- News
- Sports News
- Cricket News
- IPL News
- DC vs RR Highlights, IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets
DC vs RR Highlights, IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets
Rajasthan Royals had appeared destined for a massive total after storming to 160 for 2 in 14 overs. Dhruv Jurel (53) and Riyan Parag (51) led the charge with aggressive batting, while Vaibhav Suryavanshi once again impressed with a rapid 46. However, Starc changed the course of the innings completely. His 4/40 dismantled the middle and lower order as RR collapsed dramatically, losing six wickets for just 33 runs to finish at 193 for 8.
Chasing 194, Delhi Capitals started strongly with KL Rahul (56 off 42) and Abishek Porel (51 off 31) putting together a commanding 105-run opening stand in just 10.1 overs. Porel attacked early with seven boundaries and a six, while Rahul anchored the innings with controlled aggression before falling to Dasun Shanaka.
Although Rajasthan briefly fought back through Jofra Archer and Brijesh Sharma, Delhi remained in control. Skipper Axar Patel played a composed unbeaten knock of 34 off 18 balls, while Ashutosh Sharma’s late cameo ensured the chase was completed in 19.2 overs.
Earlier, Jaiswal gave RR a quick start, but it was Suryavanshi and Parag who built the foundation of what looked like a match-winning total. Starc’s timely breakthroughs, however, halted their momentum at the perfect moment. His dismissals of Parag, Donovan Ferreira and Ravi Singh in quick succession triggered a collapse from which RR never recovered.
The win lifts Delhi Capitals up the table and keeps their playoff hopes alive heading into the final stages of the league phase.
CSK and RR have a slightly less than even chance of ending up among the top four in terms of points, even if jointly. PBKS’ chances are at about one in three. KKR and DC have improved their chances with wins over the weekend, but they remain behind the rest.
There are now 256 possible combinations of results, so nothing is for sure yet for any of the seven remaining in the race.
The 15-year-old opener went past Abhishek Sharma’s previous record of 42 sixes from IPL 2024 and now sits alone at the top with 43 maximums this season. The milestone further highlighted the fearless batting approach that has turned Sooryavanshi into one of the biggest stars of IPL 2026.
RR were firmly in control at 160 for 2 in 14 overs, and looked set for a total in the 220–230 range, but a dramatic collapse triggered by Mitchell Starc’s four-wicket burst saw them finish at 193 for 8. Delhi Capitals then chased it down in 19.2 overs.
Parag, who led from the front with a fluent 51, pointed to the middle and death overs as the turning point.
Tap to make your prediction
So when he came to the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday night, to face Delhi Capitals, and took his sixes tally in IPL 2026 to 43, including three on the night, it didn't look out of place. He has now registered the most sixes by an Indian batter in a single IPL season, surpassing Abhishek Sharma's 42 in 2024.
Yet, his collective tally of 440 runs (before the match), put him outside the top-10 in the Orange Cap race. 46 runs later -- having faced 21 balls -- laced with three sixes and five boundaries, he had catapulted sixth in the list. His stay in the middle was stopped short by Madhav Tiwari.
Sooryavanshi has now scored 486 runs in 12 matches this season, including one century and two half-centuries. His aggressive intent has regularly taken Rajasthan past 60 runs inside the first six overs, giving their middle order a strong platform to build on.
He once again made a strong impact against Delhi Capitals, smashing 46 off just 21 balls as RR reached 75/1 at the end of the Powerplay in another high-tempo start.
Riyan Parag (51) and Dhruv Jurel (53) had put RR in control, but a sudden collapse derailed their innings. In response, KL Rahul and Abishek Porel added 105 runs for the first wicket, setting up a smooth chase.
Axar Patel and Ashutosh Sharma finished the job efficiently, ensuring DC stayed alive in the playoff race with a confident all-round performance.
Tap to make your prediction
Even after a few middle-order hiccups, Axar’s unbeaten 34 off 18 ensured there were no late scares. Ashutosh Sharma’s late cameo sealed the win in 19.2 overs. Earlier, Mitchell Starc’s 4/40 had ripped through RR’s batting after their strong start, restricting them to 193 for 8 despite half-centuries from Parag and Jurel.
However, Mitchell Starc’s devastating spell of 4/40 triggered a collapse, with RR losing six wickets for just 33 runs. Donovan Ferreira and Ravi Singh fell in quick succession as DC tightened control.
