IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane explains why Anukul Roy was picked for KKR vs DC clash

Indian Premier League (IPL) defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in a key encounter on Tuesday night. The game is important for both sides as far as their hopes of making it to the IPL 2025 playoffs are concerned. Axar Patel won the toss and chose to bowl first, and went in with the same side from the previous game. KKR made one change as Anukul Roy was given his first game of the season. 

Anukul Roy is a handy lower-order batter and a very good left-arm spin bowler with the ability to take key wickets. During his chat with Harsha Bhogle at the toss, Rahane was asked the rationale behind this, to which he said, “I thought the left-arm spinner would be a good option on this surface. We need to win five out of five, as simple as that. We are looking to play one game at a time, and we will move forward accordingly. It's hard to read this wicket. Need to adapt to the conditions and assess quickly”

KKR could only get one point from their last game at home against the Punjab Kings. Heavy downpour at the Eden Gardens meant that the game ended after KKR played a single over in their chase of 202 runs needed for a win. Delhi Capitals lost their last game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and eventually slipped to fourth in the table. 

Huge points at stake for both sides

Delhi Capitals will be hoping to win the game against with a huge margin and go top of the table. The Capitals currently have 12 points from nine games with a very healthy run-rate. Focus will be on the likes of Faf du Plessis, Abhishek Porel, and Karun Nair, who will be batting in the top three. 

Veteran Indian seamer T Natarajan was overlooked yet again as Mukesh Kumar has been given another game. Mukesh had a poor outing with the ball in the last game, where he bowled a horrific 19th over against RCB that saw Tim David take him to the cleaners. Mitchell Starc will be playing against his former side just a year after playing a key role with the ball and helping KKR win the title. 

For KKR, the task is simple, as said by skipper Rahane at the toss, and that is to win all five matches. If KKR lose the encounter, then the defending champions will have to win their next four games with a huge margin and also hope that other results go their way.