Delhi Capitals (DC) staged a brilliant chase to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by six wickets with just one ball to play in Match 26 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. South African finisher Tristan Stubbs was the hero of the night as he remained unbeaten on 60 off 47 balls while leading his team 1795/8CB.
The match started with DC winning the toss and electing to bowl. RCB posted a competitive total thanks to Phil Salt’s quickfire 63(38), but disciplined bowling from the Capitals kept the hosts in check. When DC came into bat, disaster struck early as Bhuvneshwar Kumar tore through the top order to reduce them to 18/3 in three overs. KL Rahul fought back with a gritty 57(34) but the real turning point came when Stubbs anchored the innings amid mounting pressure.
Tristan Stubbs anchors the chase with poise and class
Tristan Stubbs showed why he becomes DC’s ideal man in crisis situations. He started slowly, alternating the strike and building partnerships before picking up the pace at the right moment. His innings included four boundaries and one huge six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar that broke the shackles. Even as the required run rate rose in the dying overs, Stubbs kept his cool, led the lower order and finished the game alongside David Miller, who sealed the win with a boundary in the final over.
Social media is exploding with praise
Fans on social media exploded with praise for the DC batter. “Tristan Stubbs is so underrated,” trended as supporters highlighted his composure under fire. Many pointed to how consistently he delivers when DC needs him most.
Stubbs won the Man of the Match award for his match-winning knock. His strike rate of 127.66 reflected the perfect balance between caution and aggression on a ground renowned for high scores.
Tristan Stubbs after winning the man of the match award
“I wasn’t quite ready in the innings. I was like, just look at the ball and go from there. KL ended up getting most of the strike and took us, got us real momentum. And then in the middle, the way he batted was amazing. He really kept us at bay. And we talked before as a partnership batting team. So I thought he’s doing well, so just give him a strike,” Tristan said.
“It wasn’t like spin or anything, but it was a bit slow, a bit low. Basically what I play at home. But yeah, luckily we won,” he added.
“I kept thinking three sixes and we’re right back in it. And they fired the guns pretty early. So then I always thought, worst case scenario, the last end, we can get what we need. But I didn’t want to take it to the last end. But luckily we got over the line. (thoughts as he saw Miller hitting those sixes) I knew we were going to do it now, thanks to David. Miller was on the other end And that’s him, that’s his bread with butter,” he concluded.
