Delhi Capitals extended their unbeaten streak in the TATA IPL with a comprehensive 6-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru — marking the first time they've won four out of four to start a season. KL Rahul was at his fluent best, anchoring the innings with a match-winning 93* off 53 balls. He was ably supported by Tristan Stubbs, who remained unbeaten on 38 off 23, as DC chased down the target with 13 balls to spare.

Earlier, it was the Capitals' bowlers who set the tone, restricting RCB to 163/7. Kuldeep Yadav led the charge with a brilliant 2/17, while Vipraj Nigam delivered a tight spell of 2/18 to stifle the middle order. 

Chasing a target of 164, Delhi Capitals suffered early blows as Royal Challengers Bengaluru came out with intensity in the field. Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck early, and Yash Dayal followed suit, removing the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk courtesy of a sensational catch by Jitesh Sharma. The wicketkeeper completed a second stunner to send back Abishek Porel, as Bhuvneshwar struck again to leave DC reeling at 39/3 inside the powerplay.

 

 

 

 

 

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RCB's bowlers maintained relentless pressure with disciplined lines, and their fielders backed them up with sharp catching and energy on the field. Captain Axar Patel and KL Rahul attempted to rebuild, but Suyash Sharma’s clever leg-spin ended Axar’s stay at 15, reducing DC to 66/4 at the halfway stage. From there, it was the KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs show. The duo paced the innings smartly, rotating strike and finding timely boundaries. Rahul brought up his second consecutive half-century, holding the innings together with composure.

 

 

 

 

 

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With rain looming and DC behind the DLS par, Rahul shifted gears, smashing 22 off Hazlewood in the 15th over. Stubbs provided excellent support, piercing the gaps with ease. Rahul remained unbeaten on a match-winning 93* off 53, finishing proceedings with a towering six. Stubbs stayed not out on 38* as DC clinched a convincing 6-wicket win with 13 balls to spare.

Put into bat, Royal Challengers Bengaluru got off to a flying start, with Phil Salt going berserk in the powerplay. The RCB opener set the tone early, particularly in a jaw-dropping third over where he took Mitchell Starc to the cleaners, hammering 30 runs — the biggest over of the match.

Salt’s blitz electrified the Chinnaswamy crowd as RCB raced to their second-fastest team fifty in IPL history. However, the momentum was dented in the very next over when skipper Axar Patel brought himself on. A miscommunication between Salt and Virat Kohli saw the former run out for a scintillating 37 off 17 — a turning point in the innings. Delhi Capitals clawed back as Mukesh Kumar delivered a brilliant wicket-maiden in the final powerplay over, dismissing Devdutt Padikkal. RCB ended the powerplay at 64/2.

The pressure continued as Vipraj Nigam struck the big blow, removing Kohli for 22, courtesy of a stunning running diving catch by Mitchell Starc at long-off. Mohit Sharma then outsmarted Liam Livingstone, leaving RCB at 91/4 at the halfway mark. Kuldeep Yadav spun a web around the middle order, claiming the RCB skipper Rajat Patidar (25 off 23) and Jitesh Sharma (3 off 11), finishing with a masterful 2/17. Vipraj added another, removing Krunal Pandya (18), ending with excellent figures of 2/18.

 

 

 

 

 

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These wickets in the middle overs from Kuldeep and Vipraj shifted things to DC’s interest. Tim David then came to RCB’s recue act and initiated a late flourish. He remained unbeaten 37 off 20 provided late resistance, guiding RCB to a fighting total of 163/7. RCB lost 7 wickets for just 74 runs from overs 4 to 18. This was a tremendous comeback by the DC bowlers to restrict RCB as at one stage they were scorching along. 

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