A massive thank you to everyone for joining in to our LIVE coverage of the DC vs LSG game! That was probably the game of the tournament so far!

Join us again tomorrow, in what will be a big day of sports action. We have the IPL clash between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans, and also the Indian football team taking on Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup.

That's a wrap! Goodnight.

DC hero Ashutosh Sharma deservedly wins the 'Player of the Match' award, and chooses to dedicate it to his mentor, former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, in the post-match presentation ceremony. Shikhar's taught him well!

Delhi Capitals lost two wickets in the first over. They were 3-down after 10 balls. They were 65/5 and staring at defeat. But Stubbs hit a few sixes. Then debutant Vipraj Nigam gave hope - don't forget his 39 off 15. And a fairytale finish by Ashutosh Sharma. Utterly incredible.

DC 211/9 (19.3) beat LSG 209/8 (20) by 1 wicket.

ASHUTOSH SHARMA HAS DONE IT! MIRACLE FOR DELHI CAPITALS! WHAT A RUN CHASE! 

66 runs off 31 balls. He came in when Delhi Capitals were tottering at 65/5, and he's been there all the way through for an incredible victory. This is why we love the IPL!!!

DC 211/9 (19.3)

Mohit Sharma and Ashutosh have scrambled the single! Now it's all on Ashutosh! Five runs needed off 4 balls!

DRAMA! Shahbaz Ahmed bowling the final over, Rishabh Pant misses a golden stumping opportunity! Mohit Sharma does not get the run. They've gone up for a DRS review but it's NOT OUT!

6 runs off 5 balls!

50 for Ashutosh Sharma! Comes off just 28 balls. Next one goes for SIX! Nicholas Pooran tries to take a diving catch at long-off, but just can't there. Ashutosh then slams one to the fence, through mid-wicket!

DC NEED 6 RUNS OFF 6 BALLS!

DC 204/9 (19)

Kuldeep Yadav got a boundary off the first ball, dot the next, and then gets run out trying to give the strike back to Ashutosh! It is ALL happening out here. This game can go either way. 

DC 192/8 (18.3)

Ashutosh Sharma is keeping DC alive! Big hit, much-needed. Bishnoi aims it wide, Ashutosh comes across his stumps and deposits it back over the bowler's head. Next ball, smacked hard for 4! We know Ashutosh's ability to finish games, all eyes on him! Third one, maximum again!

DC 188/8 (18)

Mitchell Starc has to walk back. The big Australian tries to go for a big hit, but gets the top edge, sends it straight up, and Pant takes a simple catch. LSG holding their calm in the pressure situation, burden now on Ashutosh Sharma.

DC 171/8 (17.1)

Cheeky work by Digvesh Rathi. Was watching out whether Starc was backing up from his crease, and tried to run him out at the non-striker's end. Starc was inside, though. Game continues. 

DC need 39 in 3 overs!

DC 171/7 (17)

ANOTHER TWIST! Vipraj Nigam gets a big top edge, and the debutant Digvesh Singh Rathi has worked his magic in his final over. Vipraj departs for 39 off 15 balls, but DC suffer a huge setback once more. Drama, again.

DC 168/7 (16.1)

Vipraj Nigam, stunning! What an over this is turning out to be. Ashutosh starts off the over with a six and a four, and Vipraj hits two more boundaries after that. Pressure on young bowler Prince Yadav, being adviced by Markram. 20 off the over!

DC are right back in this! They need 42 runs off 24 balls.

DC 168/6 (16)

Vipraj Nigam is a 20-year-old player who was bought in the 2025 IPL auction for Rs 50 lakh after good show in domestic cricket, where he plays for Uttar Pradesh. Before his DC debut, he played 15 professional games, including seven T20s.

He is a leg-spinner who has scalped eight at an average of 21.37 and an economy of 7.12. Nigam is an impactful batter with a strike-rate of 156.09.

