06 May, 2025 | 09:36 AM

A powerful new-ball burst from Pat Cummins went in vain as rain had the final say in a crucial IPL 2025 fixture between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC). The match was abandoned without a result after DC posted 133 for 7, knocking SRH out of playoff contention and handing DC a potentially vital point in the race for the top four.

Sent in to bat on a dry, tricky surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, DC were rocked early by Cummins’ spell of 3 for 19. The SRH captain dismissed Karun Nair off the very first ball of the match and added two more scalps within his first 19 deliveries, using a hard-length strategy expertly on a pitch that offered grip and unpredictable bounce. With the ball frequently stopping and deviating off the seam, Cummins’ accuracy and discipline proved too much for DC’s top order.

Supporting acts from Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat further dented DC, reducing them to a precarious 29 for 5 inside eight overs. Notably, Ishan Kishan, taking the gloves for the first time this season in place of Heinrich Klaasen, claimed three catches off Cummins, becoming the first wicketkeeper in IPL history to dismiss an entire top four via catches.

Despite the collapse, DC managed a recovery, thanks to a 66-run stand between Tristan Stubbs (41* off 36) and Ashutosh Sharma (41 off 26). Ashutosh, brought in as an Impact Player, played the aggressor’s role late in the innings, smashing three sixes and ensuring DC reached a defendable score.

However, before SRH could begin their chase, heavy rain set in. The weather failed to relent in time for a shortened five-over chase, and the game was eventually called off at the cut-off time of 11:42 PM.

The washout ends SRH’s playoff hopes, as they can now finish the league stage with a maximum of 13 points — a mark already surpassed by four other teams. For DC, the shared point takes them to 13 points from 11 games, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish.