DC vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru crush Delhi Capitals by 9 wickets

In the IPL, KL Rahul has scored 111 runs off 102 balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar across 12 innings. He has a strike rate of 108.82 and an average of 55.5 in this match-up.

Rahul’s scoring includes 12 fours and one six, along with 29 singles and 14 doubles. He has faced 46 dot balls, indicating that Bhuvneshwar has been able to keep things tight despite conceding runs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has dismissed Rahul twice in these encounters.

Overall, the numbers show that Rahul has been consistent without being overly aggressive, while Bhuvneshwar has managed to control the scoring rate and pick up occasional wickets.

In the IPL, Virat Kohli has scored 12 runs off 14 balls against Dushmantha Chameera across three innings. He has a strike rate of 85.71 and an average of 6 in this match-up.

Kohli’s scoring includes one boundary, along with eight singles. He has also played five dot balls, indicating that Chameera has been able to keep him under control.

Chameera has dismissed Kohli twice in these encounters, making this a one-sided contest so far.

Overall, the numbers show that Kohli has struggled to score freely against Chameera, with the bowler maintaining tight lines and picking up key wickets.

In the IPL, Rajat Patidar has scored 31 runs off 19 balls against Axar Patel across four innings. He has a strong strike rate of 163.15 and an average of 31 in this match-up.

Patidar’s scoring includes three sixes, along with 11 singles and one double. He has faced four dot balls, showing he has been able to keep the scoreboard moving while also finding boundaries.

He has been dismissed once by Axar Patel in these encounters.

Overall, the numbers show that Patidar has scored quickly against Axar, maintaining an aggressive approach while limiting dismissals.

In the IPL, Virat Kohli has scored 18 runs off 16 balls against Mukesh Kumar across four innings. He has a strike rate of 112.5 and an average of 18 in this match-up.

Kohli’s scoring includes two fours, along with six singles and two doubles. He has also played six dot balls, showing that Mukesh has been able to keep him relatively quiet.

Mukesh Kumar has dismissed Kohli once in these encounters and has maintained control by not allowing many big shots.

Overall, the numbers suggest a balanced contest. Kohli has not been at his most aggressive, while Mukesh has done a decent job of containing him.

If taking pitch, conditions, dimensions, and match-ups out of the equation is an art, then Krunal Pandya is a Picasso. As the imbalance between bat and ball continues to tilt heavily in favour of the former in IPL 2026, the left-armer has managed to restore some normalcy whenever he has had the ball in hand. With his unique bag of tricks and a street-smart brain, Krunal has stayed one step ahead, one variation at a time.

At a time when teams obsess over matchups, prioritising them over skill, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru don't face that problem with Krunal. Left-hander, no problem. In-form opener, no problem. Death overs? No problem. He is well-equipped to handle any situation, and the ease with which he has operated in different phases of the game speaks volumes about the calm head he possesses. Even when Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are being underbowled due to the match-up obsessions, Krunal has continued to do the heavy lifting for the RCB in IPL 2026, even at the unforgiving Chinnaswamy.

Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta believes the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will hold the edge over Delhi Capitals (DC) in their IPL 2026 encounter on Monday, citing Delhi's dip in confidence and RCB's strong all-round form this season.

Speaking on Star Sports as a JioStar expert, Dasgupta pointed to Delhi's recent heavy defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) as a key concern.

"I think RCB have the edge ahead of their match against DC because DC are short on confidence, especially after the way they lost their last match against Punjab," he said.

He added that while Delhi's massive total in that game showed their batting strength, their bowling and fielding remained a major concern.

IPL Live: Constantly rediscovers with every passing year’: Dinesh Karthik praises Virat Kohli's consistency in IPL

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik praised legendary batter Virat Kohli ahead of the team's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 fixture against Delhi Capitals on Monday.

Karthilk hailed Kohli for rediscovering his form every passing year and keeping up with the pace of the format while playing in the IPL.

Virat Kohli has fallen short of the 400-run mark in an IPL season only twice--once in 2017 and again in 2022. In the current season, he has already scored 328 runs in seven innings, maintaining an impressive average of 54.66 and a strike rate of 163.18.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against DC, Karthik praised Kohli for his ability to continually reinvent himself each year and stay competitive in modern T20 cricket. He highlighted that despite the game's increasing pace and the rise of players with extremely high strike rates, Kohli consistently adapts and delivers match-winning performances, making his long-term consistency and evolution especially remarkable.

"Credit to him, that man constantly rediscovers with every passing year. And for him to keep up with the pace of this game, and some of the newer players are batting at insane strike rates, and he is going shoulder to shoulder with them and producing match-winning performances. So I marvel at how he rediscovers himself every year, almost," Karthik said.

Karthik said that Kohli is highly methodical in his approach, regularly reviewing his performances and setting a clear improvement plan each year. He added that Kohli is disciplined and persistent in sticking to his process, not just during matches but also in training, where he constantly evaluates and refines his game.

"That man goes back every year, and he is assessing what he has done. And he almost comes with a very stubborn plan about how he wants to go about it. And he gets it done not on match days alone but the way he practises as well. And he has a method to how he goes about it and he's constantly checking himself in practise," he said.

Whether Delhi Capitals win or lose seems secondary for many supporters ahead of their high-voltage IPL clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The capital is ready to welcome home its favourite cricketing icon, with fans eager to witness Kohli in action once again on familiar turf.

Delhi Capitals enter the contest after being outplayed by Punjab Kings on Saturday, but that setback is unlikely to affect the turnout. If anything, anticipation has only grown stronger with Kohli’s arrival in the city.

Outside the stadium and across the streets of Delhi, one emotion dominates — Kohli fever.

Young fans speaking ahead of the match made it clear that the evening is less about teams and more about the man who has inspired a generation.

