IPL 2025 Pulse - Week #4

April 14

It's now 4/5 for DC...

Delhi Capitals' unbeaten run in IPL 2025 has come to an end, with Mumbai Indians staging a late fightback to bundle out the hosts for 192 in the chase of 206. It was DC's first home game in Delhi, and it's not been an auspicious start. Nonetheless, there were some positive signs, none more obvious than the way Karun Nair took the attack to Jasprit Bumrah. Karun, who has returned to play an IPL game for the first time in three years, had mentioned ahead of the season that' his desire to play for India again is still burning, and he gave good evidence of that.

... but 4/4 for RCB

The Rajat Patidar-led RCB have continued to dominate away from home. Earlier on Sunday, they raced away to a comfortable 9-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. Despite an extremely below-par performance on the field, they managed to restrict the hosts to 173 for 5, a total they chased down with 15 balls to spare. It was Phil Salt again leading the chase, with another dominating performance in the PowerPlay, which helped RCB secure their fourth straight win away from home.

The spin choke

Even on the small ground of Kotla, spin has played quite a role in recent years. On Sunday night, the MI spin-twins, Karn Sharma and Mitchell Santner, eventually guided them to a come-from-behind win. Roshan Gede has you covered with how the spin choke worked, in the latest edition of Data Shorts.

What's in store?

The hope of CSK ending their worst-ever run in IPL - of five straight defeats.

They are coming up against Lucknow Super Giants in their bid to end this streak. However, concerns are plenty, especially in the batting department. To put into perspective, CSK have hit 32 sixes this season, only one more than Nicholas Pooran's tally. But Stephen Fleming isn't fretting about the big hits. He is hoping for improvement in other aspects.

They have roped in Mumbai's 17-year-old opener Ayush Mhatre as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad, but it remains to be seen if he will find any game time.

April 13

SRH had a good day with the bat... This means, some records tumbled

- Abhishek Sharma at Hyderabad is the highest individual score by an Indian batter in an IPL innings (141)

- 10 sixes hit by Abhishek Sharma is the most sixes by an SRH batter in an IPL innings.

Despite the loss, there were some records for Punjab Kings as well on Saturday night...

- Their total of 245 was Punjab Kings' highest first innings score.

For detailed numbers, check out this elaborate piece by Shashikant Singh. If you like to consume your data in short, Deepu Narayanan has you covered as he explains how on a batting paradise, SRH pacers used their death bowling variations early to reap minor rewards.

But who is leading the carnage?

Abhishek Sharma's assault last night may have faded the memory of how good Nicholas Pooran was earlier in the day, as Lucknow Super Giants thumped Gujarat Titans. It wasn't a one-off show. The West Indian has been the best batter so far this IPL season. Prakash Govindasreenivasan has you covered. He explains what works for the hard-hitting southpaw and how his potential has been unlocked with LSG.

GT's double blow

It's not just the on-field loss against LSG which would hurt Shubman Gill & Co. They have also lost the services of one of their overseas picks. Glenn Phillips, the star of New Zealand's Champions Trophy campaign recently, has left the IPL without getting a chance to feature in a single game. He has suffered a groin injury and won't take any further part this season for Gujarat Titans.

What's in store today?

RCB are back on the road, and they wouldn't be complaining. They are coming up against Rajasthan Royals, who have just started to find some rhythm, in Jaipur. Despite recent wins, they have been far from their best and with uncertainty over Wanindu Hasaranga's availability, there are more concerns to deal with.

However, before that clash, Delhi Capitals are set to meet Mumbai Indians at home. With MI struggling to fire as a unit even after the return of Jasprit Bumrah, there is every reason to believe for Axar Patel's team to believe that they can make it five wins in five games.

April 12

CSK lose another...

It was set to be a happy affair. "Thalla," as Ravi Shastri reminded everyone at the toss, was returning as the captain and it was meant to be a celebration. Instead, what played out was a horror show. A score of 18/2 after five overs, Deepak Hooda as impact player (meaning Pathirana was out of the equation) and limping score of 103/9, which KKR chased in 10.1 overs to inflict CSK's third home defeat in a row.

