Delhi Capitals snapped their three-game losing run with a commanding seven-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 encounter at Jaipur on Friday. The opening pair of KL Rahul (75 from 40 deliveries) and Pathum Nissanka (62 from 33 deliveries) laid the foundation for their challenging 226-run pursuit with a brilliant 110-run partnership. Tristan Stubbs (18 not out) and Ashutosh Sharma (25 not out) completed the successful run chase with five deliveries remaining.
Earlier in the match, captain Riyan Parag rediscovered his rhythm with a 50-ball 90, marking his maiden fifty-plus knock this season, while Donovan Ferreira contributed a blazing 47 not out from just 14 deliveries as RR compiled an impressive 225/6 after choosing to bat first. Parag, who faced sanctions after being spotted vaping during their previous encounter against Punjab Kings, rebuilt the innings alongside Dhruv Jurel (42) following early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal (6) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (4) within the opening two overs. Mitchell Starc claimed 3/40, dismissing Parag among others on his return. Rahul-Nissanka Duo Powers DC’s Record Chase Victory Against Rajasthan Royals .
TOSS-
Rajasthan Royals won the coin toss and decided to bat first.
PLAYING XI –
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI):
KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma
RAJASTHAN ROYALS-
While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi didn’t provide the fireworks, Mitchell Starc received an IPL 2026 introduction courtesy of a first-delivery maximum from Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, that remained the extent of the RR opener’s contribution – he miscued a full delivery on the following ball, offering a simple catch back to the bowler. Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi started positively with a boundary off his first ball from Kyle Jamieson before the Kiwi bowled him through the gate next delivery. Only a productive 20-run final over of the Powerplay helped RR reach a decent 56/2.
Though Delhi removed the dangerous openers affordably, they struggled to maintain control during the middle phase as the RR captain announced his return to prominence with a crucial innings. Parag launched his assault on Jamieson with successive boundaries of 6, 4, 6 in the sixth over, compensating for the slow Powerplay start. His partnership with Jurel flourished into a 102-run association that steadied the ship.
While Kuldeep bowled tightly in his first over, the RR captain responded aggressively, targeting his opposite number with back-to-back sixes en route to a 32-ball half-century. The DC captain brought himself off for a quick bowler, but Parag punished this change with a boundary and flat maximum, turning it into another expensive over. Axar switched ends and returned, earning a six from Jurel before striking back immediately. Parag maintained his aggressive approach, targeting Jamieson once more in the death overs with three consecutive boundaries to reach 90.
Starc’s return in the final overs proved decisive as he removed both Parag and Jadeja in a single over, yet Ferreira’s explosive finish propelled RR to a commanding total. His blistering 14-ball innings worth 47 runs featured six maximums and additional boundaries – leaving DC facing a daunting 226-run target to break their losing sequence. Ferreira transformed Kuldeep’s otherwise tight figures with three sixes from four balls in the 18th over. In the 19th, he punished Starc with a six and boundary, while Natarajan suffered consecutive hits of 4, 6, 6 in the final over.
DELHI CAPITALS-
DC’s batting Powerplay matched their new-ball bowling excellence. For the first occasion this season, their opening stand survived the initial six overs, posting their second-highest Powerplay total ever. Pathum Nissanka, recalled after being rested last game, targeted Jofra Archer immediately, striking the fast bowler for three boundaries and a six within five deliveries across his opening spell.
Nandre Burger became the next target. After conceding boundaries to Rahul at both ends of his first over, Nissanka launched him for sixes to start and finish his second over, racing to a 23-ball fifty upon his return as field restrictions ended. Nissanka dominated proceedings while DC surged to 78/0.
Though initially measured, Rahul accelerated against Ravi Bishnoi with a boundary and two maximums in his second over, pushing DC beyond 100 runs in the ninth over. Jadeja broke through by removing the threatening Nissanka, but Rahul reached his 27-ball fifty first before combining with Nitish Rana to attack the experienced spinner for 18 runs in the 12th over. Their 61-run aggressive partnership maintained Delhi’s momentum in the massive chase. The pair forced Burger from the attack with another 18-run over, surpassing 150 by the 14th over.
Deshpande and Archer dismissed Rana and Rahul respectively in consecutive overs, briefly offering RR hope of a comeback. Nevertheless, the equation had reduced to a manageable 49 from 4.4 overs. Ashutosh Sharma and Tristan Stubbs forged an unbeaten 49-run partnership, completing Delhi’s largest successful IPL chase with five balls remaining, putting their recent home defeats firmly behind them.
Brief scores:
Rajasthan Royals 225/6 in 20 overs [Riyan Parag 90 (50), Donovan Ferreira 47* (14), Dhruv Jurel 42 (30); Mitchell Starc 3-40] lost to Delhi Capitals 226/3 in 19.5 overs [KL Rahul 75 (40), Pathum Nissanka 62 (33), Nitish Rana 33 (17)] by 7 wickets.
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