Delhi, August 30 2025

The West Delhi Lions roared their way into the grand finale of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025, thrashing the East Delhi Riders by eight wickets in Qualifier 2 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.

Clinical Chase Led by Doseja & Rana

Chasing a modest 140, the Lions made light work of the target, cruising home in just 18 overs. After a brief early setback, Ayush Doseja (54* off 49) anchored the innings with composure, while skipper Nitish Rana (45* off 26) played a fluent, match-sealing knock.

Though opener Ankit Kumar departed cheaply for 2, Krish Yadav (37 off 25) joined hands with Doseja to stabilize the innings with a 39-run stand. Once Krish fell to Mayank Rawat, Rana took charge, combining patience with trademark aggression to guide his team across the line without further hiccups.

Rawat was the only bright spot for the Riders with an economical 1/19 in four overs.

Riders Falter with the Bat

Earlier, put in to bat, the East Delhi Riders struggled to find momentum and were restricted to 139/8. The innings never really took off, with regular wickets halting progress.

Opener Hardik Sharma was dismissed early for 1, and though Arpit Rana battled hard for a valiant 50 off 38 balls, he lacked sustained support. Sujal Singh’s 18 and Rounak Waghela’s quickfire 24* off 17 added some resistance, but the total proved well below par.

Lions’ Bowlers Set the Tone

The Lions’ bowlers executed their plans to perfection. Manan Bhardwaj was the star of the attack with figures of 3/22, while Tishant Dabla (2/18) and Anirudh Chowdhary (2/28) chipped in with crucial strikes. The disciplined effort ensured East Delhi never built any significant partnerships.

The Road Ahead

With this emphatic victory, the West Delhi Lions march into the DPL 2025 Final, setting up a blockbuster clash with the Central Delhi Kings. A fitting showdown awaits as the two powerhouses battle for supremacy in what promises to be a thrilling grand finale.