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IPL 2025 DC vs LSG: Rahul vs Pant Clash Spotlight on Kick Off the Season with Renewed Hope

A New Chapter with Old Rivalries: Rahul vs. Pant as DC and LSG Clash in IPL Opener

The IPL has always been a stage where players face their former teams, but this season, the drama is dialed up a notch. KL Rahul, the former captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), now dons the Delhi Capitals (DC) jersey, while Rishabh Pant, IPL’s costliest auction signing this year, returns to face his old franchise DC—this time as the leader of LSG. Adding to the intrigue, the two teams will kick off their campaigns against each other in Visakhapatnam on Monday evening.

The last memories of Rahul with LSG were marked by an animated discussion with team owner Sanjiv Goenka after their exit from IPL 2024. Goenka later emphasized the need for players with a “winning mindset,” while Rahul sought an environment where he felt “loved and cared for.” Now, Rahul begins a fresh chapter with DC, relieved of captaincy duties, which have been handed to Axar Patel following Pant’s emotional departure. Meanwhile, Pant, who received a hero’s welcome in Visakhapatnam last year after his miraculous comeback from a career-threatening accident, will lead LSG with a point to prove.

But this match is more than just a personal showdown between Rahul and Pant. It’s a clash of two teams eager to redefine themselves after significant squad overhauls. DC has revamped its support staff and bolstered its bowling attack with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Mohit Sharma, and T Natarajan, while retaining key players like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mukesh Kumar. On the other hand, LSG faces a challenge with their Indian pace battery—Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep—either injured or in rehab, and Mohsin Khan ruled out. This could set the stage for a thrilling contest between LSG’s explosive batting and DC’s reinforced bowling.

New Loyalties, Fresh Beginnings

Pant, who played all 111 of his IPL matches for DC since his debut in 2016, will face his former team for the first time. For Rahul, who led LSG to back-to-back playoffs, this is an opportunity to make a statement with the bat, continuing the aggressive form he showcased during India’s Champions Trophy triumph.

Mitchell Marsh, who had a stellar IPL 2022 with DC (251 runs and a best of 89) and a strong bowling performance in 2023 (12 wickets at 14.16), now joins LSG as a specialist batter due to recurring injuries. His presence adds depth to LSG’s lineup, but his fitness remains a concern.

Team News and Probable XIs

Rahul joined DC on the eve of the match but may miss the game due to personal reasons. If unavailable, Karun Nair, fresh off a prolific domestic season, could step in. Jake Fraser-McGurk, a standout in IPL 2024, has struggled recently, managing just 188 runs in ten BBL innings, with 95 coming in a single knock.

Delhi Capitals (Probable XI):

1. Jake Fraser-McGurk
2. Faf du Plessis
3. Abishek Porel
4. KL Rahul (wk)
5. Tristan Stubbs
6. Axar Patel (capt)
7. Ashutosh Sharma
8. Sameer Rizvi/Mohit Sharma
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Mitchell Starc
11. T Natarajan
12. Mukesh Kumar

LSG has brought in Shardul Thakur as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan, but gaps remain in their pace attack. Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep are all sidelined, leaving LSG’s bowling unit under pressure.

Lucknow Super Giants (Probable XI):

1. Yuvraj Chaudhary
2. Mitchell Marsh
3. Rishabh Pant (capt, wk)
4. Nicholas Pooran
5. Ayush Badoni
6. David Miller
7. Abdul Samad
8. Shahbaz Ahmed
9. Rajvardhan Hangargekar
10. Ravi Bishnoi
11. Shamar Joseph
12. Prince Yadav

The Big Question: Where Should Pant Bat?

Data suggests Pant could be unleashed as an opener, given the presence of spin-bashers Nicholas Pooran and David Miller in the middle order. Pooran boasts the best strike rate (154.31) against spinners in the middle overs since IPL 2019, while Miller strikes at 135.38—both significantly higher than Pant’s numbers. This strategic move could maximize LSG’s firepower.

In the Spotlight: Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur

Axar Patel steps into his first full-time IPL captaincy role, bringing with him a wealth of experience from leading Gujarat in domestic cricket. A key player in India’s recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy victories, Axar’s all-round abilities and tactical acumen will be crucial for DC.

Shardul Thakur, initially unsold in the auction, earned a late call-up to LSG after impressive domestic performances. With his county stint postponed, Thakur has another chance to showcase his all-round skills and stake a claim for national selection.

Key Stats

• LSG’s win percentage of 73% when batting first is the highest among all teams since IPL 2022.
• DC’s pace attack had the poorest economy rate (10.7) in IPL 2024, putting pressure on their revamped lineup to deliver.
• KL Rahul has scored 3,958 runs since 2018—the most by any batter in the IPL during this period.
• Nicholas Pooran leads the six-hitting charts in T20s since 2024, with 187 sixes, far ahead of Heinrich Klaasen’s 117.

Pitch and Conditions

Visakhapatnam’s pitch has a reputation for high scores, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) smashing an IPL record 272 here last year. While the Andhra Premier League in August saw 200 crossed only once in 19 games, the IPL’s star-studded lineups promise a different story. In all T20s played here, the scoring rate is 9.2 runs per over, making it the third-highest among Indian venues, behind Hyderabad (9.7) and Bengaluru (9.2). Expect a run-fest under the lights!

As the IPL season begins, this clash between DC and LSG promises to be a thrilling encounter, blending old rivalries with new aspirations. Who will emerge victorious in this battle of reinvention? Let the games begin! 🏏