MI ROCK DELHI CAPITALS in IPL 2025 with SKY and Santner in devastating form

In the good old days of first-class cricket in India, the rivalry between Delhi and Bombay was massive. Most famous cricketers from the 70s and 80s who were part of famous battles in the Ranji Trophy went on to eventually represent India in international cricket, which, mostly was Tests. It was much later ODIs emerged and became famous after Kapil Dev and his boys won the World Cup in 1983.

Cut to today, rivalry in first class cricket is now meek, nay timid. And people from this generation will talk of rivalry in the Indian Premier League only. At the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night, the contest between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians turned out to be damp squib. No, the pre-monsoon showers did not hit one of the most famous cricket centres in India, but the force with which Suryakumar Yadav smashed runs and was backed up by brilliant bowling from Mitchell Santer and Jasprit Bumrah was defining.

Delhi has changed names from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals in the IPL and Bombay of past in first class cricket is now Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Yes, there may not be too many Delhi guys in the Capitals’s side, but MI certainly do have locals. And that was defining as MI, five time IPL champions, hammered DC by 59 runs to seal their spot in the Playoffs.

This has turned out to be an interesting summer for the two teams. For Delhi Capitals, the initial runs in the IPL 2025 was great. By and by, they have looked so disoriented and disjointed, ghosts of the past have returned to haunt Axar Patel’s men. The captain takes flak for bad performances as well as praise for the good showing. If one talks of a pilot in command in air, then what an Indigo flight achieved on Wednesday night while landing in Srinagar after massive turbulence and a blown nose cone was defining. Passengers in their seats were being rocked but the Commander of the flight landed safely on the tarmac.

This is just a comparison of how a Captain is the Commander. For sure, Axar Patel has been uninspiring. As someone who has been with DC for a few years and elevated as captain for the 2025 season, he has failed. The hype around him has been massive but as a bowler and batter and a leader he has failed. Yes, the DC team did post an apology of sorts from its official social media handle, where Hemang Badani tendered an apology. It does not work, as the wafer-thin fan base of Delhi Capitals will get eroded further.

Conditions at the Wankhede Stadium were not conducive for strokeplay. Yet, the burst of fire from Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir towards the end of the MI innings was defining. They plundered 48 runs off the last 12 balls which enabled the hosts to score 180 in 20 overs. For those who have started imagining scored above 200 only will suffice, certain truths must be comprehended. Wickets are now worn out, and to expect true bounce and batters hammering the ball won’t happen. Unless, of course, you are a batter in the SKY style. It is refreshing to see Surya shine like the sun, since he had been waylaid for a brief period. His unbeaten 73 off 43 balls was an assault of the worst type as the DC bowlers suffered.

For those on social media and predicting a great chase from Delhi Capitals, they had forgotten how resplendent MI are on home turf as they have staged an effective comeback this season. The initial part of the campaign in the summer of 2025 was shaky but skipper Hardik Pandya looks well in command. The same man who was subjected to abuse and racial slur on social media in 2024 when he was appointed captain by MI is now a leader who delivers.

He will be a happy man MI are in the Playoffs. After all, one cannot forget, Hardik had done well for Gujarat Titans before he was grabbed by MI for a lucrative deal. Hardik has faced a lot of personal problems as well, yet, he has not let all that affect his cricket. He is able to put in a 100 per cent and to bring the best out of the MI boys/men is defining.

For sure, Mitch Santner was in the mood to tease and torment Delhi Capitals, as he grabbed three wickets. Then came the master class from Jasprit Bumrah, the world class fast bowler who is suited for all formats. Perhaps, even if you ask him to bowl on a desert strip where the surface is zero bounce, he will do something with the ball, red or white. BOOM’s burst was defining as he took 3 for 12 in 3.2 overs. To break the back/tail of the Delhi side was defining as MI are on a hot streak.

As for the hype over DC and how KL Rahul failed in a key match, tongues will wag. He scored 11, after falling to Trent Boult. That DC did not have one batter who would show spine was a sad sight. Tongues will wag. DC were in for criticism when people said Rishabh Pant was useless as captain in 2024. What’s the big deal about Axar Patel? Nothing. His side has flopped in the IPL 2025. Forget peaking early, the team was lacklustre in the crucial phase when it needed to showcase solid performances.