Despite the strong start, RR failed to accelerate in the death overs, leaving their bowlers with too little to defend as DC chased comfortably in the end.
Despite brief resistance from Jofra Archer and Brijesh Sharma, Delhi never lost grip on the chase. Axar Patel’s unbeaten 34 off 18 and Ashutosh Sharma’s quickfire cameo ensured a smooth finish in 19.2 overs.
Earlier, Mitchell Starc’s 4/40 had dismantled RR after their strong start, restricting them to 193 for 8.
But Starc’s 4/40 triggered a stunning collapse, as Rajasthan lost six wickets for just 33 runs to finish on 193 for 8. In reply, KL Rahul (56) and Abishek Porel (51) set the tone with a 105-run stand before Axar Patel and Ashutosh Sharma finished the job comfortably in the 20th over.
That's a wrap - Just one week remains in the league stage action of IPL 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru being the only team so far to have locked in a playoff berth. A massive game awaits us in Chennai on Monday, 18th May, where Chennai Super Kings lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad, with both teams harbouring playoff aspirations. The game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). See you then. Cheers!
Royals slip, Capitals survive - With this result, the Rajasthan Royals no longer have their destiny in their own hands. They need to win their remaining two games and then hope that other results go their way. It is a quick turnaround for the Royals, who next face Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Tuesday, 19th May. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, hang in there with an outside chance and now have a bit of a break before their next game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, 24th May. By then, though, they may not even be in the race anymore.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Mitchell Starc gets the award for his outstanding display of 4/40 from his 4 overs, with three of those wickets coming in a single over that proved to be the turning point of the match. Starc says that it was an interesting game and the pitches have been different in Delhi right throughout the tournament. Goes on to say that they didn't bowl too badly in the Powerplay, but managed to pull it back, and it's always good to sign off at home with a win. Mentions that the key is to adjust not just quickly, but quicker than the other team as well and feels that there was reverse swing on offer and they adjusted well after the Powerplay. Starc also says that the beauty of T20 is that you can't dwell on too many things, and neither can you celebrate for too long, so it's important to stay level-headed. On the group, he says that there are plenty of talented youngsters in their team and says that every season he plays in the IPL, there's just such a good mixture of youth and experience.
The captain of the Delhi Capitals - Axar Patel says that winning at home feels special, especially after a string of defeats and with this being the final home game of the season. He adds that the side had been losing wickets in clusters in previous matches, but tonight, after getting a strong opening stand, they stayed well placed throughout and managed to build partnerships. Axar says that his side has repeatedly managed to make comebacks with the ball after the Powerplay this season. Mentions that the side once again pulled things back in the middle overs, joking that it was their youngster (Mitchell Starc) who did the job for them. Patel shares that he and Mitchell Starc kept discussing field placements and ways to make life difficult for every new batter at the crease.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
RR flatter to deceive - After being asked to bat first, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got the Royals off to a flying start before Riyan Parag carried the momentum forward. At 160/2 with 6 overs left, it looked less about whether RR would cross 200 and more about how far beyond they could get. A triple-wicket over from Mitchell Starc turned the game on its head, and the rest of the DC attack chipped in to complete a remarkable fightback. 33/6 in the last 6 overs meant the Royals could only get up to 193.
Experience carried DC over the line - The Royals managed to apply the squeeze after breaking the opening partnership and picked up wickets along the way to force a slowdown. With momentum on their side, lapses in the field did not help their cause, and a costly gamble to introduce Donovan Ferreira, who conceded 16 runs in the over, eased the pressure on DC. In the end, they had enough quality in the likes of David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma and Axar Patel to get them over the line.
Royals left to rue early errors - The Capitals carried the momentum from their fightback with the ball into the chase and raced to 72 in the Powerplay without losing a wicket. The Royals were a bit too short with the new ball upfront, and dropping KL Rahul on 0 only made matters worse. Abishek Porel and Rahul put on a 105-run opening stand, with both batters bringing up their fifties.
