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- KKR vs DC Highlights, IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs
KKR vs DC Highlights, IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs
In what had become a dead rubber after Rajasthan Royals’ win over Mumbai Indians confirmed the final playoff spot, the intensity on the field was noticeably lower. Both KKR and Punjab Kings were knocked out, while Delhi had already been eliminated a day earlier.
Rahul, however, ensured there was no shortage of entertainment early on. The stylish right-hander attacked from the outset, especially targeting Sunil Narine. He danced down the pitch repeatedly and launched the mystery spinner for towering sixes, including one that struck the promotional car beyond the boundary ropes.
Rahul reached his half-century in just 25 deliveries and looked set to guide DC towards a massive total beyond 220. But KKR clawed back after his dismissal in the 13th over. Trying to accelerate further against Anukul Roy, Rahul mistimed a slower delivery and was caught at long-on.
Axar Patel chipped in with 39, while David Miller and Ashutosh Sharma added useful late runs, but none could maintain the same momentum Rahul had created. Delhi eventually finished with a total that looked slightly under-par on a batting-friendly surface.
For KKR, left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey impressed with figures of 2/28, while Varun Chakravarthy bowled despite reportedly carrying a hairline toe fracture.
Axar said the team never stopped competing despite knowing qualification was unlikely in the final stages of the tournament.
“No one thought that we would just give up and think we are already out,” Axar said.
The all-rounder also reflected on his first major season as captain and revealed how important mental calmness had become during pressure situations. According to Axar, staying composed helped him make better decisions for the team.
He also named Sunrisers Hyderabad as the strongest team among the playoff qualifiers, pointing to their explosive top-order batting. Delhi’s late-season improvement gave fans hope, but Axar admitted one or two moments earlier in the season could have completely changed their playoff fate.
5. Lungi Ngidi and Starc partnership gives DC bowling edge
Lungi Ngidi believes Delhi Capitals finally showed their real potential towards the end of IPL 2026 after a season full of ups and downs. Ngidi played a key role in DC’s victory over KKR and credited senior pacer Mitchell Starc for lifting the standards of the bowling group.
“Playing alongside another international like that gives you an extra level of confidence,” Ngidi said.
The South African also spoke about developing his slower deliveries over several years, saying they had now become one of his biggest weapons in T20 cricket. DC’s pace attack looked far sharper in the final few games, combining yorkers, slower balls and aggressive fielding to dominate opposition batters.
Ngidi admitted Delhi underperformed for large parts of the season but insisted the squad was never a bottom-table side on paper. Their strong finish showed what the team was capable of when both batting and bowling clicked together consistently.
KKR lost seven wickets for just 35 runs after being well placed at 128/3 — one of the worst batting collapses in franchise history. Delhi’s disciplined bowling and smart field placements completely shifted the momentum. Rahane later admitted the team had struggled in key moments throughout the tournament.
“In the first half of the season there were key moments where we were losing out,” Rahane said.
Despite the disappointment, Rahane praised his players for showing resilience after a poor first half of the campaign. KKR had briefly revived their playoff hopes with a strong comeback in the second half but ultimately fell short. The three-time champions now face important questions ahead of next season, especially regarding consistency and finishing games under pressure.
Rahul finished the season with 31 sixes, the second-highest ever by a Delhi Capitals batter in a single IPL edition. His attacking intent at the top gave DC quick starts regularly, something they often lacked in previous seasons. Experts and former cricketers have repeatedly praised Rahul for reinventing himself as an aggressor this year.
His partnership with the middle order, including Axar Patel and David Miller, played a major role in Delhi finishing the season strongly. Although the team narrowly missed the playoffs, Rahul’s form will be one of the biggest takeaways for DC heading into next season.
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“I thought I was bowling a bit more open-chested and sometimes not using my full body,” Kuldeep explained after the match.
The spinner said he focused on spinning the ball harder and varying his pace more effectively, which helped him rediscover rhythm. His dismissal of Rinku Singh proved crucial in breaking KKR’s hopes during the chase. Kuldeep also narrowly missed a hat-trick but said personal milestones mattered less than finishing the season strongly. DC’s bowling attack, supported by Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi, ensured KKR collapsed under pressure after a promising start.
