Rain Ends SRH’s Playoff Dreams, Gives DC a Lifeline
Rain Ends SRH’s Playoff Dreams, Gives DC a Lifeline
IPL 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad was eliminated from the playoff race after its home game against Delhi Capitals was washed out. With three games left in the season, the Sunrisers can only get to 13 points if they win their remaining matches.
Due to heavy rain, the Sunrisers' hopes to play ended in IPL 2025 while giving Delhi Capitals (DC) a crucial point in their bid to finish in the top four. DC will likely see this as a point gained rather than lost, especially after Pat Cummins’ brilliant bowling performance had put SRH in control at the innings break.
Rain started just after DC finished their innings at 133/7, and even after putting a lot of effort to clear the field, the outfield remained too wet for play to resume before the official cut-off time of 11:42 PM. Which is why SRH didn’t get the chance to play, and the match got cancelled.
Cummins’ Early Strikes Put DC in Trouble
The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was tricky, as it has that extra grip and very much bounce for balls pitched on a hard length. Cummins, known for his ability to exploit such conditions, took the new ball himself with Mohammed Shami left out. He struck on the very first ball, dismissing Karun Nair with a delivery that straightened and found the edge.
Cummins continued his dominance, using wobbly seam deliveries that either stopped on the batter or deviated just enough to find the edge. In just 19 balls, he had taken three wickets, with Ishan Kishan taking three catches behind the stumps.
With Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat also picking up wickets, DC found themselves struggling at 29/5 in the eighth over. Unadkat’s dismissal of KL Rahul summed up the tough batting conditions on most IPL pitches. Rahul would have timed his drive perfectly, but here, the ball straightened just enough to take the edge. Kishan became the first keeper in IPL history to catch out an entire top four in an innings.
Stubbs and Ashutosh Help DC Recover
After the early collapse, Tristan Stubbs led DC’s fightback, first adding 33 runs with Vipraj Nigam for the sixth wicket. However, Nigam was run out after a mix-up, leaving both batters stranded at the same end. Stubbs then built a 66-runs partnership with Ashutosh Sharma, who was brought in as an Impact Player.
Ashutosh played a key role in DC’s late surge, smashing three sixes in his 26-ball 41. His aggressive batting helped DC score 61 runs in the last six overs, giving them a respectable total despite their early struggles. Stubbs remained unbeaten on 41 off 36 balls, ensuring DC had something to defend.
Rain Ends SRH’s Playoff Chances
Just as SRH prepared to chase, rain interrupted play, and despite waiting for the weather to clear, the outfield remained too wet for the match to resume. With three games left, SRH can now only reach a maximum of 13 points, while four teams already have 14 or more, officially knocking them out of the playoff race. DC, sitting at 13 points from 11 games, still has a chance to qualify.
This match was a huge setback for SRH, as they had bowled brilliantly but never got the chance to chase. Meanwhile, DC will be relieved to get a point, keeping their playoff hopes alive.