DC vs RR Super Over | Delhi Capitals Beat Rajasthan Royals in Super Over | IPL 2025 Match 32 Recap

Super Over Glory: Delhi Capitals Edge Rajasthan Royals in a High-Stakes IPL 2025 Thriller

Summary

In a breathtaking Match 32 of IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals held their nerve to defeat Rajasthan Royals in the season’s first Super Over after both teams ended tied on 188. The clash, filled with drama, injuries, and clutch performances, kept fans at the edge of their seats and reaffirmed the heart-racing nature of T20 cricket.

A High-Octane Start for Delhi Capitals in Front of a Roaring Home Crowd

Delhi Capitals walked into this clash on the back of a loss and needed to regain momentum. With the Arun Jaitley Stadium buzzing, DC opted to bat first and made a promising start through their young wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel. His 49 off 37 anchored the innings while KL Rahul added a composed 38 from 32 deliveries to stabilise the middle phase.

Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs provided the fireworks in the final overs. Axar’s 34 off just 14 and Stubbs’ 34* off 18 showcased Delhi’s depth and ability to accelerate under pressure. What could have been a 170-ish score quickly swelled to 188/5 thanks to an 11-ball final over from Sandeep Sharma that included four wides and a no-ball, gifting Delhi 19 crucial runs.

That chaotic last over became a defining moment. Sharma, known for his control, looked out of rhythm and left RR scrambling to restrict a soaring run rate. Compounding RR’s woes, their captain Sanju Samson was warned by the umpire for standing too deep behind the stumps an uncharacteristic lapse for the experienced wicketkeeper.

Rajasthan Royals’ Chase and Samson’s Untimely Blow

Rajasthan’s reply was swift and aggressive. Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal raced to 61 in under six overs, attacking with precision. Samson, particularly, looked ominous until a sudden rib spasm forced him to retire hurt after scoring a brisk 31 off 19. This unexpected injury came at the worst possible time, disrupting RR’s momentum and forcing a reshuffle.

Jaiswal continued the assault and reached his half-century off 35 balls, smacking four sixes along the way. Nitish Rana was the standout middle-order contributor, scoring a rapid 51 from just 28 balls. Despite losing Parag cheaply, RR stayed in the hunt through Dhruv Jurel’s energetic 26 and Shimron Hetmyer’s calculated 15* off 9.

Heading into the final over, Rajasthan required 9 runs a chaseable ask under most circumstances.

The Mitchell Starc Masterclass in the Final Over

Delhi’s trump card Mitchell Starc was handed the responsibility to bowl the 20th over. With composure, variations in length, and ice in his veins, Starc bowled an impeccable over. His first five deliveries yielded just six runs. The final ball, with two needed, saw Dhruv Jurel scramble a single before being run out by a sensational combination of Stubbs, Axar, and KL Rahul. The scores were tied, and for the first time this season, a Super Over was called upon.

Starc’s figures didn’t scream dominance, but his execution under pressure proved why he remains one of the world’s most feared bowlers in crunch situations.

The Super Over – Delhi Hold Nerve, Rajasthan Falter

Rajasthan Royals were visibly shaken, and Starc was once again the hero as he bowled the Super Over. Bowling to Jaiswal and Hetmyer, he mixed searing yorkers with deceptive slower balls, conceding just 6 runs. A below-par total, especially on a batting-friendly Delhi surface.

Delhi Capitals sent Stubbs and Axar Patel to chase. Sandeep Sharma, looking to redeem himself, started well with a dot and a single. But Stubbs cracked a boundary through extra cover on the third delivery and Axar Patel lofted the fifth ball to the mid-wicket boundary to finish the match in style.

DC completed the Super Over without losing a wicket, grabbing two crucial points and elevating themselves to the top of the table with 10 points from six games.

Samson’s Injury Overshadows RR’s Spirited Fight

While the match will be remembered for its thrilling end, Rajasthan Royals now face a bigger concern—Sanju Samson’s fitness. The skipper’s rib injury, sustained during a promising innings, forced him to retire and possibly sit out of future games. Coach Kumar Sangakkara admitted post-match that Samson’s absence hurt the team’s composure during the chase.

Sandeep Sharma’s final over, along with an inconsistent bowling performance from RR’s spinners, highlighted the areas where RR lost their grip. Despite Rana’s effort and Jaiswal’s early aggression, the lack of a finisher in Samson’s absence proved costly.

Turning Point and Takeaways

Cricket experts unanimously agreed that the final over of DC’s innings, where Sandeep conceded 19 runs, proved pivotal. While RR’s batting looked fluent, that margin of extra runs came back to haunt them. The other defining factor? Delhi’s superior fielding Stubbs’ throw and Axar’s quick release in the last ball of regulation turned a certain loss into a lifeline.

For DC, the game reinforced their balance. From Porel at the top, to Stubbs and Axar at the finish, and Starc with the ball, every department clicked. Even KL Rahul, still new to the setup, was effective with bat and behind the stumps.