KL Rahul’s explosive 60 off 30 balls powered Delhi to 203/5 after being asked to bat first. Axar Patel and Sahil Parakh also made useful contributions as KKR struggled to control the scoring rate.
In reply, Ajinkya Rahane looked dangerous during his aggressive 63, but KKR lost momentum after Kuldeep Yadav’s game-changing spell. The spinner removed Cameron Green before dismissing Rahane and Rinku Singh in consecutive deliveries.
Mitchell Starc bowled well against his former franchise and picked up two wickets, while Lungi Ngidi cleaned up the tail with three wickets.
The victory helped Delhi Capitals finish sixth in the standings, moving above KKR, who ended another disappointing season in seventh place with only six wins from 14 matches.
Chasing 204 against Delhi Capitals, Rahane played aggressively from the start and attacked both pace and spin. He hammered Auqib Nabi and Axar Patel for consecutive sixes while reaching a 31-ball half-century.
The KKR captain eventually scored 63 off 39 deliveries with four fours and four sixes, keeping his side in the contest despite wickets falling around him.
But Kuldeep Yadav trapped Rahane at a crucial stage with a cleverly tossed-up delivery that forced a mistimed shot to David Miller. From there, KKR completely collapsed and were bowled out for 163.
The defeat ended another poor campaign for KKR under Rahane’s leadership as they finished seventh in the standings.
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Opening the innings for Delhi Capitals, Rahul looked in complete control from the start and attacked Sunil Narine fearlessly. He danced down the track repeatedly and cleared the ropes with ease during his entertaining knock.
Rahul smashed 60 runs from only 30 balls with five fours and four sixes, bringing up his fifty in just 25 deliveries. His aggressive innings laid the foundation for DC’s imposing total of 203/5.
Although KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane responded with a fighting 63 during the chase, Kuldeep Yadav’s superb spell turned the game decisively in Delhi’s favour. DC eventually bowled KKR out for 163 to finish their season with seven wins and seven losses.
After KL Rahul’s explosive 60 helped DC post 203/5, KKR looked in control thanks to Ajinkya Rahane’s attacking half-century. The veteran batter smashed four fours and four sixes during his 39-ball 63.
However, Kuldeep completely shifted momentum in one over. He first removed Cameron Green cheaply before dismissing Rahane and Rinku Singh off successive balls. The spinner nearly had a hat-trick as well after Tejasvi Dahiya edged the next ball, only for Abhishek Porel to drop the catch.
Kuldeep finished with 3/29 as KKR’s chase fell apart dramatically. The defeat marked KKR’s seventh loss of the season as they finished seventh in the points table.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane fought hard with a brilliant 63 off 39 balls, keeping the chase alive with aggressive strokeplay. But Kuldeep Yadav turned the match around after dismissing Cameron Green before removing Rahane and Rinku Singh in consecutive deliveries.
The left-arm spinner finished with figures of 3/29 in his comeback game after being left out earlier. Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi also chipped in with key wickets as KKR collapsed for 163 in 18.4 overs.
A new week, and a new challenge - We are 70 matches into the season, which has just flown by, but there are still four matches left, the most crucial four games of the season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, are the teams that will fight for the coveted trophy, starting with Qualifier 1. The playoff round will begin on Tuesday, 26 May and it will be Royals Challengers Bengaluru taking on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, with the winner getting a direct entry into the final. That game will be played in the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala and will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). As usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up as well. Until then, take care and goodbye!
