On the brink of elimination, Sunrisers Hyderabad return to home conditions on Monday (May 5) as they gear up to take on the inconsistent Delhi Capitals, hoping to inject fresh life into their fading IPL 2025 campaign, reports Live Cricket Score.
The Capitals are just outside the playoff spots, sitting on 12 points from 10 games. After a blistering start to their season, winning five of the first six, their form nosedived once they returned home. They’ve now lost three of their last four, and with only four games left—three of them against teams currently above them on the points table—the pressure is mounting on Axar Patel’s men to turn things around quickly.
Delhi’s recent defeats have exposed a lack of collective effort with the bat, though individual players have occasionally stepped up. Encouraging signs include KL Rahul’s consistent returns as the team’s top scorer, along with Faf du Plessis making a strong comeback with a half-century in the previous game. But if they are to clinch a playoff spot, Delhi’s batting unit must deliver as a whole, especially with all their remaining fixtures scheduled at high-scoring venues.
Axar Patel has been a standout performer this season, not just with his captaincy but also with the bat. He regularly promoted himself in the batting order and played crucial knocks when needed. While he hasn’t picked many wickets, he’s played a key role with the ball despite a pre-season injury. A recent knock to his bowling hand has raised concerns, though his appearance with the bat in the last game and the five-day break since then suggest he’s likely to be fit for Monday’s clash.
Meanwhile, SRH’s campaign has gone off course despite retaining the experienced core from their 2024 runner-up finish. Unlike last season when they were comfortably inside the top four at this stage, they now struggle with just six points from 10 games. With only two wins in their last five and four games left, they remain in the race only mathematically—and even that will require favourable results elsewhere and a winning streak.
When: Monday, May 5 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
What to Expect: A batting-friendly pitch with a preference for chasing sides—four of five games here this season have been won by teams batting second. Although SRH hold a 2-3 record at home, they’re the only team to have successfully defended a total at this venue. The weather is expected to be clear, with no rain interruptions.
Head-to-Head: SRH 13 – 12 DC. In Hyderabad, both teams have won three games apiece out of six encounters.
Team Watch
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Injuries/Unavailability: No fresh injury concerns reported for the hosts.
Tactics & Match-ups: Abhishek Sharma remains one of SRH’s bright spots in an otherwise turbulent season. He has a positive record against Kuldeep Yadav, scoring 38 runs off just 13 balls with two dismissals.
Probable XII:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Mohammed Shami
Delhi Capitals
Injuries/Unavailability: Axar Patel picked up a minor injury to his left hand in the last match but is expected to be available. No other fitness concerns.
Tactics & Match-ups: Mitchell Starc has enjoyed success against Travis Head in the IPL, dismissing him twice in just seven deliveries—a matchup DC will be looking to exploit early.
Probable XII:
Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Axar Patel (C), Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma
Did You Know?
Travis Head’s strike rate dropped from 191.55 in his first three matches to 133 in the subsequent seven.
Mitchell Starc has taken 10 wickets in just four matches against SRH since the 2024 season.
What They Said
Karun Nair (Delhi Capitals):
“We’ve had a bit of a break to reset and reflect. With four games to go, now is the perfect time to peak and get things back on track.”
Daniel Vettori (SRH Head Coach):
“These final games are crucial—not just for the franchise but for the players. A strong finish can bring a lot of optimism as we look ahead.”