More runs! Vipraj Nigam is playing an absolute gem of a knock here. Coming in at No. 8, Vipraj has kept DC firmly in the hunt. He's on 30 off 11 balls, and has just smashed another 6 and 4 off Bishnoi. 15 off the over.

DC 148/6 (15)

Vipraj Nigam is taking Ravi Bishnoi to the cleaners on his IPL debut! Two fours and a six. Big over for DC, 17 off it. They're keeping themselves in the hunt for a miraculous win here.

DC 133/6 (14)

OUT! LSG take a new ball after the two massive sixes, with the umpires deciding that the old one is wet enough to warrant a change. Next ball, Stubbs misses, Pant stumps, Siddharth celebrates with aplomb! What a twist. DC now 6-down, and it seems very unlikely from here.

LSG 113/6 (12.3)

DC need some big hits, and seems like Tristan Stubbs has decided that M Siddharth is the man to go after. Two awesome hits by Stubbs, back over the bowler's head. Much more of this needed, but welcome runs for DC.

DC 113/5 (12.2)

Just 7 runs off M Siddharth's third over. The asking rate is climbing now, and the big shots have tried up a little. Lot of responsibility on Stubbs and Ashutosh to take the game deep, and understandably, they're playing it safe.

DC 95/5 (11)

Big confusion between Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma! Ashutosh went for a single when there wasn't one, sent back by Stubbs. Lucky for them, LSG did not get a direct hit. Great first over by Prince, DC are 29 runs behind LSG at this stage.

DC 88/5 (10)

Time for another IPL debutant! Pacer Prince Yadav brought into the attack by Rishabh Pant. LSG have had to resort to their reserve pacers following injuries to Mayank, Mohsin, Avesh and Akash Deep. Can Prince take his opportunity?

DC 84/5 (9.1)

Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma at the crease, and they have to take all the pressure now. No recognized batter to come for DC after these two. Not only do they need to stitch a big partnership, but they need to be there till the end for DC to have any hope!

DC 83/5 (9)

Delhi Capitals need a miracle to win this game from here. Still more than 143 runs needed in 13 overs. The required run-rate is far from impossible, but DC have shot their own foot by losing 5 wickets inside 7 overs.

DC 66/5 (7)

FAF DU PLESSIS IS GONE! Could that be game over? Faf had already hit a six in the over, tried to take Ravi Bishnoi to the cleaners once more, but finds the fielder at long-on. David Miller in the deep, safe hands. DC are 5-down!

DC 65/5 (6.4)

Axar Patel departs! Disaster for Delhi Capitals! Wicket for Digvesh Singh on his IPL debut! Right after finding a boundary, Axar tries the sweep shot, picks out Nicholas Pooran at square leg. Delhi Capitals, oh dear oh dear.

DC 50/4 (5.3)

Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel continue the rebuilding process. A boundary for Axar and a six for Faf in Shardul's second over. 13 off it. They will need to carry on this momentum for a lot of overs to keep the target and the required run-rate in sight.

DC 45/3 (5)

15 off the over! Faf du Plessis picks up two boundaries. End-to-end game here. So much is happening. Top notch entertainment. How will Pant and LSG respond to these two?

DC 32/3 (4)

Captain Axar Patel takes responsibility! Fantastic shot, over long-off for a maximum. Welcomes M Siddharth in his second over with the perfect hit. He'll have to stitch a big partnership here with Faf du Plessis.

DC 24/3 (3.2)

Utterly bonkers start by LSG. Never mind the fact that they're missing pacers worth a combined Rs 34.75 crore, Shardul Thakur and M Siddharth have done the magic! Erratic powerplay batting by DC, Faf du Plessis must be watching on in horror from the other end. 

DC captain Axar Patel is out at No. 5 to try and stabilize things.

DC 8/3 (2)

I don't believe my eyes! DC are 3-down inside the first 10 balls! M Siddharth strikes, the left-arm off-spinner. DC took a gamble, sent Sameer Rizvi up the order at No. 4. That's gone down horribly. Takes a knick, Pant grabs the catch. Insane stuff.

