Top player battles to watch out for in the DC vs LSG IPL 2025 match

The IPL fever has officially taken over, with the three completed matches setting an exciting tone for the season ahead. From a hard-hitting SRH smashing a 270-plus total to a low-scoring thriller, IPL 2025 has already showcased a spectrum of games early in its 18th edition. The focus now shifts to Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants as they open their campaign against each other on Monday. The DC vs LSG IPL 2025 battle is set to be an exciting one. KL Rahul, the captain of LSG until 2024, has now joined Delhi Capitals. Former DC captain Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, will now lead Lucknow Super Giants as his 11-year-long stint with DC concluded following IPL 2024. The swap, which shaped up in the IPL 2025 mega auction with Pant securing the highest-ever deal in IPL history, is poised as an interesting scene for the fans.

Key player battles to watch out for in the DC vs LSG IPL 2025 match

Delhi Capitals arrive in IPL 2025 with a major overhaul in their squad. Hemang Badani has replaced Ricky Ponting as head coach, and Axar Patel has taken the captaincy baton. KL Rahul has avoided any leadership roles in his new franchise. The former RCB captain, Faf du Plessis, will assist Axar Patel as vice-captain. Moreover, the vice-captain is likely to open for DC along with Jake Fraser-McGurk. KL Rahul, if confirmed to play the opening match, could be seen in the middle order, with the plan kicking in after the withdrawal of Harry Brook from IPL 2025.

Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, are toiling hard against multiple injury scares in the squad. Their primary pacers, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Akash Deep, are all injured and unavailable for selection in the DC vs LSG IPL 2025 campaign opener. Their pace lineup is set to be headlined by Shardul Thakur, who has been called up as a replacement for Mohsin Khan after going unsold in the mega auction.

Mitchell Marsh vs Mitchell Starc

The Australian compatriots will stage a fiery battle when pitted against each other, with Starc boasting the upper hand in their tussle. Mitchell Marsh has been confirmed to play purely as a batter and is likely to open the innings for Lucknow Super Giants. Mitchell Starc, meanwhile, will headline the pace attack of Delhi Capitals, who have the likes of T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, and Mohit Sharma further in the lineup. Interestingly, Starc could significantly trouble the LSG opener, as projected by the stats. In only 13 balls, Starc has managed to dismiss his Australian teammate thrice. In these 13 deliveries, Marsh has hit 21 runs, including two sixes. However, with three scalps to Starc's name, the LSG batter averages a mere 7.0 against the pace spearhead.

KL Rahul vs Shardul Thakur

Captain Axar Patel has confirmed that KL Rahul has joined the Delhi Capitals camp ahead of the DC vs LSG IPL 2025 game. However, the all-rounder didn’t confirm whether Rahul is available for selection in the season opener against LSG. If KL Rahul plays, he is most likely to feature in the middle order, with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Faf du Plessis poised as the opening prospects. The Indian batter, meanwhile, shares an exciting battle record against Shardul Thakur, who will be headlining LSG's bowling lineup. Rahul has hit 75 runs in just 40 balls against the pacer. 

However, Thakur has also staged a fight in the battle, dismissing the wicketkeeper-batter twice in these 40 deliveries. With Rahul striking at 187.5 against Shardul, it will be interesting to note who takes the cake in the battle this time. Moreover, Rahul has a tendency to struggle against leg spinners. Thus, Ravi Bishnoi, Rahul's primary spinner for LSG until IPL 2024, could trouble his former captain in the upcoming match.

Rishabh Pant vs Kuldeep Yadav

Teammates in the Delhi Capitals camp from 2022 to 2024, Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav share a great camaraderie. However, in the time they have played against each other, the chinaman spinner has managed to stun his friend thoroughly. In a matter of 21 deliveries, Kuldeep Yadav has struck twice against Pant. The wicketkeeper-batter, meanwhile, has scored 23 runs, striking at just 109.5 against the spinner. Teammates-turned-opponents are likely to stage another enthralling battle now that they are ready to face each other.