“Delhi Capitals is our team, but Virat Kohli is our emotion,” said one college student, proudly wearing a DC jersey.

Another fan added, “We just want to see him bat live. Even one cover drive from Virat is worth coming to the stadium.”

Such is Kohli’s pull that loyalties may be divided in the stands, with blue and red jerseys mixing with chants reserved for the batting superstar. Whenever Kohli walks out to bat, the noise is expected to rise several decibels.

Delhi is set for a full-blown cricket frenzy as Virat Kohli returns to his home ground for the IPL 2026 clash between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Fans are expected to turn up in large numbers, with chants of “Kohli! Kohli!” likely to dominate the atmosphere.

With heavy footfall anticipated, authorities have ramped up security and surveillance around the venue. To ease post-match travel, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has announced extended train services across multiple lines on April 27, ensuring fans can return home without hassle.

Revised last train timings will run well past midnight on key routes, offering much-needed relief after the night fixture. Spectators are advised to plan ahead and use digital payments for smoother transit.

In the build-up to the latest IPL 2026 showdown, the head-to-head record between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru tilts firmly in RCB’s favour. Out of 35 meetings, RCB have won 21 matches, while DC have managed 13 victories, underlining Bengaluru’s historical edge in this fixture. The recent form further widens the gap. Over the past year, DC have struggled for consistency, winning just 4 of their 13 games (30.77%), whereas RCB have been dominant with 11 wins in 14 matches, boasting a strong 78.57% win rate.

Individually, the contest features some of the league’s standout performers. KL Rahul has been DC’s leading run-getter with 573 runs, while Axar Patel has led their bowling effort with 11 wickets. On the other side, Virat Kohli continues to anchor RCB’s batting with 663 runs, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has spearheaded their pace attack with 20 wickets. With both teams bringing key players in form, the upcoming clash promises to be a compelling battle shaped by both history and current momentum.

Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), K.L. Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungisani Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, and Vihaan Malhotra.

The DC vs RCB clash will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.

RCB Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Auqib Nabi

DC Probable XI: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

Weather conditions in New Delhi are expected to stay clear, with no chances of rain interrupting the match. April usually brings peak summer in Delhi, and it will be very hot during the day, followed by a warm evening.

Daytime temperatures could reach around 40–42°C. By match time, it is likely to drop to 30–32°C and may further cool down to around 28–29°C later in the night. Humidity is expected to remain low, between 20–30 per cent.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is known as a batting-friendly venue in the IPL. The pitch offers true bounce, which helps batters play their shots freely. The last match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings turned into a run-fest, and a similar high-scoring game can be expected again. The boundaries are short and the outfield is quick, making scoring easier. It will be hot in the evening, and dew is unlikely to play a big role.

RCB hold a clear edge over Delhi Capitals in their head-to-head record, winning 20 of the 34 matches, while Delhi have managed 13 victories, with one game ending in no result. However, the contest has been evenly balanced in recent years, with both teams winning three matches each since 2023. At the Kotla, RCB have dominated with seven wins, compared to Delhi’s four, highlighting their strong record at the venue.

Matches: 34
RCB wins: 20
DC Wins: 13
No Result: 1

Fielding has been an equally pressing concern, with DC dropping 16 catches this season and their catch efficiency standing at 60 percent - the lowest among all teams. The spin matchup, however, promises to be pivotal, with Axar Patel - DC's captain and RCB's nemesis with 23 IPL wickets against them - likely to bowl in the powerplay, while Kuldeep Yadav adds another dimension in the middle overs.

All-rounder Krunal Pandya has reflected on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) historic IPL 2025 title win, calling it one of the most emotional moments of his career and dedicating the triumph to fans and former skipper Virat Kohli.

The Bengaluru-based franchise secured its first-ever IPL title after 18 years, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs. Punjab fell short in their chase of 191 runs at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Speaking on JioStar's 'The Krunal Pandya Experience', the all-rounder said the long-awaited trophy meant the most to Kohli and the RCB fanbase, who had stood by the franchise for years.

"The ones who deserved it the most are Virat Kohli and the RCB fans. Virat has been an integral part of RCB from the first season. So, to win it and see him get emotional was special. Watching him cry was an emotional moment for everyone," Krunal said.

Virat Kohli is on the verge of scripting yet another historic milestone in the IPL 2026 game against Delhi Capitals on Monday, needing just 11 runs to become the first player to reach 9000 runs in the tournament’s history.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru stalwart has been the face of consistency since 2008, and even in IPL 2026, he continues to deliver at the highest level.

Kohli has already piled up 328 runs in just seven innings this season, averaging 54.66 at a striking rate of 163.18, underlining his ability to evolve with the demands of modern T20 cricket.

Delhi Capitals are still hurting after a shocking defeat in which they scored 264 runs but still lost. They now have very little time to recover as they face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday.

Delhi are currently sixth on the points table and are in a tight race for the playoffs. Another defeat could seriously hurt their chances.

So far this season, Delhi have batted very well but have struggled with the ball. Their top order, led by KL Rahul, has given strong starts. Players like Nitish Rana and David Miller have kept the runs flowing in the middle overs.

However, their bowling has been a big concern. They have failed to defend even big totals. The death bowling, in particular, has been weak and teams are taking advantage of it.

Bowlers like Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav and captain Axar Patel need to perform better, especially in crucial moments.

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been more balanced this season. They are placed second on the table and have done well in both batting and bowling. With stalwart Virat Kohli on the top, their batting has been strong, and Devdutt Padikkal’s return to form has added more depth.

RCB’s bowlers have also impressed, especially in the final overs. In their last match against Gujarat Titans, bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood controlled the game well at the death and stopped the opposition from scoring big.