by Delhi and Karnataka clash today in what could be a season-defining match.
Both teams are locked on 8 points from 4 matches in Elite Group D of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This isn’t just another game—this is a playoff decider.
Karnataka sits at 3rd position with a healthy net run rate of +1.766. Delhi? They’re 4th with a worrying -0.633 NRR.
That 2.4 difference in net run rate tells you everything. Karnataka can afford a close win. Delhi needs a big victory to jump ahead.
The venue is Narendra Modi Stadium Ground B in Ahmedabad. Big ground. Fast outfield.
Average score of 197 runs. Both batters and bowlers get chances here.
DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction
This DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 04 Dec 2025 guide breaks down team form, player stats, pitch conditions, and fantasy strategies to help you build winning teams.
Match Overview: Key Details
| Match Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Teams | 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, Motera |
| City | Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
| Match Importance | Playoff qualification battle |
| Points at Stake | Winner strengthens top-4 position |
DEL vs KAR SMAT T20 Match Preview: What to Expect
This match promises fireworks for several reasons:
Why This Match Matters:
- Both teams have identical records: 2 wins, 2 losses
- Karnataka’s superior NRR gives them slight edge
- Delhi desperately needs convincing win to fix their negative NRR
- Winner likely secures playoff spot
- Loser faces uphill battle in remaining matches
Team Situations:
Delhi’s Position:
- Currently 4th in Elite Group D
- NRR of -0.633 hurts their chances
- Must win today AND improve run rate significantly
- Pressure is on batters to score quickly
- Bowlers must restrict Karnataka to low total
Karnataka’s Position:
- Sitting comfortably at 3rd
- Positive NRR of +1.766 provides cushion
- Even narrow win keeps them in strong position
- Can play more relaxed cricket
- Confidence from better run rate
Recent Form Patterns:
- Delhi won 2, lost 2 (inconsistent)
- Karnataka won 2, lost 2 (same record but better NRR)
- Both teams capable of big scores
- Both have match-winners in batting and bowling
Pitch Report: Batting Paradise with Balance
| Pitch Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly, true bounce |
| Average Score | 197 runs (last 5 T20s) |
| First Innings Avg | 202 runs |
| Second Innings Avg | 192 runs |
| Pace Wickets | 30 wickets (51% of total) |
| Spin Wickets | 29 wickets (49% of total) |
| Boundary Size | Large ground, longer boundaries |
| Surface | Excellent batting conditions |
| Toss Factor | 62% teams bowl first |
| Chasing Success | 80% win rate bowling first |
What This Means for Fantasy:
- High-scoring match expected (190-210 range)
- Both pace and spin equally effective (pick 2+2)
- Top-order batters will score big
- Death bowlers crucial (economy matters)
- All-rounders provide excellent value
Weather Report: Perfect Cricket Conditions
| Weather Factor | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature (Start) | 19°C (pleasant) |
| Temperature (Peak) | 29°C (warm) |
| Sky Conditions | Clear, sunny |
| Humidity | 57% (moderate) |
| Wind Speed | 11 km/h (light) |
| Rain Chance | 0% (no threat) |
| Overall | Perfect for cricket |
Impact on Match:
No rain expected. Full 40-over match guaranteed. Clear conditions mean no dew factor. Batting will be good throughout both innings.
Team Form Comparison: Last 4 Matches
Delhi – Last 4 Results:
| Match | Opponent | Result | Delhi Score | Opponent Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | vs Tripura | Won | DEL 178/6, TRI 145/9 | Won by 33 runs |
| Match 2 | vs Rajasthan | Lost | DEL 152/7, RAJ 156/3 | Lost by 7 wickets |
| Match 3 | vs Jharkhand | Won | DEL 165/5, JHA 148/8 | Won by 17 runs |
| Match 4 | vs Tamil Nadu | Lost | DEL 159/7, TN 162/4 | Lost by 6 wickets |
Delhi’s Pattern: Win-Loss-Win-Loss (inconsistent)
Karnataka – Last 4 Results:
| Match | Opponent | Result | Karnataka Score | Opponent Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | vs Saurashtra | Lost | KAR 156/8, SAU 160/5 | Lost by 5 wickets |
| Match 2 | vs Tamil Nadu | Lost | KAR 142/9, TN 146/3 | Lost by 7 wickets |
| Match 3 | vs Rajasthan | Won | KAR 189/5, RAJ 165/9 | Won by 24 runs |
| Match 4 | vs Jharkhand | Won | KAR 195/4, JHA 178/7 | Won by 17 runs |
- Karnataka’s Pattern: Loss-Loss-Win-Win (gaining momentum)
- Key Observation: Karnataka won their last 2 matches. Delhi’s form is up and down. Momentum favors Karnataka slightly.
