BENGALURU: The Indian Premier League’s auction system often sees players returning to face their former teams—some with nostalgia, others with a point to prove. Regardless of sentiment, personal history takes a backseat when IPL glory is on the line.
Mohammed Siraj, now with Gujarat Titans, offered a perfect example last week. Returning to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium—once his home turf—Siraj delivered a match-winning performance to hand Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) their first defeat in three games.
Another emotional clash awaits on Thursday as the unbeaten Delhi Capitals (DC) take on RCB. Several DC players share deep connections with the Bengaluru franchise and its iconic home ground.
Among them is Faf du Plessis, who captained RCB for three seasons. Though he never won a title, he took the team to two playoffs and consistently topped the run charts—most notably scoring 730 runs in 2023. Now vice-captain at DC under Axar Patel, Faf could make a memorable return if fit. He missed DC’s last match against Chennai Super Kings due to a groin strain, but assistant coach Matthew Mott provided a glimmer of hope:
“Faf’s had a good break. He’ll be assessed by physios today. To the naked eye, he’s certainly moving better.”
Another familiar face is Mitchell Starc, the Australian speedster who began his IPL journey with RCB in 2014. He took 34 wickets in just two seasons before injury ruled him out of the 2016 campaign.
KL Rahul is yet another star returning to his old hunting ground. A Bengaluru native and former RCB player, Rahul was a hot topic during the last auction, with many expecting a homecoming. However, DC secured his services for ₹14 crore. After missing the opener due to the birth of his daughter, he made a strong comeback with a match-winning 77 off 51 balls against CSK.
Both RCB and DC head into this matchup with momentum. RCB recently edged Mumbai Indians in a high-scoring thriller at Wankhede, riding on half-centuries from Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli, and a quickfire 40* from Jitesh Sharma.
Despite a few leaky overs—especially in the latter stages of the MI chase—RCB’s bowlers held their nerve in the death overs. Only Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood stood out with economical spells, but the rest did just enough to secure the win.
This revamped RCB unit has impressed on the road, beating KKR, CSK, and MI away from home. Their lone blip came against Gujarat Titans at the Chinnaswamy, a result they’ll hope to correct against a dangerous DC lineup featuring spin stalwarts Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.
With rivalries renewed and familiar faces on both sides, Thursday’s clash promises high drama and emotion—with vital points and bragging rights up for grabs.