DC 7/3 (1.4)

WOW! Shardul Thakur departs! Wicket, dot, wicket. Abhishek Porel goes for a duck. Shardul is breathing fire. Incredible, incredible opening over. Drama. Porel tries to go big too, but perishes. Poor timing, easy catch for Pooran.

DC 2/2 (0.5)

What a start for LSG! Shardul Thakur gets Jake Fraser-McGurk on ball 3! The Australian brute trie to go big, but only made it as far as the fielder at long-off. Shardul has been in great form in domestic cricket, and will be eyeing an India comeback.

DC 2/1 (0.3)

What a few days for Shardul Thakur. Some days back, he did not have an IPL franchise. Now, he is the lead bowler for LSG, after all four of their frontline Indian pacers - worth a combined Rs 34.75 crore - were unfit to play.

Delhi Capitals are out to bat. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Faf du Plessis the duo. The target in front of them - 210. LSG bring on spinner M Siddharth as an Impact Sub. This will be a closely-fought game, it seems.

Delhi Capitals will take a target of 210, and will enter the dressing room high on confidence after pulling things back late on. LSG were 161 after 13 overs, meaning they managed only 48 runs in the next 42 balls. With the pitch being a belter, DC will fancy their chances at victory.

Miller ends with a bang! Mohit Sharma had bowled an excellent final over, but David Miller ends with two huge maximums. LSG finish on 209. Not a bad total, by any means, but they were well on course for 220-230 at one stage.

LSG 209/8 (20 overs)

DC Target: 210

Excellent! Mitch Starc picks up Wicket No. 3! Right in the blockhole, Starc nails the yorker. Ravi Bishnoi tries to come out, give himself room, but misses it completely. Delhi Capitals continue their good end to the game.

LSG 194/8 (19)

Shahbaz Ahmed with a lusty blow, picking up a boundary. Next ball, Mitch Starc switches up with a sharp bouncer, Shahbaz mistiemes his pull and gives an easy catch. LSG 7-down now.

LSG 194/7 (18.4)

Rishabh Pant's failure and LSG's capitulation will worry them even more when you remember that they are without their four frontline Indian bowlers. Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Akash Deep were bought for Rs 34.75 crore combined, but none of them are fit.

In a high-scoring game, Kuldeep Yadav completes four overs of pure class. 4-0-20-2. Two big wickets of Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni, the first one arguably starting the comeback. Unbelievable work by the chinaman.

LSG 178/6 (17)

Another one gone! Shardul Thakur walks back for a duck. Tries to take a run, terrible mix-up, and has to depart! Run out, excellent work by Axar Patel and Abhishek Porel. DC have made an incredible comeback into the game.

LSG 177/6 (16.4)

Ayush Badoni flops! Comes down the track, tries to get a maximum. Straight down the throat of Tristan Stubbs at long-on. Half the LSG team is back in the dugout, and Delhi Capitals continue their comeback into the game.

LSG 177/5 (16.2)

Back to the game, excellent over by DC captain Axar Patel. Six singles, and nothing more. LSG have the platform to get a score of 220+, but Badoni and Miller must deliver. 

LSG 176/4 (16)

Meanwhile, a massive congratulations to Delhi Capitals star KL Rahul, who has just become a father, with partner Athiya Shetty giving birth to a girl. Rahul is missing this game for the same reason.

GONE! Mitchell Starc, you beauty! Nicholas Pooran, CLEAN BOWLED. Two stumps dismantled! Delhi Capitals are pulling things back. Mitchell Starc has delivered, and two new batters at the crease now for the final 5 overs.

LSG 169/4 (14.5)

Mukesh Kumar seems to have twisted his ankle while fielding at deep extra cover. He has left the pitch for some treatment on the sidelines.

SIX-BALL DUCK FOR PANT! Oh dear, Rishabh Pant has failed badly. Five dots and then OUT! Tries to smash one for six over long-off, and finds the fielders. Major, major disappointment for the man signed for Rs 27 crore. Drama upon drama!

