When Gujarat Titans face Delhi Capitals in Match 35 of IPL 2025, spectators are in for a cracker of a game. Both teams are loaded with top-of-the-line players who can flip the game around within a few overs. But what adds more to the thrill of this encounter is the individual battles of players who may determine the course of the game. Whether it's a battle between ball and bat or a nerve-wracking battle in the middle overs, some contests stand out more than others. From explosive openers to world-class bowlers, this game has it all. Let's look at the top 4 player showdowns that could determine who walks away victorious. Top 4 Key Player Battles to Watch in GT vs DC Sno Players 1 Sai Sudarshan vs Mitchell Starc 2 Jos Buttler vs Kuldeep Yadav 3 KL Rahul vs Rashid Khan 4 Prasidh Krishna vs KL Rahul Sai Sudarshan vs Mitchell Starc Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2024 29 15 0 4 4 1 193.3 - Total 29 15 0 4 4 1 193.3 - One of the most thrilling duels in this encounter will be between Sai Sudharsan and the temperamental Mitchell Starc. Sai has demonstrated he remains calm and composed under pressure and has a good understanding of fast bowling. When they last clashed last season in 2024, Sai cracked 29 runs off 15 balls against Starc without falling over. He struck 4 clean boundaries and a six, scoring at a rate of more than 190. His capacity to deal with the new ball and bold left-arm pace renders this contest a must-see. Starc, who is renowned for early wickets, will be seeking the upper hand against him this time, particularly with swing and pace at the outset. If Sai gets through those initial overs, GT will surely have a good start. Also Read | RCB vs PBKS: Who Won Yesterday's Match? Jos Buttler vs Kuldeep Yadav Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2016 5 3 0 1 1 0 166.7 - 2017 4 5 0 1 0 0 80.0 - 2018 3 6 1 3 0 0 50.0 3.0 2019 11 7 0 2 2 0 157.1 - 2022 31 12 0 2 2 3 258.3 - 2023 20 15 0 5 2 0 133.3 - 2024 0 1 1 1 0 0 0.0 0.0 Total 74 49 2 15 7 3 151.0 37.0 Jos Buttler, currently batting at number 3 for Gujarat Titans, is expected to lock horns with Delhi Capitals' star spinner Kuldeep Yadav during the middle overs. Their past is quite intriguing. In the course of several seasons, Kuldeep has bowled 49 balls to Buttler, and while he's got him out only twice, he hasn't left him completely silent. Buttler has accumulated 74 runs off those balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes. His best against Kuldeep was in 2022 when he dismantled him with a 31-run attack from just 12 balls, including 3 sixes. But in the very next year, Kuldeep paced him down, conceding only 20 runs off 15 deliveries. In 2024, Kuldeep eventually got his man . With Buttler's attack-minded personality and Kuldeep's intelligent variations, this might be a game-altering duel in the middle overs. KL Rahul vs Rashid Khan Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2018 2 6 2 4 0 0 33.3 1.0 2019 14 18 0 6 0 0 77.8 - 2020 2 6 1 4 0 0 33.3 2.0 2023 17 11 0 3 3 0 154.5 - 2024 5 6 0 1 0 0 83.3 - Total 40 47 3 18 3 0 85.1 13.3 KL Rahul, who is playing in the middle order for DC these days, will again be up against one of his most difficult opponents Rashid Khan. Their encounter has been a story of frustration for Rahul. In all their encounters put together, KL has scored only 40 runs from 47 deliveries against Rashid, getting dismissed on three occasions. More indicative is his strike rate merely at about 85 and he has not hit a single boundary or six in those games except in 2023, when he momentarily replied to Rashid with 17 runs on 11 balls. In other seasons, Rashid has pinned him down entirely, particularly in 2018 and 2020, when Rahul struggled to rotate strike. This encounter will be critical in the middle overs. If Rashid gets into the groove, KL may find it challenging again. Also Read | Who are the batters to have been retired out in the history of IPL? Check full list here Prasidh Krishna vs KL Rahul Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2018 13 8 0 3 1 1 162.5 - 2019 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.0 - 2020 21 15 1 5 3 0 140.0 21.0 2022 8 11 1 8 0 1 72.7 8.0 Total 43 35 2 16 4 2 122.9 21.5 Another thrilling contest featuring KL Rahul will be against Gujarat seamer Prasidh Krishna. These two have clashed a couple of times already, and it has been a patchy one. Rahul has made 43 runs from 35 deliveries against Prasidh, but he has been caught twice. During the 2020 season, he appeared relaxed, scoring 21 off 15 deliveries with 3 fours. Prasidh recovered in 2022 with a very tighter spell when Rahul could muster only 8 runs off 11 deliveries and was later out. The interesting aspect of this face-off is that Prasidh can bowl quickly and into the body, which can be bothersome to KL particularly if he's just getting to the crease. With Rahul set to bat at 4 or 5, this game could determine how DC construct or break in the death overs.