IPL 2026: KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav power Delhi Capitals to dominant win over KKR

Delhi Capitals’ Kuldeep Yadav and his teammates celebrate (ANI Photo) Delhi Capitals signed off their IPL 2026 campaign with a commanding 40-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in a dead rubber clash featuring KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav on Sunday. With Rajasthan Royals defeating Mumbai Indians earlier in the day to seal the final play-off spot, both KKR and Punjab Kings were officially eliminated before the match began. Delhi Capitals had already been relegated after PBKS’ win over Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, leaving only pride and the final standing at stake at Eden Gardens. After KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane opted to bowl, batting first, Delhi Capitals piled up an impressive 203 for 5, largely thanks to Rahul’s explosive half-century at the top. The DC opener looked completely in control from the start and attacked pace and spin with ease. Rahul hit five fours and four sixes in 60 balls to score his sixth fifty of the season. He particularly targeted Sunil Narine who repeatedly danced down the track to loosen the ropes. In one over, Rahul dropped Narine for a towering six over long-on before following it up with another boundary over the spinner’s head. Rahul then pushed the pace further against Kartik Tyagi, smashing a boundary and a straight six in over 20 runs, racing to a 25-ball half-century. At that stage, it looked like Delhi would have a total of well over 220. However, KKR managed to regain some control through Anukul Roy, who dismissed Rahul against the run of play. Sahil Parakh also chipped in with 24 before Axar Patel added 39 while Varun Chakravarthy returned with 1 for 35 despite continuing to play with a hairline fracture on his left finger. KKR’s chase got off to a positive start with Rahane leading the charge in what could be his last appearance for the franchise. The veteran batsman produced one of his best innings of the season as he smashed 63 off just 39 balls with four fours and four sixes. Rahane attacked aggressively, pitted Auqib Nabi against each other for sixes and repeated the same against Axar Patel to make a quickfire 31-ball fifty. But just when KKR seemed to be gaining momentum, Kuldeep Yadav turned the game around completely. Returning to the playing XI after being left out and having lost a wicket in his previous three matches, he tormented his former side’s left arm with a brilliant spell of 3 for 29. Kuldeep first removed Cameron Green cheaply before creating the decisive moment of the match. Sensing Rahane moving, he lobbed a tossed delivery outside leg stump that dived sharply. Rahane tried to straighten it but only managed to cut it to David Miller. On the very next ball, Kuldeep dismissed Rinka Singh for a duck, putting KKR in complete trouble. He almost completed the hat-trick when Tejasvi Dahiya edged the following delivery but Abhishek Porel dropped the chance behind the stumps. From there, KKR collapsed quickly and were bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs, slumping to their seventh defeat of the season. Mitchell Starc also impressed against his former franchise with figures of 2 for 26, while Lungi Ngidi cleaned up the over with 3 for 27. The result helped Delhi Capitals finish sixth on the points table with seven wins and seven losses, moving above KKR who finished seventh after another disappointing campaign under Rahane.