One run and a wicket for Kuldeep!

LSG 162/3 (14)

Axar Patel trying part-timer Tristan Stubbs to bowl his off-spin. Guess how Nicholas Pooran invites him? FOUR SIXES! FOUR! Utterly unbelievable hitting by the Carribean monster. 28 RUNS OFF THE OVER! 50 for Nicholas Pooran!

LSG 161/2 (13)

Rishabh Pant. Rs 27 crore. LSG captain. Out on the pitch for the first time in his new colours. A lot expected and anticipated. Front foot defence on ball one.

Good end to the over by Mukesh. 8 off it, after the first ball went for six. The important wicket of Marsh as well.

LSG 133/2 (12)

Huge wicket! Much-needed wicket for Delhi Capitals! Mitchell Marsh tries to go big yet again, doesn't get the ideal timing, finds Tristan Stubbs at long on. Mukesh Kumar's slower ball has done the trick. Time for Rishabh Pant!

LSG 133/2 (11.4)

Mitch Marsh into the 70s! Impeccable power-hitting once again. Width offered by Mukesh Kumar, and hit over third man for a maximum by the Australian. LSG continue the merry flow of runs.

LSG 132/1 (11.2)

Mohit Sharma concedes a boundary off the first ball, but comes back really well. Mixing up his pace and length. Lots of inside edges as Marsh and Pooran struggled to get the connection. 9 off the over, but DC still searching for the wicket.

LSG 125/1 (11)

Must be said, it is a perfect start for LSG. They have 9 wickets in hand, and they're flying at 11.7 runs per over. Marsh and Pooran are well set too. But don't count DC out just yet. Even if LSG put on a big total, Delhi Capitals will be in the game due to the nature of the pitch.

Mitchell Marsh does not middle it, but it still goes for six! Brute power from Mitch Marsh. What an innings he's playing. Kuldeep Yadav inviting with a tossed up ball, and Marsh makes him pay. 9 off the over.

LSG 117/1 (10)

Not a bad over by Mohit, but a couple of wides and a boundary by Marsh mean that LSG still pick up 10 runs. Marsh and Pooran look in excellent knick, and LSG still have Rishabh Pant, David Miller and Ayush Badoni to come!

LSG 108/1 (9)

Incredible display of power-hitting. LSG reach 100 in 8.1 overs. Mitch Marsh provided the perfect start, he's hit a 21-ball ton. Nicholas Pooran has continued the demonic hitting, and is on 31 off 12 himself.

LSG 100/1 (8.1)

The experienced Mohit Sharma has been introduced into the attack by Axar Patel. Can he provide a breakthrough? Expect him to use his slower ones and wide yorkers. This Visakhapatnam wicket looks to be a super one to bat on, much like the pitch at Hyderabad.

Nichola Pooran picks up two more boundaries, as Kuldeep Yadav comes in to blow. LSG are powering towards the 100-run mark. Pooran uses the sweep shot to good effect here. Delhi Capitals need a solution, and they need it quickly.

LSG 98/2 (8)

Nicholas Pooran dropped! Mistimes it completely, Sameer Rizvi was coming underneath, had the ball in his grasp but then dropped it. How did Pooran react? One more six off the next ball. 4 sixes off the over. Brutal reality check for Vipraj Nigam.

LSG 89/1 (7)

Here comes Nicholas Pooran! Two sixes in a row. Three sixes in the over, and Vipraj Nigam has his hands on his head. First one, tossed up, sent over the bowler's head for 6. Next one goes rows back, over deep mid-wicket.

LSG 83/1 (6.4)

Mitchell Marsh, WOW! Nigam pitches it short, and Marsh deposits over square leg for a monstrous six. Takes a single off the next ball, reaches his half-century in just 21 balls. Incredible, incredible knock by the Australian.

LSG 71/1 (6.2)

Great start to the game for LSG. Batting first, they've made the powerplay count, largely thanks to Mitch Marsh. He is on 43 off just 19 balls, having slammed 5 fours and 3 sixes. The Australian has gone on a rampage so far.

