by Delhi and Karnataka walk into Ahmedabad with the same points, but with different confidence levels and completely different stories to tell.
Imagine two runners in a marathon. Both have covered the same distance. Both have the same number on their race bibs.
But one is breathing easy, running smoothly, looking fresh. The other is gasping, struggling, barely keeping pace. That’s Delhi and Karnataka right now.
Karnataka strolls into Narendra Modi Stadium Ground B with swagger. They’ve won their last two matches convincingly 24-run victory over Rajasthan, 17-run win against Jharkhand.
Their net run rate sparkles at +1.766. They’re sitting pretty at 3rd position. Even a narrow win today keeps them in playoff contention.
Delhi? They’re sweating. Their net run rate is a miserable -0.633. That’s right—negative. They’ve lost heavily when they’ve lost. They haven’t won big enough when they’ve won.
They’re 4th in the table, one spot below Karnataka, but the gap feels like a canyon.
The venue matters too. Ahmedabad’s Stadium Ground B is a batter’s paradise. Average score? 197 runs in T20 matches. Big boundaries. True bounce.
Fast outfield. Teams batting first score 202 on average. Teams chasing manage 192. And here’s the kicker—teams winning the toss bowl first 62% of the time and win 80% of those matches!
DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today Match in SMAT
This DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 04 Dec 2025 guide takes you through the numbers, the players, the strategies, and the fantasy picks that could make or break your day.
Match Information: The Basics
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Delhi vs Karnataka |
| Tournament | Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 |
| Group | Elite Group D |
| Date | Wednesday, December 4, 2025 |
| Time | 1:30 PM Local Time |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium Ground B |
| Location | Motera, Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
| Match Type | Elite Group League Match |
| Importance | Playoff qualification decider |
| Stakes | Winner strengthens top-4 position |
The Pitch: Where Batters Make Merry
Narendra Modi Stadium Ground B isn’t just batting-friendly—it’s batting heaven.
The surface is hard. Rock solid. The ball comes onto the bat beautifully. Batters trust the bounce. They can play their shots from ball one.
The outfield is lightning fast. Time your shot right, and it races to the boundary before fielders can blink.
But here’s what makes this pitch special: it’s fair to bowlers, too. Not a complete highway.
Pace bowlers get good carry. The ball travels through to the keeper at pace. Early in the innings, there’s some movement if you bowl the right areas.
As the match progresses, the pitch stays true—no demons, no variable bounce. Spinners get grip in the middle overs. The ball grips and turns if you flight it properly.
The numbers back this up. In the last 5 T20 matches here, pace bowlers have taken 30 wickets (51%). Spinners have claimed 29 wickets (49%). Almost perfectly balanced. That’s rare in Indian T20 cricket.
| Pitch Factor | Statistics | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Average Score | 197 runs | High-scoring matches expected |
| First Innings Avg | 202 runs | Batting first is productive |
| Second Innings Avg | 192 runs | Chasing slightly tougher |
| Pace Wickets | 30 (51%) | Pick quality pacers |
| Spin Wickets | 29 (49%) | Spinners equally important |
| Boundary % | 43% of runs | A mix of boundaries and running |
| Powerplay Runs | 52 runs average | Start aggressively |
| Death Overs | 77 runs average | Finish strong |
What This Means for Today:
Expect teams to post 190-210 totals. Openers will play aggressively in power play. Middle-overs will see consolidation. Death Overs will explode with big hitting. Both teams need four quality bowlers—2 pacers, 2 spinners.
Weather Report: Perfect Day for Cricket
The weather gods are smiling on Ahmedabad today:
- Temperature at Start: 19°C (cool and pleasant)
- Temperature at Peak: 29°C (warm but comfortable)
- Sky Conditions: Clear and sunny (no clouds)
- Humidity: 57% (moderate, not oppressive)
- Wind: 11 km/h (gentle breeze, won’t affect play)
- Rain Chance: 0% (absolutely no threat)
- Dew Factor: None (day match, no dew concerns)
- Visibility: Excellent (perfect for batting)
Bottom Line: Full 40-over match guaranteed. No interruptions. No DLS complications. Pure cricket. May the best team win.
DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today Match: Player Analysis
Let’s break down the key performers who’ll decide this match:
Key Batters Who’ll Make the Difference:
For Karnataka:
- Devdutt Padikkal is Karnataka’s engine. He’s scored 180 runs in 5 matches at an average of 36. That’s consistency. He opens batting, gets 20 overs to build an innings. On a 197-average pitch, he’s dangerous. Expect him to score 50-60 today if Karnataka bats first.
- Mayank Agarwal brings international pedigree. He’s the X-factor. When Mayank fires, he doesn’t score 30-40. He scores 70-80. He’s high risk but massive reward. The kind of player who can take the game away in 30 balls.
- Karun Nair at number 3 provides stability. He’s scored 82 runs this tournament. Not spectacular, but solid. He anchors while others attack. On this pitch, he could play a match-winning 60-70.
For Delhi:
- Anuj Rawat is Delhi’s most consistent performer. He’s made 163 runs in 5 matches, averaging 32.6. Opens batting. Gets wicketkeeper bonus points. Safe pick for fantasy teams.
- Nitish Rana is the all-rounder gem. 55 runs plus 3 wickets. He bats in top-4, bowls 2-3 overs. Double value. If he scores 40 and takes 2 wickets, that’s 100+ fantasy points right there.
- Yash Dhull is the young wildcard. Unpredictable. Can score 60 or get out for 5. Use him as differential pick in grand leagues.
Powerplay Impact: First 6 Overs Crucial
The powerplay sets the tone at this venue. Average powerplay score is 52 runs (8.6 runs per over). That’s aggressive but not reckless.
- Karnataka’s Powerplay Advantage:
Padikkal and Mayank both attack from ball one. They don’t wait. They don’t settle. They see the ball, they hit the ball. Against Delhi’s quality pace attack (Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini), this could be fascinating. If Karnataka gets 60+ in powerplay, they’re on track for 200+.
- Delhi’s Powerplay Challenge:
Rawat is solid but not explosive. Yash Dhull provides firepower but lacks consistency. If Delhi loses 2 wickets in power play (realistic against Karnataka’s Vijaykumar Vyshak), they struggle to reach 180.
Fantasy Tip: Pick bowlers who bowl in powerplay. Ishant Sharma, Vyshak both take wickets early.
Death Overs Performance: Overs 16-20 Decide Games
The average death overs score at this venue is 77 runs (12.8 runs per over). That’s explosive.
- Karnataka’s Death Batting:
They have power-hitters down the order. Abhinav Manohar can clear boundaries. Even their number 7-8 can swing hard. Last 2 matches, they scored 189 and 195—both finished strongly.
- Delhi’s Death Bowling Weakness:
This is Delhi’s Achilles heel. When opposition attacks in death overs, Delhi’s bowling leaks runs. Is their economy over 16-20 this tournament? Over 10 runs per over. Karnataka will target this.
Fantasy Tip: Pick Karnataka’s middle-order hitters (Manohar, Pandey) for grand leagues. They’ll score big in death overs.
Team Strength Meter: Who’s Better Where?
| Department | Delhi Rating | Karnataka Rating | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Batting | 7/10 (Rawat solid) | 9/10 (Padikkal + Mayank) | Karnataka clearly |
| Middle-Order | 6/10 (inconsistent) | 8/10 (Nair, Pandey) | Karnataka |
| All-Rounders | 8/10 (Rana, Lalit) | 7/10 (Gopal) | Delhi slightly |
| Pace Bowling | 8/10 (Ishant, Saini) | 7/10 (Vyshak) | Delhi |
| Spin Bowling | 6/10 (Shokeen) | 8/10 (Gopal, Dubey) | Karnataka |
| Death Bowling | 5/10 (weak) | 6/10 (average) | Karnataka |
| Fielding | 7/10 | 8/10 | Karnataka |
| Team Depth | 6/10 | 8/10 | Karnataka |
Overall Edge: Karnataka 8/10, Delhi 7/10
Head-to-Head History: Even Stevens
| Date | Winner | Delhi Score | Karnataka Score | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2023 | Delhi | 137/2 (16.5 ov) | 136/5 (20 ov) | 8 wickets | Delhi |
| Mar 10, 2019 | Karnataka | 109/9 (20 ov) | 112/2 (15.3 ov) | 8 wickets | Bangalore |
Overall Record: 1-1 (Perfectly tied)
Key Observations:
Both previous matches were low-scoring affairs. Highest score? Just 137. Today’s venue averages 197! Expect a completely different match.
