Visakhapatnam gears up for a thrilling encounter on Day 3 of IPL 2025 as Delhi Capitals (DC) lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in what’s shaping up to be a battle of pride, power, and personal rivalries.
Rishabh Pant’s Big Comeback with LSG
Rishabh Pant returns to the IPL spotlight, but not in DC blue. After a surprising release ahead of last year’s auction, Pant was snapped up by LSG for a record-breaking ₹27 crore. Now leading the Giants, Pant is ready to prove his worth, aiming to replicate Phil Salt’s heroics and showcase to Delhi what they lost.
KL Rahul’s DC Debut Drama
On the other side, KL Rahul, now in DC colors, has a score to settle. After a public fallout with LSG’s owner Sanjeev Goenka, Rahul was traded to Delhi and will be eager to deliver a match-winning knock against his former team. However, reports suggest he might miss today’s match due to a personal issue, potentially reshuffling DC’s game plan.
Leadership Shift: Axar Patel Takes Charge
With Pant gone, Axar Patel steps in as DC captain. His leadership and all-round skills will be key as Delhi aims to start its campaign on a high.
Predicted Playing XI
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
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Mitchell Marsh
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Aryan Juyal
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Rishabh Pant (C & WK)
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Nicholas Pooran
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Ayush Badoni
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David Miller
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Shahbaz Ahmed
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Shardul Thakur
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Ravi Bishnoi
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Akash Singh
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Shamar Joseph
Delhi Capitals (DC)
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Jake Fraser-McGurk
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Faf du Plessis
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Abhishek Porel
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KL Rahul (if available)
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Axar Patel (C)
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Tristan Stubbs
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Ashutosh Sharma
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Mitchell Starc
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Kuldeep Yadav
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Mukesh Kumar
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T Natarajan
Key Players to Watch
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Rishabh Pant: Can he lead LSG to a statement win?
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Mitchell Starc: DC’s bowling spearhead, ready to rattle LSG’s top order.
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Nicholas Pooran: LSG’s power-hitter with the potential to turn the game around.
Match Prediction
With emotions running high and world-class talent on both sides, expect fireworks. If KL Rahul plays, DC will have a slight edge; without him, LSG, led by Pant, might pull off a stunning victory.
