?'. You have to move ahead with whatever (players) you have and ensure they perform," Munaf said on Tuesday.
Patel revealed that DC's in-form 'keeper-batter KL Rahul, who is just seven short of the 500-run mark in this IPL and is coming into this game after an unbeaten century against GT in the last outing, suggested to the team management that he would switch to the opening slot to help the team's cause, as Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk didn't return for the rest of the tournament. "He is batting extraordinarily, he has scored runs in all positions. He puts his hand up whenever the team is in need. He only suggested that he would open the innings because the opening pair wasn't settling down and went on to make a hundred," Patel praised.
IPL extends extra time for matches by one hourMeanwhile, in order to counter the threat of rain spoiling the rest of IPL 2025, the BCCI has extended the extra time stipulated for an IPL match by an hour with "immediate effect." All IPL games from Tuesday night will have an extra waiting period of 120 minutes, instead of the extra hour earlier.
"Obviously the weather has been threatening most of the games and it's a decision that they've collectively taken. If it helps, it helps, but if you have serious rain, I don't know whether the extra hours are going to help. But as long as we can get a game with the extension... Everyone wants to play a game of cricket rather than not play," Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene said.
Rahul hit in the nets, but is 'fine'Delhi Capitals’ KL Rahul suffered a minor injury scare in the nets when he was hit by a delivery on his right knee by DC seamer Mukesh Kumar. Visibly in pain, Rahul walked off the nets after being struck by the ball, but sources in DC informed that the batter was "fine."
Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
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