Both winners chased successfully. This aligns with today’s venue stats—80% chasing success rate.
Delhi won the most recent meeting. That psychological edge matters.
But Karnataka won in Bangalore (their home). Shows they perform under pressure.
DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction SMAT: Complete Fantasy Strategy
Using the DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction framework, here’s your winning strategy:
Must-Have Players (Pick These, No Debate):
- ✅ Devdutt Padikkal (Karnataka) – 180 runs, opens batting, captain material
- ✅ Anuj Rawat (Delhi) – 163 runs, wicketkeeper bonus, consistent
- ✅ Nitish Rana (Delhi) – All-rounder value, bat + bowl points
- ✅ Ishant Sharma (Delhi) – Experience, 3 wickets, economy
Safe Picks (Low Risk, Decent Returns):
- ✅ Karun Nair (Karnataka) – Anchor role, 82 runs
- ✅ Vijaykumar Vyshak (Karnataka) – Powerplay wickets
- ✅ Mayank Agarwal (Karnataka) – International star
- ✅ Lalit Yadav (Delhi) – Spin all-rounder
Risky Differential Picks (Grand Leagues Only):
- ⚡ Yash Dhull (Delhi) – Low ownership, can explode
- ⚡ Manish Pandey (Karnataka) – Out of form but experienced
- ⚡ Hrithik Shokeen (Delhi) – Spin all-rounder on a helpful pitch
Captain Choices for DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today Match:
- Safe (Small Leagues): Devdutt Padikkal (70-90 points expected, 45% ownership)
- Balanced (Medium Leagues): Anuj Rawat (60-80 points, 35% ownership)
- Risky (Grand Leagues): Mayank Agarwal (50-95 points, 25% ownership) or Nitish Rana (40-110 points, 15% ownership)
Team Formation:
Best Balance: 1 WK + 3 BAT + 3 ALL + 4 BOWL
Why This Works:
- 197-run average demands quality batters
- 51-49 pace-spin split needs 2+2 bowlers
- All-rounders provide a safety net
- One keeper saves budget for premium picks
Playing XI: Expected Lineups
Delhi Predicted XI:
- Anuj Rawat (wk) – Opener
- Yash Dhull – Opener
- Ayush Badoni – Top-order
- Nitish Rana – All-rounder (Captain material)
- Lalit Yadav – All-rounder
- Himmat Singh – Middle-order
- Sumit Kumar – All-rounder
- Ishant Sharma – Fast bowler
- Navdeep Saini – Fast bowler
- Hrithik Shokeen – Spinner
- Simarjeet Singh – Fast bowler
Karnataka Predicted XI:
- Devdutt Padikkal – Opener (Captain material)
- Mayank Agarwal – Opener
- Karun Nair – Top-order
- Manish Pandey – Middle-order
- Abhinav Manohar – All-rounder
- Shreyas Gopal – Spin all-rounder
- Praveen Dubey – Spinner
- Vijaykumar Vyshak – Fast bowler
- Vidhwath Kaverappa – Fast bowler
- Vasuki Koushik – Fast bowler
- Vidyadhar Patil – Fast bowler
Final Thoughts: Karnataka Slight Favorites, But Delhi Can Upset
The DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 04 Dec 2025 leans 58-42 in Karnataka’s favor, but this match is far from decided.
Karnataka walks in with momentum, a superior net run rate, and a batting lineup that perfectly suits this high-scoring venue.
Padikkal, Mayank, and Karun form a formidable top three. Their last two scores (189, 195) show they know how to exploit batting-friendly conditions.
Delhi brings quality bowlers and desperation. Never underestimate a team playing with its back against the wall.
Ishant Sharma’s experience, Navdeep Saini’s pace, and Nitish Rana’s all-around skills give them a fighting chance.
The toss will be crucial. Remember: 62% teams bowl first, and they win 80% of matches at this venue.
If Karnataka wins the toss and bowls, they’re massive favorites. If Delhi bats first, they must post 200+ to stay competitive.
For fantasy players, the strategy is clear: build around Padikkal and Rawat, add Rana for all-around value, balance your bowlers (2 pace + 2 spin), and captain based on your league size.
Small leagues demand safety (Padikkal, captain). Grand leagues require differentials (Mayank or Rana captain).
The weather is perfect. The pitch is ready. The players are warming up. May the best team win, and may your fantasy picks shine bright!
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