DC's crisis man - KL Rahul says that this season feels a bit more special, as he has been scoring in excess of 500 runs season after season, but his strike rate is up, which is positive, and he would have liked to have won a few more games. Hopes that they can win their last game, and a few other teams can help their cause. Mentions that he hasn't cracked the game completely, and the sport is such that you need to be open to experimentation and doing things that make you uncomfortable. Also mentions that before the season started, the coaches wanted him to play at a certain strike rate and dominate the Powerplay, but in the last few games, the pitches have been tricky, and he's had to take a step back, and the way Abishek Porel played today allowed him to play the anchoring role. Goes on to talk a bit more about Porel, saying that Porel is someone who can play according to the situation well, and unfortunately, he didn't get too many chances this season, and he's also trying to improve his strike rate, and this innings will give him that confidence.
The captain of the Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag reflects on the game. He says that they were in a pretty good space in the first innings, but when he got out, they failed to get to 220-230 runs. With the ball, they weren't at their best and mentions that Ferreira wasn't a gamble, it was a ploy against the two left-handers. On the fielding, Parag says that if you want to win the tournament, the fielding needs to be top-notch and feels that if they are playing like this, then they shouldn't be in contention for the top four. On the playoff scenario, he says that now their fate isn't only in their hands, which he doesn't like and hopes that they can win their remaining two games.
DC live to fight another day - They would have surely loved to have finished the chase in a more comfortable and clinical fashion, but two points in the bag is all that matters for now, and it keeps their playoff hopes alive, however slim they may be. RR, meanwhile, will be kicking themselves for not making the most of the launchpad they had set for themselves with the bat. Though they fought till the very end with the ball, they just did not put up enough runs on the board.
Adam Milne to Ashutosh Sharma, SIX! Ashutosh Sharma doesn't need a second invitation, and he derails Rajasthan Royals' playoff hopes, keeping Delhi Capitals in with an outside chance. The Capitals win by 5 wickets. Milne bangs it in quick and short over middle, Sharma stays back again and climbs into the pull, launching it high and in front of deep square leg for a biggie.
Adam Milne to Ashutosh Sharma, FOUR! As easy as you like from Ashutosh Sharma. Overpitched delivery on off, Sharma hangs deep in the crease, keeps the front leg out of the way and hammers it over mid off for a boundary. Just 3 needed now off 5 balls.
Right, we are down to the final over. With the way DC started, few would have expected it to get this close. Last year, these two sides played out a thriller here in Delhi when RR needed 9 off the final over, and Mitchell Starc dragged the game into the Super Over. Tonight, DC need 7. Adam Milne has been given the task of bowling the final over. Well, RR have been penalised for maintaining a slow over rate. They will be allowed only 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Advantage DC.
- Ashutosh Sharma 8 (3)
- Axar Patel 34 (18)
Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, Oh, a direct hit, and Ashutosh Sharma would have been a goner. Back of a length again, straighter this time. Sharma jams it across to mid-wicket and sets off for the single, and luckily for him, the fielder misses the direct hit at the bowler's end. 7 needed now off the last over.
Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, SIX! Right on cue, Ashutosh Sharma goes big and eases the pressure a bit on the batting side. Back of a length, on off, Sharma hangs back and just shovels it across to deep mid-wicket and over the fence for a biggie.
Brijesh Sharma to Axar Patel, The boundaries aren't just coming for Delhi at the moment. Full and outside off, Patel can't get under it and squeezes it to covers for one.
Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, WIDE! Another fumble from Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps. Full and down the leg side, it is the slower delivery. Jurel spills it to short fine leg and they get a single as well.
Brijesh Sharma to Axar Patel, Patel doesn't get the connection, it was there to be hit. Full and straight, not quite yorker-length, Patel backs away and hits it down to long on for just a single.
Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, Full and wide outside off, landing it near the tramline. Ashutosh Sharma gets across and eases it through cover-point for one.
Mukesh Kumar is substituted by Ashutosh Sharma
Ashutosh Sharma walks in next. Ashutosh is DC's Impact Sub. Mukesh Kumar has been subbed out.
Brijesh Sharma to David Miller, OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the man in the deep, and there's still a lot of life left in this game. Brijesh Sharma comes around the wicket and bowls a slower one into the pitch, just around off. David Miller gets his hands out in front and looks to drag the pull over mid-wicket but ends up hitting it flat. Dasun Shanaka moves a step to his right in the deep and pouches it around head height. The mighty Miller goes and Brijesh gets his second wicket. 19 required off 11.
Brijesh Sharma to bowl the 19th over. How much can he leave for the final over?
