AI Simulation, CDK vs EDR | Sidhu’s captaincy knock guides Kings to DPL 2025 final with five-wicket win in first qualifier

ByUmesh Sharma,SportsCafe Editor

Yesterday at 11:20 PM

As per Artificial Intelligence, the Central Delhi Kings will beat the East Delhi Riders by five wickets in the first qualifier of the ongoing Delhi Premier League 2025. Jonty Sidhu’s captaincy knock of an unbeaten 49 runs off 38 balls, will help his side's successful run chass and reach the final.

Pitch and Weather

It was a typical Kotla track, with low bounce, a touch dry, and slowed down as the game progressed. Spinners enjoyed a good grip. However, the surface favoured the chasing side.

It was a hot evening in Delhi, with the temperature hovering around 33 degrees Celsius, with no threat of rain. The dew factor also came into play as the game progressed to the second innings.

Toss

East Delhi Riders won the toss and decided to bat first.

Lineups

CDK XI: Aaryavir Sehwag, Kaushal Suman(w), Yugal Saini, Jonty Sidhu(c), Aditya Bhandari, Aryan Rana, Jasvir Sehrawat, Simarjeet Singh, Tejas Baroka, Money Grewal, and Gavinsh Khurana.

EDR XI: Sujal Singh, Arpit Rana, Hardik Sharma, Anuj Rawat(w/c), Mayank Rawat, Rohan Rathi, Rounak Waghela, Navdeep Saini, Akhil Chaudhary, Ashish Meena, and Rohit Yadav.

Match Report

After opting to bat first, East Delhi Riders faced an early blow, losing Arpit Rana (11) at the team score of just 25 runs in four overs. In a quick succession, the Riders lost Hardik Sharma (6) when their score reached 6.2 overs. Following these two blows, Sujal Singh and skipper Anuj Rawat stitched a 25-run partnership for the third wicket before the former was dismissed after scoring 34 runs off 25 balls, with five fours and a six. Anuj Rawat carried the innings forward with his 42-run knock and two important partnerships with Mayank Rawat (23) and Rohan Rathi (9). Later, Rounak Waghela’s 18-run knock helped the Riders post 158/8 in the allotted 20 overs. Simarjeet Singh, Tejas Baroka, and Gavnish Khurana scalped two wickets each for the Kings in their respective spells of four overs each.

While chasing the target, CDK’s opening pair of Aaryavir Sehwag and Kaushal Suman stitched a brilliant opening partnership of 39 runs in just 4.4 overs. It came to an end when Aaryavir was caught by Anuj Rawat off Navdeep Saini’s delivery in the fifth over. Aaryavir scored 27 runs off 18 balls, with four fours and a six. After his opening partner’s dismissal, Kaushal Suman took charge and smashed a small but quick partnership of 22 runs for the second wicket with Yugal Saini (7). Kaushal (31) was trapped in an LBW by Akhil Chaudhary in the eighth over before Ashish Meena dismissed Yugal Saini in the 10th over. Then came a game-defining partnership of 37 runs for the fourth wicket between skipper Jonty Sidhu and Aditya Bhandari (14). It was followed by a 29-run stand for the fifth wicket between Sidhu and Aryan Rana, who scored 23 runs off 16 balls. Sidhu ended up playing the unbeaten and match-winning knock of 49 runs off 38 balls, with four fours and a six. These contributions helped the Kings cross the line in 19.1 overs, scoring 159/5. With this win, the Kings have become the first team to qualify for the DPL 2025 final.

Player of the Match

Central Delhi Kings’ Jonty Sidhu won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his match-winning and unbeaten knock of 49 runs, which directed a successful run chase for his side.