Mumbai, May 2025 — A moment of unexpected awkwardness unfolded at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night, when veteran broadcaster Ravi Shastri briefly skipped a key step during the toss for the high-stakes IPL 2025 clash between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.
With DC’s regular captain Axar Patel sidelined due to fever, Faf du Plessis stepped in as the stand-in skipper for a do-or-die encounter. However, as Shastri addressed the absence of Axar and introduced the replacement captain, he forgot to ask du Plessis the most critical toss question: “Bat or bowl?” The former India coach quickly realized the oversight and turned back to du Plessis, who calmly confirmed that Delhi had opted to bowl first. The brief but noticeable lapse sparked a wave of reactions online, with fans sharing the clip on social media and poking fun at the rare slip-up.
High Stakes, High Pressure The light-hearted moment came in sharp contrast to the tension surrounding the game. With only one playoff spot remaining, Delhi and Mumbai entered the contest with everything on the line. Following Sunrisers Hyderabad’s win over Lucknow Super Giants, the playoff equation tightened. Mumbai, on 14 points, needed a single victory to progress. Delhi, on 13 points, were tasked with winning both their remaining matches — against MI and table-toppers Punjab Kings — to stay in the race.
Delhi’s Woes Deepen. Axar’s absence came as a significant blow for the Capitals, depriving them of both leadership and depth in their all-round department. Their challenges were further compounded by the continued unavailability of Mitchell Starc, who opted out of returning to the squad. While Mustafizur Rahman has carried the pace attack admirably, the pressure now falls on Kuldeep Yadav and Khaleel Ahmed to deliver against a Mumbai lineup packed with firepower, including Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Naman Dhir.
Capitals Reeling from Heavy Defeat Delhi came into the clash off the back of a demoralizing 10-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans. Despite posting a formidable 199/3, their bowlers failed to make any inroads, as Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan chased down the target with ease, exposing deep concerns in DC’s bowling strategy. As the playoff race reaches its boiling point, every moment, even an off-script toss, adds another layer to the drama of IPL 2025.