POTM - Kuldeep Yadav has been given the accolade for his stellar figures of 3 for 29. He says he wasn't happy coming into this game given the way they had wanted to finish as a team earlier, and admits he didn't have a great season overall, saying he expected more from himself. He says after the last game he went back home and worked with his coach, played a game there, and adds that it is the small things you tend to forget very quickly. He says he felt he was bowling a bit more open-chested and that sometimes you stop using your full body, adding that it is exactly where T20 batters get on top of you. He calls it a lovely game for him to come back with after the last match. He says he was very clear with his plans going in, having read the wicket in the first innings as a bit slow, and says the wicket of Rinku was the perfect example of executing that plan. On the dropped catch off the hat-trick ball, he says these things happen and that he is pleased with the way he bowled overall. On his conversation with his coach, he shares that he was very straightforward, telling him to spin the ball and try to deceive the batter, adding that when you spin the ball, you give yourself a chance of getting the batter out.
The captain of Delhi Capitals - Axar Patel says that it's a good feeling and they gave their best in the last game, though they haven't qualified for the playoffs. He says that they have to learn from their mistakes and they played well but things didn't go their way. He further says that this is a high-pressure tournament and as a captain you need to be in a good mindset. He reckons that he keeps his mind calm and ends by saying that SRH are playing good cricket and he feels they are a stronger side in the playoffs.
The Presentation ceremony...
Let's recap the first innings - After being put into bat first, the DC openers added 40 runs for the first wicket, but soon enough, KL Rahul started to take charge. The KKR spinners remained ineffective for a while as Rahul struck a fifty, but the likes of Narine and others came back well. Axar Patel too played a brisk knock as the KKR seamers went the distance.
A night to forget, but not the run - Kolkata Knight Riders were out of the playoff race just a few overs in the game, but they would have wanted to finish with another win, especially in front of their home fans. Ajinkya Rahane led from the front and struck a half-century, but the KKR batters started to lose their way as the run-rate pressure started to mount. They lost wickets in a heap in the backend of the chase and were blown away by the DC bowlers.
Let's now hear from Lungi Ngidi - Ngidi says it feels good to finish on a high after an up-and-down season overall. He adds that it makes it easier for them to look back and identify where things went wrong, and says the focus next season will be on minimising the small errors. On his slower ball, he says it has taken years to build the confidence to bowl it and that playing in certain conditions and doing well is what builds that confidence, pointing to the T20 World Cup as the moment that showed him he could do it. On carrying confidence from the World Cup into the IPL, he says playing in certain conditions and doing well builds confidence, drawing a parallel with batters who seem to find everything falling into place after one good knock. He says the World Cup showed him he could do it in these conditions and that he came into the IPL with heaps of confidence and continued from where he left off. On the team's season, he says there was a stage where it looked like they might scrape the bottom of the table and that pride became one of the biggest talking points, maintaining they were never a bottom of the table side on paper. He says some of their performances made them think that doing a few things better might have put them in the playoffs, and that he is happy to end on this note. When asked about Starc's fielding and its effect on the group, he says the pacer is making them all step their game up and calls him an absolute athlete, having watched him run from long on to long on throughout a game and still come back to bowl 140 kph yorkers. He says playing alongside another international player of that quality gives him an extra level of confidence and that seeing Starc do that puts a big smile on his face.
The skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says that they needed one batter to go big and he took his chances. He says that they have had a disappointing season but they had many positives and he is proud of each and every individual in their team. He reckons that they didn't qualify and the season didn't go their way but their side gave it all. On what happens after the season ends, he says the guys have their commitments and will head home, take some time off and then connect over calls to have discussions moving forward. On his personal plans after the IPL, he says it is just a couple of days off before he heads back to play his local league in Mumbai, something he is really looking forward to. He says he is happy as long as he is playing cricket and that it will be a couple of days off and then back to it.
A team effort with the ball - The Capitals showed their might with the ball and all four of their frontline bowlers, all champs in their rights, have put on a memorable performance with the ball. DC had a big score on the board, but KKR came at them hard with the bat. However, they managed to pick wickets in a heap and in the last few overs, it was just a one-way street. Kuldeep Yadav and Lungi Ngidi finished with three wickets a piece as Mitchell Starc got two as well.
Capitals win big in Kolkata - What an amazing day to round off the league stage of the 2026 IPL season, and it is Rajasthan Royals, who outlasted Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders to seal the last playoff berth. Meanwhile, DC finish their seaason with a massive win, making it three on the trot and they leapfrog KKR in the points table as well.
