IPL 2025, DC vs LSG: Decoding the key player battles
What's the story
Delhi Capitals (DC) will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the fourth match of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on March 24.
Both sides would be keen to start their campaigns on a high after missing out on playoffs last year by the narrowest of margins on net run rate discrepancies.
Here are the key player battles that might be on display.
#1
KL Rahul vs Ravi Bishnoi
According to several reports, KL Rahul would bat in the middle order this season.
If he does so, his tussle with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the middle overs would be enticing.
As per ESPNcricinfo, leg-spinners have trapped the star batter 14 times across 62 T20 innings.
The star batter averages 40.2 in this battle. Notably, Rahul and Bishnoi shared the LSG camp in the preceding three seasons.
#2
Axar Patel vs Shahbaz Ahmed
DC skipper Axar Patel has grown his stature as a batter in recent years. Having proven his mettle in India colors, he is likely to bat in the top six.
The southpaw could go head-to-head with left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed in the middle overs.
It won't be an easy challenge for Shahbaz as Axar owns an average and strike rate of 53.3 and 163.3, respectively, against left-arm spinners in T20 cricket.
#3
Rishabh Pant vs Mitchell Starc
LSG skipper Rishabh Pant played some brilliant knocks last season. His former team would not want to see his carnage.
The southpaw's battle with left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc is to watch out for.
Though Pant has fallen to left-arm fast bowlers 10 times across 45 T20 innings, he has a brilliant strike rate of 152.9 in this regard.
#4
Kuldeep Yadav vs Nicholas Pooran
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been all over Nicholas Pooran in T20 cricket, having dismissed the left-handed batter five times.
Hence, Pooran averages under 15 against Kuldeep in T20 cricket. The spinner trapped the southpaw once across two meetings last year as well.
Meanwhile, Pooran scored a 27-ball 61 in his last outing against the Capitals.