Some stats to chew

This was the biggest defeat margin for CSK in terms of balls remaining in IPL.

For the first time, CSK have lost five consecutive games in their IPL history, and this is also the first time CSK have lost three games in a row at Chepauk in a season.

103/9 by CSK was the second lowest total by any team at Chepauk after RCB's 70 all-out against CSK in 2019

Six CSK wickets fell to spin; it's the most for them in an IPL innings.

Hussey still hopeful!

Batting coach Michael Hussey is still hopeful of his side bagging a playoff spot. "We are certainly not putting the white flag up just yet," Hussey said after CSK's massive loss to KKR. "You only have to get in to scrape into that fourth place. And a big, long tournament like the IPL, it is about momentum.

KKR get the powerplay right

KKR entered Friday's game with the worst PowerPlay average (56.20) and just five new-ball wickets. Their pacers pitched full only twice, with Arora sticking to a good length (7m). Further, on a grippy Chepauk pitch with two left-handers opening, Moeen Ali replaced Johnson and took the new ball. He struck early, dismissed Conway, and bowled the season's first maiden over by a spinner. It was also the first time KKR bowled multiple PowerPlay spin overs in IPL 2025. Moeen's spell: 2-1-4-1.

Hussey's test: stick or slip?

Five losses in a row. Chepauk fortress in tatters. CSK's season may be slipping but loyalty? That's being scored now. "We are going to find out who our true supporters are, the ones that really stick with us!" said Hussey at the press conference.

Narine into the act

Figures of 4-0-13-3, including the wickets of Tripathi, Jadeja and Dhoni. And then explosion with the bat, something nobody saw coming on a sticky Chepauk turner. 44 runs, 18 balls. No wonder, he was named Player of the Match. But he felt it still wasn't the perfect match for him. "Next time hopefully I can get a catch as well," he reckoned, referring to the dropped catch of Vijay Shankar.

What's on today?

LSG aim to distance themselves from mid-table traffic as GT would look to build on their impressive run of wins. SRH, on a sequence of losses, will seek revival against in-form PBKS. What sort of a pitch will Hyderabad serve? How will Digvesh Rathi fare against Sai Kishore, the two spinnovators?

April 11

4/4 for table toppers DC

The Delhi Capitals, the only unbeaten team in this year's IPL, extended their winning run by handing RCB a 6-wicket drubbing. On an atypical Chinnaswamy surface, RCB's dashing start failed to materialize into a big score. They ended up with 163 and even had DC in trouble at 58/4. But a rescue act from KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs saw the visitors chase the target down without any further hiccups. Read more about all that transpired.

Son of the soil wins the crowd over

The M. Chinnaswamy stadium might be RCB's home but KL Rahul arrived and showed why it's more his home than theirs. With his side in dire straits, Rahul batted masterfully en route to an unbeaten 93 off 53 that not just resurrected his team but also won over the RCB faithfuls leaving them chanting "Rahul! Rahul! Rahul" by the time it was all over. Rahul was able to assess the 'home' conditions that RCB have been struggling with this season. Through his masterful display, he has left some cues for the Rajat Patidar-led side.

DC douse Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood, powerplay savant and a man who's been instrumental to RCB's success so far, curiously was bowled for just one over in the powerplay. He was taken apart by DC's batters and had a rare off-day with his figures reading 0/40 off 3 overs.

The spin difference

On a wicket that was stopping and holding a little, DC's wrist-spinners were the difference between the two sides. Between them, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam shared figures of 4/35 to cripple RCB through the middle overs.

Captain Cool back at the helm

Yep, you heard that right - MS Dhoni has been handed the reins again. With Ruturaj Gaikwad being ruled out for the rest of the season, CSK have turned to their doyen and will hope that he weaves his magic once more to turnaround what's so far been a disastrous campaign.

Battered fortress braces for another assault

The Knight Riders are here hoping to be the third entourage to plunder the Chepauk fortress this season. CSK find themselves in an unenviable position having lost four of their five games and desperately need the fort to hold this time around. Read more about everything that's in store for tonight's clash.