Lungi Ngidi to Varun Chakaravarthy, OUT! MISTIMED AND CAUGHT! DC comprehensively beat KKR by 40 runs. At just 112.7 kph. Ngidi floats another slow, dipping off-cutter full outside off. Chakaravarthy goes after it again, doesn't pick the variation and swings hard. Gets the connection off the toe end and slices it uppishly towards cover, where Axar takes a few steps by turning back and pouches a simple catch to end KKR's misery. From 96/2, the Knight Riders have been bowled out on 163. Ngidi finishes off with a spectacular three-for.
Lungi Ngidi to Varun Chakaravarthy, Wide yorker, with pace taken off, outside off. Varun Chakaravarthy has to reach for it to work it through the off side but misses to connect.
Lungi Ngidi to Varun Chakaravarthy, A yorker at 137.6 kph, on middle. Varun jams the bat down and flicks it to deep mid-wicket but denies the run.
Lungi Ngidi to Varun Chakaravarthy, FOUR! Races through! Low full toss, slanting onto the pads. Varun Chakaravarthy whips it off the inner half and finds the gap at deep backward square leg for a boundary.
- Saurabh Dubey 4 (2)
- Varun Chakaravarthy 1 (1)
Mitchell Starc to Saurabh Dubey, FOUR! Edged and beats the keeper! Very full, almost a yorker, around off and it straightens off the deck. Saurabh Dubey looks to tap it into the off side, but ekes an outside edge and the ball beats the diving Abishek Porel behind the wickets, to his right and races away to the fence.
Mitchell Starc to Saurabh Dubey, From around the stump, this is a yorker, outside off, at 144.2 kph. Saurabh Dubey drops the bat down and steers it to backward point.
Saurabh Dubey is the last man in.
Mitchell Starc to Kartik Tyagi, OUT! TAKEN EASILY! This has been a monumental collapse from the Knight Riders. Full on off stump, angling into the batter. Kartik backs away to leg and goes for the lofted slash over mid off, but mistimes it completely. Chips a simple catch to Axar Patel, who settles under it and takes the catch. KKR are 156/9. DC need just 1 wicket to win.
Mitchell Starc to Varun Chakaravarthy, Full and tailing in on the legs. Chakaravarthy gets his bat down just in time and chips it softly towards a vacant mid on for a run.
Varun Chakaravarthy walks in at number 10.
Mitchell Starc to Anukul Roy, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Starc gets his first wicket as Roy falls. Length ball on off, tailing back in at 144.2 kph. Anukul Roy backs away to leg and looks to muscle it down the ground, but gets a splice off the top of the bat. The ball is sliced and balloons straight up and Starc, in his follow-through, calls for it, runs a bit to his left and settles under it and takes it cleanly.
Rovman Powell departs. Kartik Tyagi is the new batter.
Mitchell Starc to Anukul Roy, OUT! POWELL IS RUN OUT! That should be the game for the Capitals. A sensational piece of fielding by Rizvi. Starc misses the yorker by a yard or so, on off. Anukul Roy carves it over the bowler and they run the first one but there is a slight hesitation for the second run before they eventually get the skates on for it. Sameer Rizvi runs across to his left from long off and fires in a direct hit at the non-striker's end where Powell is caught short by a fair bit. KKR are 154/7, needing 50 runs from 17 balls.
- Rovman Powell 29 (21)
- Anukul Roy 8 (6)
Lungi Ngidi to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Inside edge and runs away! Spears another yorker by attacking the pads, Rovman Powell tries to take it on the full to tonk it over the off side, but gets a thick inside edge onto the pads before the ball runs between the keeper and the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. KKR need 51 runs off 18 balls.
Lungi Ngidi to Anukul Roy, Varies the pace again by executing the slower yorker, on middle and off. Roy jams the bat down and squeezes it between cover and point for an easy single.
Lungi Ngidi to Anukul Roy, Oh, a low full toss at 132.9 kph and it moves away while dipping, far outside off. Roy tries to drive it away but gets a bottom edge back to the bowler.
