Starc's 5-wicket haul sinks SRH as Delhi Capitals win by 7 wickets in IPL 2025

When Mitchell Starc ripped through the Sunrisers Hyderabad batting lineup with a career-best five-wicket haul, it wasn’t just a match-winning spell — it was a statement. Delhi Capitals crushed SRH by seven wickets on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, wrapping up a 166-run chase in just 16 overs. The win wasn’t just about runs or wickets; it was about momentum, nerve, and the quiet return of a legend who’d been absent for weeks.

SRH’s batting collapse: Too much risk, not enough reward

Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and chose to bat — the first time in IPL 2025 that the captain opting to bat actually followed through. It looked like a bold move, especially after their 200+ chase against Punjab Kings earlier in the week. But the script flipped fast. Aniket Verma, the 22-year-old opener, played like a man possessed — 74 off 41 balls, six fours, five sixes, pure chaos in motion. For a while, it seemed SRH might post 200. Then Starc walked in. The Australian left-arm fast bowler, playing his first full match for Delhi Capitals this season, was surgical. He bowled 4 overs, conceded just 18 runs, and took five wickets — including the crucial dismissals of Verma, Abhishek Sharma, and captain Pat Cummins in the space of 12 balls. His final figures: 4-0-18-5. It was the first five-wicket haul in T20 cricket for Starc, and the best by any bowler in IPL 2025. The rest of the SRH lineup folded like a house of cards. Harshal Patel, who had been their death-over specialist, went wicketless for 17 runs. Mohammad Shami, the veteran, was brutalized — 31 runs in 3 overs. Even Kuldeep Yadav, Delhi’s spin wizard, couldn’t stop the rot — but he didn’t need to. Starc did the heavy lifting.

Delhi’s chase: Rahul’s return, Stubbs’ calm, and the ghost of March 24

Delhi’s chase wasn’t supposed to be this easy. But then again, nothing about this season has been normal. KL Rahul, back from paternity leave, walked out to bat at No. 3 — his first appearance for Delhi this year. He didn’t just return; he anchored. His 38 off 30 balls was the quiet glue that held the innings together after Faf du Plessis (41) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (23) fell early. When Rahul was out in the 11th over, Delhi were 115/3. The target was 164. Still a long way.

Enter Tristan Stubbs. The South African finisher, who had already delivered a 30-ball 42 against Lucknow Super Giants just six days prior, once again played the role of calm assassin. He added 51 runs for the fourth wicket with Abhishek Porel, smashing three sixes in his 28-ball 45. The crowd, already buzzing after Starc’s spell, erupted when Stubbs cleared the ropes for the winning runs with 24 balls to spare.

This wasn’t just another win. It was a continuation of the madness that began on March 24, when Delhi chased down 210 against Lucknow Super Giants with a 1.6% win probability at one point. That match, too, was in Visakhapatnam. That match, too, saw Starc take three wickets and Kuldeep bowl 2 for 20. The stadium has become a fortress for Delhi — and a graveyard for opponents.

Pat Cummins admits: "It happens"

After the match, Pat Cummins, SRH’s captain and a man known for his tactical sharpness, didn’t try to hide the truth. "It happens," he said, shrugging. "We take risks. We back our batters to play their shots. Sometimes they come off. Sometimes, like today, the ball just doesn’t do what you want it to." Analysts agree. SRH have now been bowled out under 170 in two of their last three games. Their strategy — aggressive from ball one, no patience, no middle-order stability — is working only when their top order fires. And when it doesn’t? The collapse is swift, brutal, and predictable.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s bowling attack, led by Starc and Kuldeep, has become the most feared in the league. They’ve conceded fewer runs per over in the death overs than any other team. And now, with Rahul back in the middle order, their batting has a spine it lacked earlier in the season.

What’s next? The playoff race heats up

With this win, Delhi Capitals moved to 6 wins from 8 matches — their best start in franchise history. They’ve now won five of their last six games. Their next match is against Chennai Super Kings in Delhi, where the pitch will be slower, the crowd louder. Starc’s form will be tested. So will Kuldeep’s ability to control spin on turning tracks.

For SRH, the road gets tougher. They’re now 4-5, clinging to a playoff spot by the narrowest of threads. Their next three matches are against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders — all teams with stronger middle orders and more balanced attacks. Without a consistent top order, their high-risk approach might just be their undoing.

The stadium that turned into a fortress

The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam has quietly become the most important neutral venue of IPL 2025. It’s hosted two of Delhi’s most dramatic wins — the 210-chase against Lucknow and now this. The pitch is true, the boundaries are short, and the wind doesn’t play tricks. For teams like Delhi, who have strong power-hitters and death bowlers, it’s ideal. For teams like SRH, who rely on explosive starts but lack depth? It’s a trap.

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