Data Shorts: No quick fixes for DC in Starc's absence

DC pacers have picked the least number of wickets among all teams in IPL 2025 © BCCI/IPL
When Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians faced off in Delhi on April 13, the two teams had endured a contrasting run. MI, living up to their reputation of slow-starters, had a solitary win in five games, while DC were on a roll with four straight wins. Karun Nair threatened to take it further away from the five-time winners then, before Karn Sharma and Mitchell Santner's timely intervention flipped the script. Santner went even better on a day when the stakes were much higher, but the definitive passage had already come before he had sent down a ball.

MI's run of six straight wins was halted by Gujarat Titans at the very venue two weeks ago, when they had them stumble from 97/2 in the 11th over to 155/8 after 20. The hosts seemed to get around that mark at best on Wednesday, having been severely restricted by spin to get to 132/5 by the end of 18th; the seven preceding overs had yielded 42. However, Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir took Mukesh Kumar and Dushmantha Chameera to the cleaners, and in the blink of an eye, MI finished with at least 15 above par, as Suryakumar would attest later.

It was the fourth straight game that the DC quicks were far from impactful, including a 10-wicket drubbing against GT at home in their previous outing. They were the most expensive bowling unit in IPL 2024, conceding at 9.95 runs per over, a number that went up further for quicks at 10.69. Despite Mitchell Starc's acquisition, it hasn't changed much in 2025. They have sent down the fewest overs of seam, and have got the least wickets among all the teams, less than half of their opponents on Wednesday. Their economy rate is exceeded by three other sides: RR, who were knocked out of the playoffs race quite early, while LSG and KKR only managed to hang in for longer courtesy of their batters and spin-twins respectively.

Team-wise fast-bowling stats in IPL 2025

Team Mat Balls Wickets Ave SR Econ
MI 13 1023 69 21.14 14.8 8.55
SRH 12 958 52 30.25 18.4 9.85
GT 12 878 50 26.82 17.5 9.16
RCB 11 749 45 25.48 16.6 9.18
PBKS 12 864 42 33.76 20.5 9.84
KKR 12 678 41 28.7 16.5 10.41
RR 14 972 38 44.55 25.5 10.45
CSK 13 777 34 38.5 22.8 10.1
LSG 12 760 34 39.55 22.3 10.61
DC 13 705 32 37.78 22 10.28
Starc made a telling impact with 11 wickets across their six wins, the standouts being his five-for against SRH and his death-overs expertise in the Super Over finish against RR. His departure meant Chameera was now DC's premier overseas quick, but the Sri Lanka speedster has managed just four wickets from five outings at an economy of 11.40. Among the experienced Indian contingent on bench, Mohit Sharma has two wickets to show from 21 overs across seven games, while T Natarajan returned 0/49 from three overs in his only outing, against GT.

As for the death overs, DC have gone at 10.3, less than the overall season aggregate of 10.7. The seamers' numbers in isolation though make for an underwhelming reading. Their quicks have gone at 11.07 in this phase, only exceeded by RR (11.57) and LSG (11.25). While the latter two have been the two worst bowling sides on averages overall, DC have had the luxury of Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam bowling well in the middle-overs, as was the case at Wankhede. However, they couldn't quite apply the finishing touches, and numbers further suggest how dearly Starc was missed.

DC quicks in Overs 16-20 in IPL 2025

Starc: 7/81 (9 overs, ER: 9)

Others: 7/340 (28.3 overs, ER: 11.93)

To DC's misfortune, they didn't have Axar Patel's services against MI, who missed out with illness. Given the surface, he could've played a pivotal role and lent his side the much-needed flexibility. Furthermore, he would have been a great matchup to Suryakumar Yadav, DC's nemesis on the day. Of the 64 bowlers who have sent down at least 15 balls to the right-hander in the IPL, Axar has restricted Suryakumar the most: 60 off 68, 1 dismissal, SR: 88.23. As it panned out, Axar, the last name announced in the captains' list in the build-up to the season, led his side to four straight wins to kick off their campaign, but was powerless when it eventually mattered.