LSG 64/1 (6)

Mitchell Marsh is going absolutely berserk! What a start by Australia's T20I captain. First a massive six to welcome Mukesh Kumar, through mid-wicket, and then slams it same area for a boundary again. He is into the 40s!

LSG 63/1 (5.4)

Nicholas Pooran comes in to bat for LSG! Fans will have to wait for Rishabh Pant. Pooran picks up a boundary off the last ball. Thick edge, no first slip, and it runs away for 4. 50 up for Lucknow Super Giants!

LSG 50/1 (5)

Vipraj Nigam strikes on IPL debut! Aiden Markram looks to go big, picks out the fielder at long-off. Delhi Capitals get their first wicket of IPL 2025, and it is the young leg-spinner who makes an impact. So, will Rishabh Pant come out?

LSG 46/1 (4.4)

20-year-old leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam is into the attack for Delhi Capitals. He is making his first appearance in the IPL today. Marsh welcomes him with a boundary, helped towards mid-wicket for 4. Marsh is looking in superb touch.

LSG 45/0 (4.2)

Mitch Marsh is going absolutely hammer and tongs, but Axar trapped him on the pads. Umpire said not out, but Axar went up with a DRS review. Unsuccessful, in the end. Axar ends the over very well, and concedes only 7 runs.

LSG 40/0 (4)

Mitchell Starc has been sent all around the park here. Incredible hitting by Markram and Marsh, who've found their groove. Marsh is up to 20 off just 8 balls. This pitch appears to be a belter to bat on.

LSG 33/0 (3)

Another six off Mitch Starc! This time it's Aiden Markram to the party. The South African picked up a boundary off Axar, and now clears the ropes to get 6. Great hitting. 

Two balls later, Marsh goes big again. Similar shot to his last 6, pitched on the pads and helped over deep square leg. Starc under the pump.

LSG 29/0 (2.4)

Delhi Capitals going for a unique strategy here. Captain Axar Patel appoints himself for the powerplay. Bowls a really tidy over, concedes just one boundary, and a total of 5 runs. Quiet start for the LSG openers.

LSG 12/0 (2)

What a start! Mitch Marsh, effortless. Starc had bowled an excellent over till then, but Marsh gets one ball down the leg side and flicks it over the square leg boundary for a maximum. LSG up and running in IPL 2025.

LSG 7/0 (1)

Starc is certainly a man for the big occasion. Played a huge part in helping KKR lift IPL 2024, winning 'Player of the Match' in both the Qualifier 1 and the Final. He is a man who even stopped Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma last season.

LSG are opening with their overseas stars Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. Both men are captain of their national teams in T20I cricket, and have a bundle of experience. They need to shoulder the responsibility of getting LSG off to a great start.

Whom will they face? None other than Mitchell Starc.

A lot of excitement regarding which position Pant will bat for LSG. We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game. Pant is expected to bat at No. 3 or No. 4, but could he surprise by opening the batting?

A lot of pressure on him, having been bought for a whopping Rs 27 crore in the auction.

Prince Yadav and Digvesh Singh for LSG, and Vipraj Nigam for DC mean that three players with relatively no experience in IPL will get their chance today on the big stage. A leap of faith, for sure, but also a chance to start a legacy.

ICYMI, KL Rahul is not playing for Delhi Capitals against his old team LSG. He has been granted special permission to miss the game, with the 32-year-old rushing back home to attend to his pregnant wife Athiya Shetty.

We are just seven minutes away from the start of the DC vs LSG encounter, in IPL 2025. Rememeber, we are in Visakhapatnam. LSG are batting first! They're expected to open with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, with Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran coming in next.

Batting first, LSG will likely bring on a bowler in the second innings. They have the likes of M Siddharth, Akash Singh or Rajvardhan Hangargekar to bring on as an impact sub. If they need a batter, Abdul Samad can be utilised.