- Axar Patel 32 (16)
- David Miller 9 (5)
Donovan Ferreira to Axar Patel, SIX! A costly gamble from the Royals, 16 off the over. Tossed up on middle and leg, Axar Patel stays leg side of the ball and just swings across the line, slogging it high and over cow corner for a biggie. 19 needed now off 12 balls.
Donovan Ferreira to David Miller, Oh, that could have gone anywhere. Full again, angled into the leg pole. Miller sets up for the slog sweep but toe-ends it into the off side for one run.
Donovan Ferreira to Axar Patel, Speared into the left-hander, on a length, Axar backs away and smears it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Donovan Ferreira to David Miller, Well bowled. High-arm delivery, angled a long way into the batter. Miller backs away again but fails to get under it and hits it down to long on for a single.
Donovan Ferreira to David Miller, SIX! Overpitched and punished. Full, trying to angle it in at the toes. David Miller makes a bit of room and slams it over long on for a biggie.
Donovan Ferreira to Axar Patel, That's well bowled. The under-cutter from Ferreira, lobbed up and drifted into middle. Patel almost misreads it and dabs it late towards short third for a single.
That's Archer done for the night. Interesting call from Riyan Parag. An interesting call from Riyan Parag. With two left-handers at the crease, Donovan Ferreira has been introduced for his off-breaks. A golden duck earlier with the bat for Ferreira, but he now has an opportunity to make an impact against his old side.
- David Miller 1 (2)
- Axar Patel 24 (13)
Jofra Archer to David Miller, A dot to finish, and that's a fine comeback from Archer, ending up with figures of 4-0-35-2. Back of a length, slanted back into the batter. Miller gets cramped for room and jams it into the off side. 35 needed now off 18 balls.
Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, Archer goes for the yorker now, on off stump, pushed down to long off for a single by Patel.
Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, FOUR! Not where Axar intended that to go, but they all count the same. Good length, angled in at the stumps, Axar Patel comes down the pitch and goes after it, ends up slicing it high and to the right of deep point. Yashasvi Jaiswal runs to his right but the ball spins away from him and goes over the fence.
Jofra Archer to David Miller, A fine delivery to the new batter. Just short of a length and around off, at 148.1 kph. The ball shoots off the deck and takes Miller by surprise. He manages to keep it down behind point and picks up a single.
David Miller makes his way out to bat. Four balls left in Jofra Archer's spell, and the Royals would dearly love another wicket here.
Jofra Archer to Tristan Stubbs, OUT! CAUGHT! Yashasvi Jaiswal is back on the field and he takes a top catch, and the game keeps getting tighter and tighter. Tristan Stubbs is a bit early to shuffle past the off stump and sets up for the lap shot. Jofra Archer sees him and drags the length back, slowing it down a touch as well. Instead of hitting it fine, Stubbs ends up hitting it over backward square leg. Jaiswal charges in from deep square leg and takes a fine running catch. Archer delivers for RR, and DC now need 41 off 22 balls.
Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, Short of a length, on a tight line around off, and at 147.5 clicks. Patel hops back and glides it late, down to third man for a single.
Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, WIDE! Around the wicket, a bit short and angled down leg. Wide called. Actually, Riyan Parag has reviewed it, pretty late as well. The third umpire is called into action. He checks UltraEdge and finds that the ball has missed the bat as well as the body and it will stay a wide. A review wasted here.
Jofra Archer (3-0-27-1) will bowl out now. Riyan Parag is not holding Archer back for later because by then, the pacer may have nothing left to work with.
Chasing 194, Delhi Capitals were anchored by KL Rahul (56 off 42) and Abishek Porel (51 off 31), who stitched a fluent 105-run opening stand in just over 10 overs. While Porel set the tone with aggressive strokeplay, Rahul provided stability before falling to Dasun Shanaka. Despite brief setbacks in the middle order, skipper Axar Patel (34* off 18) and a late cameo from Ashutosh Sharma ensured DC completed the chase in 19.2 overs.
Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi gave RR a strong start, but the Capitals fought back through disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Suryavanshi’s entertaining 46 and Parag’s fluent 51 kept Rajasthan ahead before Starc’s devastating spell flipped the game. His breakthroughs of Parag, Donovan Ferreira and Ravi Singh in quick succession broke RR’s momentum, sealing a memorable comeback for DC in a must-win encounter.
