Faf du Plessis is leading Delhi Capitals as captain against Mumbai Indians in the 63rd match of IPL 2025. Delhi Capitals (DC) are facing off against Mumbai Indians (MI) in this crucial encounter on Wednesday, May 21, at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
At the toss, Faf du Plessis took the field as captain for the visitors, replacing the regular skipper Axar Patel for this important fixture. With three teams already secured in the playoffs, this match will decide which side—MI or DC—earns the fourth and final spot.
For Delhi Capitals, this is a must-win game. With 13 points and just two league matches remaining, a loss would eliminate their chances of reaching the playoffs. Mumbai Indians currently hold 14 points and also have two games left, so the stakes are high for both teams in this intense showdown.
Faf du Plessis: Why is Axar Patel sitting out the MI vs DC match in Mumbai?
“It’s unfortunate for Axar. He’s been really sick these last couple of days with the flu, so we wish him a speedy recovery. He’s been outstanding for us this season, and we will definitely miss him today. Axar brings a lot to the team—he’s both a fantastic spinner and a strong batter, so it’s tough to replace him directly. We don’t have a like-for-like replacement, but we’ll manage as best as we can,” said Faf du Plessis during the toss.
Patel has featured in 12 matches this tournament, scoring 263 runs at a strike rate of 157.49 and picking up five wickets at an economy rate of 8.47. He was appointed the new captain of DC ahead of the season.
Meanwhile, Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bowl first against MI. DC comes into this match after a heavy 10-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans, making their challenge against MI—who enjoy home advantage—all the more difficult.