Head-to-Head Records: Limited History
| 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 H2H: 1-1 (Even record)
Key Insights:
- Both previous matches were one-sided (8-wicket margins)
- Delhi chased successfully in 2023 (137/2 in 16.5 overs)
- Karnataka chased successfully in 2019 (112/2 in 15.3 overs)
- Both teams know how to dominate when on top
- The recent meeting (2023) favors Delhi psychologically
DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today Match: Fantasy Strategy
Here’s a complete fantasy cricket strategy for today’s match:
Batters to Pick (Choose 3-4):
Must-Pick Batters:
- Devdutt Padikkal (Karnataka) – CAPTAIN OPTION
- 180 runs in 5 matches this tournament
- Opens batting, gets full 20 overs
- Strike rate over 140 (aggressive)
- Safe 60-80 fantasy points expected
- Anuj Rawat (Delhi) – VICE-CAPTAIN OPTION
- 163 runs in 5 matches
- Wicketkeeper-batter (bonus points)
- Consistent 30-40 run contributor
- Safe pick for all teams
Good Batter Picks:
- Karun Nair (Karnataka)
- 82 runs in 5 matches
- Experienced player
- Can anchor innings
- Mid-range fantasy value
- Nitish Rana (Delhi)
- 55 runs + 3 wickets in 5 matches
- All-rounder who bats top order
- Double value (bat + bowl)
- Excellent pick for balance
Bowlers to Pick (Choose 4):
Must-Pick Bowlers:
- Ishant Sharma (Delhi)
- 3 wickets in 5 matches
- Experienced Test bowler
- Uses big ground to advantage
- Good economy rate
- Vijaykumar Vyshak (Karnataka)
- Quality pacer
- Can take wickets in powerplay
- Death bowling specialist
- Pick for wickets
Good Bowler Picks:
- Navdeep Saini (Delhi)
- Fast bowler with pace
- Can swing new ball
- Wicket-taker
- Shreyas Gopal (Karnataka)
- Leg-spinner with variations
- 29 spin wickets at the venue historically
- Middle-overs specialist
All-Rounders to Pick (Choose 2-3):
- Nitish Rana (Delhi) – Already mentioned above
- Mayank Agarwal (Karnataka) – Can bat and bowl occasionally
- Lalit Yadav (Delhi) – Handy with bat and ball
Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:
Safe Captain Options (Small Leagues):
- ✅ Devdutt Padikkal – Most consistent (180 runs)
- ✅ Anuj Rawat – Wicketkeeper value + consistent
Risky Captain Options (Grand Leagues):
- ⚡ Mayank Agarwal – Can explode for 70-80 if set
- ⚡ Nitish Rana – All-rounder double points potential
- ⚡ Karun Nair – Differential pick with low ownership
Vice-Captain Strategy:
Pick from the opposite team from your captain. If Padikkal is the captain, make Rawat or Rana the vice-captain.
Risk Picks (Low Ownership, High Reward):
- Yash Dhull (Delhi) – Young talent, can score big
- Manish Pandey (Karnataka) – Experienced, low ownership
- Hrithik Shokeen (Delhi) – Spin all-rounder
- Vidhwath Kaverappa (Karnataka) – Pacer with potential
Possible Playing XI: Team Lineups
Delhi Predicted XI:
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anuj Rawat (wk) | Opener |
| 2 | Yash Dhull | Opener |
| 3 | Ayush Badoni | Top-order |
| 4 | Nitish Rana | All-rounder |
| 5 | Lalit Yadav | All-rounder |
| 6 | Himmat Singh | Middle-order |
| 7 | Sumit Kumar | All-rounder |
| 8 | Ishant Sharma | Fast bowler |
| 9 | Navdeep Saini | Fast bowler |
| 10 | Hrithik Shokeen | Spinner |
| 11 | Simarjeet Singh | Fast bowler |
Karnataka Predicted XI:
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devdutt Padikkal | Opener |
| 2 | Mayank Agarwal | Opener |
| 3 | Karun Nair | Top-order |
| 4 | Manish Pandey | Middle-order |
| 5 | Abhinav Manohar | All-rounder |
| 6 | Shreyas Gopal | Spin all-rounder |
| 7 | Praveen Dubey | Spinner |
| 8 | Vijaykumar Vyshak | Fast bowler |
| 9 | Vidhwath Kaverappa | Fast bowler |
| 10 | Vasuki Koushik | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Vidyadhar Patil | Fast bowler |
Top Players to Watch Today
For Delhi:
- Anuj Rawat – 163 runs (wicketkeeper, must-pick)
- Nitish Rana – 55 runs + 3 wickets (all-rounder value)
- Ishant Sharma – Experienced bowler (3 wickets)
For Karnataka:
- Devdutt Padikkal – 180 runs (tournament’s best)
- Karun Nair – 82 runs (experienced anchor)
- Mayank Agarwal – Star opener (can dominate)
Final Prediction: Who Wins?
Winner: Karnataka (60% Chance)
Why Karnataka Favored:
- ✅ Superior net run rate (+1.766 vs -0.633)
- ✅ Won last 2 matches (momentum)
- ✅ Better batting lineup (Padikkal, Mayank, Karun)
- ✅ Balanced bowling attack
- ✅ Less pressure (NRR cushion)
Why Delhi Can Win:
- Home conditions (playing in India)
- Won last H2H meeting in 2023
- Quality bowlers (Ishant, Saini)
- The desperate team plays fearlessly
Most Likely Score:
- Team batting first: 195-205
- Team chasing: 190-200 or 198-202
Best Dream11 Strategy:
- Pick 6 Karnataka players + 5 Delhi players
- Captain: Devdutt Padikkal (safe) or Mayank Agarwal (risky)
- Vice-Captain: Anuj Rawat or Nitish Rana
- Balance: 1 WK + 3 BAT + 3 ALL + 4 BOWL
Conclusion: Build Smart Teams
The DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 04 Dec 2025 favors Karnataka slightly, but this match could go either way.
Both teams are evenly matched on paper. Karnataka’s positive NRR and recent momentum give it the edge. But Delhi, playing with desperation, could produce magic.
For fantasy players, focus on proven performers: Padikkal, Rawat, Rana, Karun. Don’t ignore bowlers—on a 197-average pitch, wicket-takers become gold.
The captain’s choice matters most. Padikkal offers safety with his consistency. Mayank Agarwal offers explosion potential. Pick based on your league size.
Study the toss closely. 62% teams bowl first here with an 80% win rate. If Karnataka wins the toss and bowls, load up on their bowlers. If Delhi bats first, pick their top-order batters.
Good luck with your teams! May your picks perform brilliantly!
