Mumbai Indians Clinch Thrilling 12-Run Win Over Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025
In what was a pulsating encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, Mumbai Indians (MI) held their nerve to claim a dramatic 12-run victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 29 of the TATA IPL 2025. Despite a scintillating 89 off 40 balls from Karun Nair, a stunning hat-trick of run-outs in the final overs helped MI edge out DC in a high-scoring thriller.
The Toss and Early Innings
The match started with DC winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Skipper Axar Patel’s decision seemed to work initially, as MI lost their captain, Rohit Sharma, in the fifth over. Rohit, having just started to find his rhythm, was dismissed for a 18 after being trapped LBW by the golden arm of Vipraj Nigam.
However, Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav were unfazed by the early setback. The duo quickly counterattacked, with Rickelton being especially aggressive against the pace of Mitchell Starc. MI raced to 59/1 by the end of the powerplay, a strong foundation for the middle order.
As Rickelton neared his half-century, Kuldeep Yadav spun his magic, cleaning up the South African for 41 off 25 balls with a stunning googly in the eighth over. With the momentum shifting again, Suryakumar Yadav found a solid partner in Tilak Varma. Together, they added 60 runs for the third wicket, keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Kuldeep again provided the breakthrough, dismissing Surya for a well-made 40 off 28 balls in the 14th over. In the next over, Vipraj Nigam struck again, sending Hardik Pandya back for a duck, leaving MI at 128/4.
Despite these setbacks, Tilak Varma stood firm, anchoring the innings and bringing up a fantastic half-century. His knock of 59 from 33 balls was the backbone of MI’s innings. Naman Dhir then provided the finishing touch, blazing 38 off just 17 balls as MI posted a competitive 205/5 from their 20 overs.
Kuldeep and Vipraj were the pick of the bowlers for DC, both picking up two wickets apiece, while Mukesh Kumar grabbed one.
DC’s Chaotic Chase
Chasing 206 for victory, Delhi Capitals had the worst possible start when Jake Fraser-McGurk handed a straightforward catch to Will Jacks off Deepak Chahar’s first ball. However, what followed was an explosive counterattack from Impact Player Karun Nair, making his first appearance of the season.
Alongside Abishek Porel, Nair launched a brutal assault, hammering 72 runs in the powerplay, including 29 off two overs from Jasprit Bumrah. Nair brought up his half-century in just 22 balls – his first IPL fifty in seven years – and continued his domination, with DC reaching a commanding 113/1 by the halfway mark.
MI, however, was not ready to give up just yet. Karn Sharma, who had been a bit off-color early in the tournament, came back into the contest with a vengeance, removing Porel for a quickfire 36 in the 11th over. Just a ball later, Nair’s whirlwind innings came to a sudden end as Mitchell Santner cleaned him up for a blistering 89 off 40 balls, which included 12 fours and five sixes.
With Nair’s departure, MI started to claw back into the contest. Bumrah removed DC’s skipper Axar Patel for just 5 in the 13th over, and Karn Sharma struck again in the 14th, dismissing Tristan Stubbs. From a promising 119/1, DC suddenly found themselves in deep trouble at 145/5, with 61 runs required from just 36 balls.
The Final Twist: A Hat-Trick of Run-Outs
KL Rahul and Ashutosh Sharma tried to steady the ship for DC, but the pressure was mounting. Karn Sharma returned to claim his third wicket with a brilliant caught-and-bowled to dismiss Rahul for 15. As the chase slipped further from DC’s grasp, the drama reached its peak in the 19th over.
In one of the most extraordinary sequences seen in recent IPL history, MI pulled off an incredible hat-trick of run-outs on three consecutive deliveries! The entire DC camp was left shell-shocked, as the run-outs completely derailed their chase and left them needing 23 runs from 12 balls with just three wickets remaining.
Vipraj Nigam kept the faintest of hopes alive with a six and a four off Mitchell Santner, but he was stumped in the same over. With 17 required off the final 10 balls, Ashutosh Sharma played a couple of sensational boundaries off Bumrah to spark a last-gasp fightback. But MI’s bowlers had the last laugh, as the final over saw the remaining wickets tumble, and DC were dismissed for 193, falling short by 12 runs.
Conclusion
It was a thrilling contest where both teams fought tooth and nail, but it was MI’s experience and composure in the death overs that ultimately secured them a crucial 12-run win. Karn Sharma’s three-wicket burst was the turning point, but it was the series of dramatic run-outs that sealed DC’s fate in one of the most riveting finishes of the season.
For DC, despite a valiant knock from Karun Nair, the defeat marks their first loss of the season. MI, on the other hand, will be buoyed by this win, as they march ahead with crucial points in the highly competitive IPL 2025.
This game had everything – explosive batting, tactical bowling, and a finish that will go down in IPL history. It’s safe to say the 2025 season has already delivered its fair share of drama, and we can’t wait for more!