DC vs KKR IPL 2025: Predicted XIs, Pitch Report, Team News & Fantasy Picks

Delhi Capitals (DC) are looking to fix their puzzling home form as they prepare to take on a desperate Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. With a playoff spot in sight for DC and KKR's survival on the line, the stage is set for a high-stakes IPL 2025 clash.

DC's Rollercoaster at Home

DC began IPL 2025 with four straight wins, sparking hopes of a maiden title under Axar Patel’s leadership. However, once they returned to Delhi, inconsistency crept in:

Lost to Mumbai Indians
Scraped past Rajasthan Royals in a super over
Fell to Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite a strong bowling start

Now, with 2 home losses in 3 games, DC will look to reassert dominance on familiar turf.

KKR in a Must-Win Situation

KKR, on the other hand, have faced an up-and-down season. With only 7 points from 9 matches, and their last fixture against PBKS washed out, Kolkata need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Knight Riders have had the edge over Delhi historically, winning 18 of 34 meetings.

Team News & Predicted XIs

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Faf du Plessis is expected to continue as opener in place of out-of-form Jake Fraser-McGurk
T Natarajan remains benched despite speculation
The team is likely to remain unchanged for consistency

Predicted XI:
Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar
Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma / Mohit Sharma

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Rovman Powell and Chetan Sakariya made debuts in their rained-out last match and are likely to retain their spots
The squad needs a spark, and Andre Russell could play a pivotal role

Predicted XI:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy
Impact Player: Chetan Sakariya

Pitch & Weather Report

The Arun Jaitley pitch is expected to be slow and spin-friendly, designed to restrict KKR’s big hitters like Rinku Singh and Russell. In previous matches, it has favored slower bowlers and required batters to adapt quickly.

Weather forecast: Rain and gusty winds are predicted in the evening, but organizers hope the game will proceed as planned.

Fantasy Picks – Top Players to Watch

Delhi Capitals:

KL Rahul – Consistent with the bat
Axar Patel – All-round utility
Mitchell Starc – New-ball threat
Kuldeep Yadav – Key on a slow pitch
Tristan Stubbs – Middle-order firepower

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Sunil Narine – Could trouble DC on a slow surface
Ajinkya Rahane – Calm presence at the top
Andre Russell – Match-winner on his day
Varun Chakravarthy – Ideal conditions for mystery spin
Harshit Rana – Emerging pace option

Head-to-Head Record

Total Matches: 34
KKR Wins: 18
DC Wins: 14
Tied: 1 (Arun Jaitley Stadium)
At Delhi: KKR lead 5-4

Stay tuned to the India Today Sports Desk for live updates, match results, points table, and fantasy cricket insights throughout IPL 2025.