- May 22, 2025
Wow! That was a crazy ride! What was thought to be a dreary battle between two playoff teams turned out to be a 59-run dumpster fire as the Mumbai Indians (MI) stomped the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 63 of this year’s IPL 2025. The scoreboard read as a complete disaster for DC, while MI made a case for why they truly are a playoff team, it was not just MI that secured their playoff berth, or DC who got knocked out, but it also signaled an overlap of monumental historical events. While we saw gigantic sixes and shattered stumps, there were three, yes three, pieces of history that were recorded in the IPL history books.
Faf du Plessis: Leading at 40 and Still Making Headlines
While the end result did not go as he would have liked it, the Faf was able to make a lasting memory when he captained the Capitals, becoming the 4th oldest captain in IPL history, at 40 years and 312 days.
Only a rare few have led beyond the edge of 40—Dhoni, Warne, and Gilchrist wore age like armor, not burden. While Faf did not change the outcome of the match, what we got to witness was his composure and experience on show. To captain a team at forty years old in a highly competitive tournament like the IPL is not just an achievement, it is an inspiration to anyone who has ever been told they are past it!
Kuldeep Yadav Joins the 100-Club (And He Did It Quietly)
While all the headlines have shed light on the batting collapse of the Delhi Capitals, Kuldeep Yadav accomplished a feat in his own right that deserves headlines of its own. The left-arm spinner claimed the wicket of Ryan Rickelton and, in doing so, became the newest member of the 100-wicket club in the IPL.
And what’s more? He achieved his milestone in just 97 games, which made him the fourth-finest spinner to get there, only behind Amit Mishra, Rashid Khan, and Varun Chakravarthy (83 games). We could discuss Kuldeep’s journey, which is extraordinary, but if there is anything remarkable about it, it’s that he is a comeback story – when you consider he was effectively discarded just a couple of seasons ago, to now actually putting himself in a position to be a consistent match-winner again.
Kuldeep may not have been able to turn the tide for DC on the night, but his milestone surely reminds us all that T20 can still reward consistency and perseverance.
DC’s Record Start and Record Exit
Let’s face it, starting your campaign with four straight wins and then not making the playoffs is bad. In the IPL, this phenomenon is an unprecedented event. Meaning there has never been a team in history to have four consecutive wins and fail to make the playoffs.
After such a brilliant start to their season, DC had lost seven of their next nine! Injuries, fluctuating form with the bat, and the overall cricketing balance all played a part, but the psychological toll of dropping from the top would have been immense. It is a harsh lesson of T20 cricket: the early successes mean nothing in the end. In a viciously competitive league such as the IPL, one tough stretch can extinguish any hopes of being in title contention.
Cricket fans, what changes do DC need to make to bounce back next season? Is it leadership? Is it team balance? Is it luck?
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