IPL 2025 Points Table, Orange Cap, Purple Cap: KL Rahul’s Steely Half-Century Against LSG Edges Delhi Closer to Playoffs
Every IPL season has a turning point. A moment that swings a team’s fate, silences critics, and reminds everyone why this tournament remains cricket’s most unpredictable drama. On a muggy April evening in Delhi, that moment arrived in the shape of KL Rahul – calm, calculated, and ever so clinical.
It wasn’t a blistering hundred. No fireworks. No wild celebrations. Just a gritty, unbeaten 68 from Rahul — a knock that stitched Delhi Capitals’ campaign back together when it looked like the thread was beginning to fray. And in the context of IPL 2025, it might just go down as one of the most significant innings of the season.
A Quiet Knock That Spoke Volumes
There’s something about pressure that separates the great from the good. And KL Rahul, often maligned for his strike rate or criticized for playing it too safe, reminded fans of his immense value to any side. Chasing 160 against the Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi didn’t need fireworks — they needed someone to hold the innings together.
And Rahul did just that.
There were no rash shots, no unnecessary risks. Just a masterclass in timing and temperament. He paced his innings like a seasoned conductor leading a symphony — letting others around him improvise while he anchored the piece. In doing so, he not only guided DC to a crucial win with five balls to spare but reignited hope in a side that desperately needed direction.
It was the kind of innings that doesn’t just win games — it changes seasons.
Delhi Capitals: From Fringe to the Forefront
With that win over LSG, Delhi now finds itself right in the thick of the playoff race. From languishing in the middle of the table just two weeks ago, they’ve clawed their way back into contention. And they’ve done it the hard way — gritty wins, smart bowling changes, and a batting order that’s slowly clicking into place.
What makes this turnaround even more impressive is the team’s evolution. Early in the season, Delhi seemed overly reliant on David Warner. If he failed, the rest often followed. But now, with young guns like Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs coming into their own, and Rahul finally looking like his old self, Delhi suddenly looks… dangerous.
Current Points Table – And What It All Means
Here’s how the table looks after the DC vs LSG game, and let me tell you, it’s tighter than a drum at the top.
Rank Team Played Wins Losses NRR Points
1 Rajasthan Royals 12 8 4 +1.020 16
2 Chennai Super Kings 12 8 4 +0.715 16
3 Kolkata Knight Riders 12 7 5 +0.410 14
4 Delhi Capitals 13 7 6 +0.235 14
5 Sunrisers Hyderabad 12 6 6 +0.072 12
6 Mumbai Indians 13 6 7 -0.112 12
7 Lucknow Super Giants 13 5 8 -0.215 10
8 Gujarat Titans 12 4 8 -0.445 8
9 Royal Challengers 12 3 9 -0.885 6
Delhi’s win didn’t just push them into the top four — it shifted the pressure onto every team around them. With just one game left in the league stage, DC controls its own destiny. Beat Gujarat Titans in their final match, and a playoff berth is almost certain.
Lose, and things get dicey. It’s that kind of season.
Orange Cap Battle: The Race at the Top
Now let’s talk runs. The Orange Cap has always been a badge of dominance — a symbol of consistency in chaos. And this year, it’s a battle between flair and form.
Top Contenders:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) – 524 runs
Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) – 508 runs
Shubman Gill (GT) – 490 runs
David Warner (DC) – 472 runs
KL Rahul (DC) – 460 runs
What’s most intriguing is Delhi has two batters in the top five. Warner, despite a few slow outings recently, has been a rock, while Rahul’s late surge has propelled him into contention. If both continue firing, don’t be surprised if the Orange Cap lands in Delhi’s dressing room.
But Gaikwad’s been sublime — elegant, calculated, and incredibly effective. Watching him bat this season has been like watching a painting come to life — all balance and grace.
Purple Cap Watch: Bumrah’s Brilliance and Nortje’s Roar
If the Orange Cap is about style, the Purple Cap is about grit. About showing up with the ball when others fear the dew. And once again, Jasprit Bumrah is doing Jasprit Bumrah things.
Top Wicket-Takers:
Jasprit Bumrah (MI) – 22 wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) – 20 wickets
T. Natarajan (SRH) – 19 wickets
Anrich Nortje (DC) – 18 wickets
Mohit Sharma (GT) – 17 wickets
Nortje has been a revelation. Not just for his wickets, but for the way he’s led the bowling attack when it mattered. Whether it’s bowling the 3rd over to break a powerplay rhythm or returning in the 18th with icy nerves, he’s been on the money.
Lucknow’s Slipping Season
And what of LSG? On paper, they’re stacked. Stoinis. Pooran. De Kock. Bishnoi. But something hasn’t clicked. They’ve lost games they should’ve won. Their middle overs often drag, and their bowling lacks teeth outside Bishnoi.
At this stage, even if they win their final game, they’ll need a miracle — and some favorable results — to sneak into the top four. In a season where margins are razor-thin, they’ve simply left too much to chance.
Delhi’s Final Hurdle – Gujarat Titans Await
For Delhi, the script writes itself: one match to secure a playoff spot. One more clinical performance and they’re in. Lose, and it’s a nervy wait.
Gujarat Titans may be low on the table, but they’re still dangerous — especially with Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan capable of brilliance. DC can’t afford to slip.
But the energy in the Delhi camp feels different. There’s a sense of quiet belief — the kind that comes from learning to win ugly, from seeing the young players step up, and from knowing you have a leader in Rahul who, for all the criticism, delivers when it truly counts.
Final Word: The Calm Before the Chaos
This has been a vintage IPL season. Not because of sixes or hat-tricks, but because every single match has meant something. There’s no dead rubber. No easy games. Every over counts.
And right now, Delhi Capitals are peaking at the right time. The playoff race is going to go down to the wire, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
KL Rahul’s half-century might not go viral, but its significance can’t be overstated. It was a captain’s knock, even without the armband. It was a message. Delhi is not done yet.
And as we head into the final stretch, remember — in the IPL, it’s never over until it’s over.
