Delhi Capitals (DC) are all set to face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)Faf du Plessis be available to play? DC’s assistant coach, Matthew Mott, revealed that Faf’s participation depends on his fitness assessment during the nets, as he’s been sidelined due to an injury. Faf missed DC’s last match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) because of this injury, which Mott later hinted could be a groin niggle.
Currently, the Delhi Capitals squad is in Bengaluru, gearing up for their fourth IPL 2025 clash against RCB. With DC remaining unbeaten in the tournament so far, having won all three of their matches, this game is crucial for continuing their winning streak.
“I thought KL in the last game was amazing to come in at short notice and play an innings like that to really set us up for the win. We’ve got a number of guys who can go in and open. I think what separates KL from a lot of people in the group is his ability to bat anywhere. He’s a class player,” Mott said.
While Mott was full of praise for KL Rahul, he hinted that the explosive style of opener Jake Fraser-McGurk may need a solid anchor at the other end. Mott mentioned that Rahul will continue to play a big role at the top of the order, helping the team maintain stability.
“The role that Jake plays in every side he’s in, it’s high risk, but when he has his days out, it’s what is the goal. But he’s got full autonomy from all of our leadership. He’s going to be a player who busts matches open. We’re prepared with the depth that we’ve got to play like that,” he explained.
DC’s early success this season has been largely attributed to the leadership of Axar Patel. Mott believes Axar’s ability to balance cricket and life has helped him connect well with the team, creating a positive environment.
“He’s just got a great balance on cricket and life. He’ll just summarise the group and make sure the players are included. They’ve got a smile on their face. He doesn’t come across as being the only voice (in the team),” Mott said.
One of Axar’s key strengths, according to Mott, is his ability to leverage the experience of senior players like KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis. As a former RCB captain, Faf’s insights are invaluable to the DC squad.
“He’s not taking it all on himself. He leverages a lot of the other senior players in the group. We mentioned KL, Faf as well. He’s got a lot of experience to draw on, particularly Faf. We had a productive meeting around that,” he said.
Mott also highlighted that Axar is a level-headed leader who understands the unpredictable nature of cricket, which helps him maintain a calm demeanor even when things aren’t going well.
“He’s played enough cricket to know that it can be a pretty fickle game at times. You’re well aware that when you’re winning, it’s all rosy. I like to think that he’s got that character where if we do have a bad day, he’ll be just as positive,” Mott added.
As of now, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have faced each other 31 times, with RCB winning 19 matches and DC winning 11. One match between these two teams ended without a result.
