IPL 2026, RR vs DC: Delhi back to winning ways after poor run as Rajasthan miss out on top spot
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "IPL 2026, RR vs DC: Delhi back to winning ways after poor run as Rajasthan miss out on top spot")
IPL 2026, RR vs DC: Delhi back to winning ways after poor run as Rajasthan miss out on top spot Photograph: (IPL)
Tasked to chase 226 runs to win, KL Rahul’s 75-run knock played a key role in helping DC take over the line and stay in the race for IPL 2026 Playoffs. On the other hand, RR missed out on going top of the IPL 2026 standings as they stayed fourth with 12 points from 10 matches.
Delhi Capitals (DC) were back to winning ways in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Friday (May 1). Tasked to chase 226 runs to win, KL Rahul’s 75-run knock played a key role in helping DC take over the line and stay in the race for IPL 2026 Playoffs. On the other hand, RR missed out on going top of the IPL 2026 standings as they stayed fourth with 12 points from 10 matches.
DC get the better of RR
Chasing a massive target of 226, the chase began with blistering intent as KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka dismantled the RR bowling attack in the power-play. The duo took on RR bowlers and added 70 in the first six overs. Nissanka was the aggressor, while Rahul was happy to play second fiddle. The duo added 110 for the opening wicket before Rajasthan finally found a breakthrough via Ravindra Jadeja, who dismissed Nissanka to end the dangerous opening partnership in the 10th over.
Nissanka slammed a fluent 62 off 33 balls. However, the momentum barely shifted as Nitish Rana joined Rahul. Rana played a high-impact cameo, smashing 33 off just 17 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Even though they lost Rahul, the Delhi Capitals managed to get 11 from the Archer’s penultimate over. Sharma got his innings going by smashing a four each off Archer and Brijesh Sharma. Stubbs and Sharma also hammered Deshpande in the 18th over, smashing him for 16 runs. The duo then took the game till the final ball and sealed the match with 5 balls to spare.
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What happened in RR innings?
Earlier in the match, a dazzling fifty by Riyan Parag and a fiery cameo in the end by Donovan Ferreira cruised RR to a massive 225/6. Parag slammed his first fifty of the 2026 IPL, smashing a fluent 90, while Ferreira hammered DC bowlers in the final three overs, making 47 off just 14 balls at a strike rate of 335.71. After opting to bat first at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, RR's innings began with fireworks as Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed a six off the first ball, but Mitchell Starc had the last laugh, dismissing him just two balls later.
The crisis deepened on RR when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell to Kyle Jamieson, leaving the Royals reeling at 12/2 within the first two overs. Skipper Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel then orchestrated a massive recovery with a 102-run partnership. While Jurel played a calculated knock of 42 off 30 balls, Parag took the aggressor's role.
Ferreira, continuing his good form in the tournament, slammed veteran spinner Kuldeep Yadav for three massive sixes in the 18th over. Ferreira also took on Starc, hammering him for 17 runs in the 19th over to take RR past the 200-run mark. Ferreira continued his aggressive onslaught in the final over as well, smashing Natarajan for 18 runs to power RR to 225/6 in their 20 overs.
For DC in bowling, Starc stood up in his first match of the season, scalping 3 wickets, while Jamieson, Patel and Natarajan chipped in with a wicket each.