For DC, they'll likely bring a batter on. Karun Nair and Ashutosh Sharma are the two obvious candidates.

Here's Lucknow Super Giants' playing XI vs DC:

Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh, Ravi Bishnoi.

Here's Delhi Capitals' playing XI vs LSG:

Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar.

Rishabh Pant explains during the toss that there is a lot of emotion involved in this fixture, having played for DC "all his life". However, now it is time to contribute for LSG, with each player being in the right shape and the right frame of mind.

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel wins the toss and opts to bowl vs LSG! So we will see Rishabh Pant bat quite soon. Will he open the batting, though? Let's find out. Full Indian bowling attack for LSG, they've gone with Aiden Markram, Mitch Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and David Miller as their overseas stars.

We are just five minutes away from toss time! Rishabh Pant will lead LSG against his former side, while Delhi Capitals will be captained by Axar Patel. With due expected to set in, there is a high chance that whoever wins the toss, chooses to bowl.

Lucknow Super Giants Expected XI vs DC:

Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, M Siddharth.

Impact players: Abdul Samad, Akash Singh

Delhi Capitals Expected XI vs LSG:

Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abhishek Porel, Karun Nair, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan.

Impact players: Sameer Rizvi, Mohit Sharma

We are just 20 minutes away from toss time. IPL 2025 has started off with a bang, with RCB beating KKR, SRH beating RR, and CSK beating MI. We have seen a run-fest and a closely-fought game already. How will this one pan out?

Remember, DC are the 'home' team, but they're playing in Visakhapatnam, not in Delhi.

KL Rahul may be replaced directly by in-form Indian batter Karun Nair. At the age of 33, Nair has hit a purple patch, winning the Ranji Trophy and finishing runner-up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with Vidarbha, as well as scoring a truckload of runs.

Aussie brute Jake Fraser-McGurk is expected to open, alongside Faf du Plessis.

LSG have roped in the experienced Shardul Thakur as Mohsin Khan's replacement, and he is expected to feature today. West Indian talent Shamar Joseph is also part of the squad, while Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh may also bowl.

LSG have untested pacers in the form of Akash Singh, Prince Yadav and Rajvardhan Hangargekar, and a couple of them may get the nod as well.

Lucknow Super Giants invested a combined RS 34.75 crore on four Indian pacers in the auction - Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Akash Deep. In an incredible twist of fate, ALL four pacers are out of this match.

As per reports, KL Rahul has gone back home from the Delhi Capitals camp after news that pregnant wife Athiya Shetty could deliver their child in the coming days. Rahul is expected to be back for DC's second game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

As per reports, KL Rahul will NOT PLAY Delhi Capitals' first game of the season against Lucknow Super Giants. He has been given special permission to skip the game, with the 32-year-old star expecting the birth of his child.

KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant swapped franchises in the auction, but Rahul is not confirmed to play today. The in-form wicket-keeper batter has reportedly joined the DC camp, but has 'personal problems' to attend to, according to captain Axar.

Those 'personal problems' are speculated to be the birth of his child.

Of course, with Rishabh Pant leaving, Delhi Capitals also have appointed a new captain. India's multi-dimensional all-rouner Axar Patel has been named DC captain, having been retained for Rs 16.50 crore by the franchise.

Interestingly, ex-RCB skipper Faf du Plessis has been named vice-captain of the team for IPL 2025.

And as expected, all eyes will be on Rishabh Pant. Part of DC for 9 years, Pant will now wear LSG colours, having been purchased for a mind-boggling IPL record of Rs 27 crore in the mega auction. He has also been named captain, and faces off against his old team in Game 1!

Delhi Capitals are the hosts of this game, but they will not be playing in Delhi. Instead, their first few home matches will be down south, in Visakhapatnam. Will this be a disadvantage for DC? Time will tell.

A very good evening to everyone. Welcome to the LIVE coverage of the fourth game of IPL 2025! It is Delhi Capitals taking on Lucknow Super Giants, in what is the first match for both teams.