Lungi Ngidi to Anukul Roy, FOUR! Just clears the in-field! Goes pace off, on off and full in length. Anukul Roy has to wait for months for the ball to arrive and carves it over David Miller at extra cover for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Rovman Powell, Fires in a yorker on middle, at pace at 135.1 kph. Rovman Powell looks to flick it away, but inside edges it onto the boot and it gets deflected behind the stumps on the off side for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Anukul Roy, There's the slower dipping yorker, around off. Roy carves it away to deep point for a single.
STRATEGIC BREAK! Time for the final break in the league stage of this season. Delhi Capitals have made massive inroads in this middle over phase with Kuldeep Yadav turning the screws on. KKR have lost most of their trusted batters in the slide from 96/2 to 129/6. They still require 62 runs from 24 balls with the last recognised batting pair in the middle. Though it's doable, but both of these batters will have to bat till the end. Powell is capable and everyone knows his might and that's the wicket DC would be aiming for to slam the door shut. Lungi Ngidi is back on. 2-0-12-2 so far are his bowling figures.
- Rovman Powell 24 (19)
- Anukul Roy 2 (2)
Kuldeep Yadav to Rovman Powell, FOUR! A much-needed boundary for Kolkata Knight Riders! Short ball, on middle and leg, Rovman Powell latches onto it and pulls it powerfully hrough square leg for a boundary.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rovman Powell, Flighted up, on middle, Rovman Powell tries to block it but miscues it to the cover fielder.
Kuldeep Yadav to Anukul Roy, Two wides! Sprays it down the leg side, Anukul Roy looks to flick it but misses. The keeper fails to stop it as the ball deflects off the right pad and rolls behind to deep fine leg. Auqib Nabi mops it up as the batters collect a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rovman Powell, Much fuller, on leg, Rovman Powell flicks it through square leg for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rovman Powell, Beaten! Flatter, outside off, turning away. Rovman Powell looks to block it but misses.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rovman Powell, Down the leg side, Rovman Powell looks to flick it but misses. The ball brushes his pads and goes to the keeper. A stifled appeal for caught behind, but the umpire is unmoved.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rovman Powell, Two is the call from Powell straightaway and they will get it. Flighted up, on leg, Rovman Powell tucks it through backward square leg for a brace. Good running between the wickets.
- Rovman Powell 17 (13)
- Anukul Roy 2 (2)
Axar Patel to Rovman Powell, Fired in, full and on off, Rovman Powell taps it to cover for a quick single.
Axar Patel to Rovman Powell, Nice and full, on off, Rovman Powell pushes it to the point fielder.
Axar Patel to Anukul Roy, Axar Patel keeps it on middle and leg, Anukul Roy turns it to square leg for another run.
Axar Patel to Rovman Powell, Fired in, on off, Rovman Powell knocks it down to long off for a single.
The match had little bearing on the playoff race after Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians earlier in the evening, officially ending KKR and Punjab Kings’ qualification hopes. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, had already been knocked out following Punjab’s win over Lucknow Super Giants.
With pressure off both sides, the game lacked the usual IPL intensity, and several sloppy moments reflected that. KKR vice-captain Rinku Singh dropped Sahil Parakh early, while veteran spinner Sunil Narine endured an unusually expensive spell, conceding 38 runs in four overs.
Rahul took full advantage of the relaxed bowling display and dominated Narine with fearless strokeplay. He repeatedly used his feet to attack the spinner, smashing him for multiple sixes over long-on and straight down the ground. One towering hit even bounced onto the bonnet of the promotional car near the boundary.
The Delhi opener reached his fifty in just 25 balls and looked unstoppable at one stage. However, KKR finally regained control through Anukul Roy, whose slower delivery deceived Rahul into mistiming a big shot towards long-on.
Axar Patel scored a useful 39, while David Miller and Ashutosh Sharma tried to finish strongly but could not fully cash in during the death overs. Left-arm seamer Saurabh Dubey stood out for KKR with impressive figures of 2/28, helping restrict Delhi to a manageable total.
