Lara Zijl 
By Kara Riggs, NZB News
6 May 2025
The IPL 2025 Match 55 between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on 5 May 2025 was abandoned due to heavy rain and a wet outfield, with both teams sharing one point each. Delhi Capitals managed 133 for 7 in 20 overs, thanks to Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma’s 41 apiece, but SRH’s chase was halted before it began. SRH’s elimination was confirmed, while DC’s playoff hopes hinge on their final three games. For New Zealand fans, no Kiwi players featured, but the rain-soaked drama kept pulses racing.
Background Information
Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, entered the match seventh with 4 wins from 10, teetering on elimination after a 6-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans on 2 May. Delhi Capitals, captained by Axar Patel, were fourth with 7 wins from 11, despite a 14-run defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on 29 April. The Hyderabad pitch, averaging 195 in first-innings scores, offers early swing and bounce, with dew aiding chases, testing bowlers like SRH’s Mohammed Shami and DC’s Mitchell Starc. Neither team featured New Zealand players, with SRH relying on Abhishek Sharma and DC on KL Rahul’s return from paternity leave. DC’s 7-wicket win over SRH on 30 March in Visakhapatnam, powered by Starc’s 5 for 35, gave them a psychological edge, but SRH’s home record (2-3 in 2025) and chasing prowess set up a critical clash.
Match Details
Teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals
Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Date: 5 May 2025
Toss: Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and elected to bowl.
Result: Match abandoned due to rain; both teams awarded 1 point.
Delhi Capitals scored 133 for 7 in 20 overs, with Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma each scoring 41. SRH’s Pat Cummins took 3 for 19, with Jaydev Unadkat claiming 1 for 13. Sunrisers Hyderabad did not bat due to rain interrupting play after DC’s innings, with the match called off at 11:10 PM IST.
Highlights
DC’s innings began disastrously, with Cummins striking thrice in the powerplay. He dismissed Karun Nair for 0 off 1 (caught by Ishan Kishan), Abishek Porel for 8 off 10 (caught by Kishan), and Faf du Plessis, leaving DC reeling at 16 for 3 after 4 overs. Unadkat removed KL Rahul for 7, and a run-out of Vipraj Nigam compounded DC’s woes at 29 for 5 after 7.1 overs. Axar Patel fell to Harshal Patel for 4, but Stubbs’s 41, with three fours and two sixes, and Sharma’s 41, with a 66-run seventh-wicket stand in 45 balls, lifted DC to 133 for 7. Eshan Malinga dismissed Sharma in the 19th over. Rain began as DC’s innings ended, escalating to a downpour. Despite efforts with super soppers, puddles on the outfield forced umpires to abandon the match at 11:10 PM IST, with no overs possible for SRH’s chase. No Player of the Match was awarded due to the abandonment.
Records
Pat Cummins’s Powerplay Feat: Cummins’s 3 for 19 in the powerplay marked his best IPL 2025 figures and SRH’s first three-wicket powerplay haul since 2023. DC’s Low Total: DC’s 133 for 7 was their lowest completed innings total in IPL 2025, undercutting their 146 vs RCB on 28 April. Rain Interruptions: This was Hyderabad’s first IPL match abandonment since 2019, with only three washouts at the venue in IPL history. Stubbs-Sharma Stand: Their 66-run stand was DC’s highest seventh-wicket partnership in IPL 2025.
Historical Data
SRH lead the head-to-head 13-10 in 24 IPL meetings, with one tie (DC won the Super Over in 2021). At Hyderabad, SRH and DC are tied at 3-3 in six clashes. SRH’s runner-up finish in 2024 contrasts with DC’s playoff absence since 2021. No New Zealand players featured, but SRH’s Trent Boult (8 wickets) and DC’s Jacob Oram (coach) have ties to Kiwi cricket. The IPL’s global appeal saw nine Kiwis prioritise the tournament over a T20I series against Pakistan in March 2025. DC’s earlier win over SRH, driven by Starc’s fifer and Faf du Plessis’s 50 off 26, exposed SRH’s batting frailties, a trend continuing with their 4-6 record in 2025.
Discussion
The abandonment was a bitter blow for SRH, whose playoff hopes hinged on a win. Cummins’s 3 for 19 and Unadkat’s 1 for 13 dismantled DC’s top order, with Kishan’s two catches showcasing SRH’s fielding sharpness. Stubbs and Sharma’s 66-run stand rescued DC from 29 for 5, but 133 was below par on a pitch where chasing sides won four of five games in 2025. The rain, escalating post-innings, denied SRH a chance to chase 134, where Abhishek Sharma’s 38 runs off 13 balls against Kuldeep Yadav historically could have been decisive. For New Zealand fans, the absence of Kiwi players shifted focus to Cummins’s Australian brilliance. DC’s 13 points keep them fifth, needing two wins from three, while SRH’s 7 points (maximum 13) confirmed their elimination, joining Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Axar’s post-match comments on needing batting consistency ring true, while Cummins rued the weather’s decisive role.
IPL 2025 Points Table (as of 6 May 2025)
+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Team | M | W | L | P | NRR |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Royal Challengers |11 | 8 | 3 |16 | +0.523|
| Punjab Kings |11 | 7 | 4 |15 | +0.321|
| Mumbai Indians |12 | 7 | 5 |14 | +1.274|
| Delhi Capitals |12 | 7 | 4 |13 | +0.287|
| Kolkata Knight Riders |12 | 5 | 6 |11 | +0.273|
| Gujarat Titans |11 | 4 | 7 | 8 | +0.450|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad |11 | 4 | 6 | 7 | -0.803|
| Lucknow Super Giants |11 | 3 | 8 | 6 | -0.429|
| Rajasthan Royals |12 | 3 | 9 | 6 | -0.782|
| Chennai Super Kings |11 | 2 | 9 | 4 | -1.213|
+-----------------------+-----------------------+Key: M = Matches, W = Won, L = Lost, P = Points, NRR = Net Run Rate
Orange Cap and Purple Cap Standings
The Orange Cap is held by Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians with 469 runs in 12 matches, his best being 93 not out. The Purple Cap is held by Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 18 wickets in 10 matches, his best being 4 for 20.
Next Matches Schedule
On 6 May 2025, Mumbai Indians play Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad at 7:30 PM IST. On 7 May 2025, Gujarat Titans meet Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad at 3:30 PM IST, Rajasthan Royals face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad at 7:30 PM IST, and Kolkata Knight Riders take on Chennai Super Kings in Kolkata at 7:30 PM IST. On 9 May 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow at 7:30 PM IST.
What’s Next?
Sunrisers Hyderabad face Rajasthan Royals on 7 May 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, where Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen play for pride after elimination. Delhi Capitals take on Punjab Kings on 8 May 2025 in Dharamsala, with Axar, Stubbs, and Starc aiming to secure a top-four spot with a crucial win. DC’s 13 points keep them in the playoff race, while SRH’s 7 points mark a disappointing campaign.
Summary
The IPL 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals was abandoned due to rain, with both teams sharing a point. Delhi Capitals reached 133 for 7, with Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma’s 41 apiece rescuing them from 29 for 5, courtesy of Pat Cummins’s 3 for 19. Heavy rain prevented SRH’s chase, ending their playoff hopes with 7 points, while DC’s 13 points keep them fifth. For New Zealand fans, the lack of Kiwi players was offset by Cummins’s fiery spell. As DC chase playoffs and SRH seek redemption, IPL 2025 remains unpredictable.
