Delhi Capitals do PBKS a favor with a win over Rajasthan

Quick Scores: Delhi Capitals (197/5 in 19.2 overs) beat Rajasthan Royals (193/8 in 20 overs) by 5 wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi

DC vs RR: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD

Punjab Kings will breathe a sigh of relief after Rajasthan Royals suffered a 5-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, a result that kept their Indian Premier League play-offs alive. Earlier in the day, Punjab Kings fell to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala, making RR’s collapse a key twist in the qualification equation.

The result leaves RR and DC level on 12 points, with Rajasthan still holding two games in hand that could take them to 16 and potentially push them further. reach of PBKS who sit on 13 points with one game remaining. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, have just one league game left, so the playoffs are well set and heading into the final stretch.

RR captain Riyan Parag did not hide his disappointment after the defeat and admitted that his side had fallen below the standards required to finish in the top four.

“If we keep playing like this, we shouldn’t be in contention to play in the top four,” Parag said. “I feel if you want to win the trophy you have to be better than we were today. Extremely disappointed. We are a much better team than we have been in the last four or five games.”

STARC HURTS RR PLAYOFF RUN

After being asked to bat first, RR suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, but teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reignited the innings with fearless pull play. The 15-year-old was dropped by Sameer Rizvi for 35 off just 14 deliveries, a difficult but costly mistake that immediately shifted the pressure back to the bowling side.

Sooryavanshi mercilessly cashed in on the same spothe smashed 18 runs off debutant Tripurana Vijay before his innings was finally ended by Madhav Tiwari, who halted RR’s early momentum. Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel took over from there, with Parag shifting gears aggressively and dismantling Mukesh Kumar for 23 runs in one innings, including three sixes and a boundary.

RR looked firm at 160/2 after 14 overs but the innings collapsed dramatically as Mitchell Starc produced a decisive spell that changed the course of the match. Starc removed Parag and two other batsmen – Donovan Ferreira and Ravi Singh – in a devastating over, sparking a collapse that saw RR lose 6 wickets for just 33 runs in the last six overs despite a fighting half-century from Jurel.

36 year old Australian, Starc was named man of the match for his fire magic. He finished the game with figures of 4/40. RR’s late-order implosion ensured that what was a dominant stand quickly turned into a subpar total, giving DC a realistic chase under pressure.

DC BATTING IS GOOD

Delhi Capitals’ chase got off to a shaky start when KL Rahul dropped Yash Raj Punj for a wicket, a missed chance that proved costly as DC quickly piled up for 72 without the loss of a wicket in the powerplay.

While Rahul settled into a rhythm with his signature blend of controlled aggression and singles, while his early partner attacked from the start to keep the scoreboard moving. Abhishek Porel anchored the innings with a smooth half-century and helped DC build a commanding 105-run opening stand before his dismissal.

Registering a fifty of his own, his fourth of the season, Rahul led DC through the middle overs as the chase remained on track despite occasional breakthroughs from RR.

RR briefly threatened a comeback through disciplined spells and tactical variation, while the introduction of part-time options at key moments almost shifted the momentum back. Archer’s late shot with the ball and RR’s attempt to defend with unconventional bowling options including Donovan Ferreira created tension in the closing stages but DC held their nerve.

Despite a brief resistance, DC finished the chase with five wickets in hand to seal a vital win that will keep them in contention for the playoffs while increasing the pressure on the other teams in the fast-moving qualifying race.

– The end

Published on:

May 18, 2026 0:17 AM IST