DC vs RR, IPL 2026: Delhi beat Rajasthan to stay alive in playoff race

Team	P	W	L	NR	PTS	NRR
RCB	13	9	4	0	18	1.065
GT	13	8	5	0	16	0.400
SRH	12	7	5	0	14	0.331
PBKS	13	6	6	1	13	0.227
RR	12	6	6	0	12	0.027
CSK	12	6	6	0	12	0.027
DC	13	6	7	0	12	-0.871
KKR	12	5	6	1	11	-0.038
MI	12	4	8	0	8	-0.504
LSG	12	4	8	0	8	-0.701

Delhi Capitals live to fight another day. Ashutosh Sharma hits the winning runs with a six as DC win by 5 wickets. KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel set the stage, while Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 34. The loss also dents Rajasthan's playoffs hopes.

Ashutosh Sharma hits Brijesh Sharma for a six to make the 19th a 12-run over, despite the wicket. DC need 7 off the last over.

Brijesh Sharma strikes in the 19th over and David Miller departs, trying to club a slower delivery. Miller falls for 9 and DC need 19 off 11.

Delhi Capitals needed a good over and they have got it in the 18th with Donovan Ferreira going for 16 runs, thanks to two sixes from Axar Patel and David Miller. DC need 19 off 12 now.

Tristan Stubbs falls, trying to play a scoop, only to make it a sweep and Yashasvi Jaiswal runs a few yards to take an excellent catch. Things are going south for Delhi now. DC 153/4 with 41 needed off 22.

Delhi Capitals need 43 runs off 24 balls with Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs on the crease. The asking rate has gone north of 11 and DC need a good over to get things under control.

A big blow for Delhi Capitals as they lose KL Rahul, trying to drive Dasun Shanaka on a slower delivery, only to drag that to his stumps. Rahul departs for 56 and Delhi are 133/3 with 61 runs needed off 33 balls.

0, 13 and 9: Sahil Parakh's IPL journey isn't off to a great start. He falls for 9 as Jofra Archer strikes. It was a fast delivery of 146kph and as Parakh tried to play the aerial shot, he gave away an outside edge to Dhruv Jurel. DC 122/2.

KL Rahul brings up his half-century off 34 balls after getting a lifeline on the first ball. This is Rahul's 50th fifty+ score in IPL. He has made RR pay for their mistakes, adding a 105-run opening stand with Abhishek Porel. This is Rahul's 4th fifty of the season and he already has a century.

Abhishek Porel departs after hitting a half-century as he tries to take on Brijesh Sharma on a slower delivery, but gets no timing and gives away an easy catch to Donovan Ferreira. The 105-run opening stand is finally broken.

Abhishek Porel was their standout performer last season with 301 runs. But Delhi Capitals did not give him many this time. And in his only third appearance this season, Porel brings up his half-century off 29 balls, his 4th in IPL overall.

KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel bring up a 100-run stand. They have set the stage for the 194-run chase. With the firepower they have, it should be a cakewalk for Delhi now.

Rajasthan Royals fail to get any wickets in the powerplay after poor fielding and a dropped catch. KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel have done well to take advantage of that to give DC a good start, posting 72/0 in the powerplay, almost matching RR's powerplay score of 75/1. This is DC's highest powerplay score of IPL 2026.

Mr Consistent, KL Rahul, completes 500 runs in IPL 2026. This is the 8th time in last 9 seasons that he has scored 500 runs or more. The only blip was IPL 2023 for LSG, when he ended up with just 293 runs.

Most IPL seasons with 500+ runs

• 9 - Virat Kohli
• 8 - KL Rahul
• 7 - David Warner
• 5 - Shikhar Dhawan

Thanks to Rajasthan's poor efforts on the field, Delhi Capitals have got the platform they wanted. KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel have brought up a 50-run stand in just 4 overs. Porel has been the more attacking one, striking at over 180.

Jofra Archer goes for 25 runs in his first two overs, with Rajasthan Royals making a mess of fielding with an overthrow and a dropped catch. They have already given away 11 extra runs with 8 byes.

Yet another dropped catch in IPL 2026 and it's young Yash Raj Punja who drops a dolly at the fine leg to give a lifeline to KL Rahul. Jofra Archer can only look at his teammate in disappointment.

KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel begin a 194-run chase for Delhi Capitals. A loss today and they will be officially out. A win today will only keep their faint hopes alive.

Jurel walks back for 53. It was never a great innings. But it progressively got worse. From 45 off 30, Jurel ends with 53 off 40. After the 8th over, he was 29 off 16. So, he scored 34 off his next 24 balls. 

RR were 161/2 after 14.1 overs. They scored just 32 more runs in the remaining 5.5 overs and lost 6 wickets. From looking like scoring 220 to 230, they end up not scoring even 200.

A full toss outside off and Shanaka slices it to Stubbs at long-off. RR has now lost 5 wickets for 26 runs. Even getting to 200 looks tough. Their batting just hasn't clicked as a unit.

RR has subbed Dasun Shanaka in. He replaces Shubham Dubey. The right move, considering 3 overs are left.

RR is on a slide here. Dubey knew that Tiwari was bowling cutters and off-pace deliveries. He failed to hit the last 2 short balls. Tiwari bowls another short, slower ball, stomach-high, and Dubey finds the man at deep backward square leg. RR has batted really badly and lost 4 wickets for 12 runs.

What a turnaround from Starc. He had gone for 28 runs in 2 overs. He looked lacklustre. Then, he returns and claims 3 wickets: Parag, Ferreira and Ravi Singh. DC is back in the game. Like the Parag dismissal, it's another slower ball from Starc. But one has to say, the batting hasn't been great.

From raining boundaries to a Starc Storm 🌪️🔥

🎥 Mitchell Starc fires back with 3⃣ wickets in an over 👏

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/JwHkQQ1ayi #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvRR pic.twitter.com/UNFmDkZe6Q

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026

RR has lost all the momentum. Now, they'll need Jurel to stand up; he's well set at 45. Mind you, he and Shubham Dubey are the last recognised batters, unless RR decided to use a impact sub right now.

RR are losing their way. A back-of-a-length ball on middle and leg and Donovon Ferreira hits it to Axar at long-on. A golden duck for the man in form.

Starc takes the pace off and it works. A full ball outside off and Parag looks to hit it straight. But the lack of pace sees him toe-end the ball and Axar takes a great catch at long-on.

Will Parag's dismissal slow the run scoring? Let's see as Donovon Ferreira comes in.

Returning after missing a game, Parag has easily been the best RR batter. Granted, he was dropped on 6 but he has made DC pay since. His fifty comes from just 23 balls and RR look poised to score 230-240 from here.

Parag is going berserk. He smashes 23 off the 12th over and goes to 43 off 19. He's making the most of his dropped catch. Remember, he was 6 (7). He's scored 37 off 12 since. Stubbs will be kicking himself.

Maximums x 1⃣0⃣0⃣ in #TATAIPL 🔥

Riyan Parag making his intentions clear 😎

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/JwHkQQ1ayi #KhelBindaas | #DCvRR | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/EsBaC3CROd

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026

Parag is making the most of his reprieve. He smashes Axar for 2 sixes. But the DC captain comes back well and gives away just 1 run in the last 3 balls.

Parag is out but the umpires are checking whether Tristan Stubbs has caught it cleanly and he hasn't, as the ball isn't entirely inside his hands and touches the ground.

Axar Patel was clearly not comfortable bowling with Sooryavanshi in the middle. The moment he departs, he brings himself on. Mind you, 8 overs are gone. He bowls a great over, giving away just 5, and almost had Parag's wicket.

Madhav Tiwari has done it for DC. He's got the better of Sooryavanshi with a full slower ball on middle, 46 (21). The batter is early on the shot and chips it to David Miller at long-on. In walks Riyan Parag.

The wicket they wanted, courtesy of Madhav Tiwari 💪

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has to walk back 😮

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/JwHkQQ1ayi #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvRR | @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/VctbUYzgVV

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026

Most 6s in a single IPL season (Indians)

• 43* - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) in 2026*
• 42 - Abhishek Sharma (SRH) in 2024
• 39 - Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) in 2025

Another catch goes down. Debutant Tripurana Vijay had duped Sooryavasnhi after getting hit for 2 fours. He looped one and Sooryavanshi came running down the pitch and toe-ended the ball. Sameer Rizvi was never in the position to take it. He ran from mid-on, misjudged it and dived haphazardly at the end. The worst bit is that the ball goes for four and then Sooryavanshi hits a six on the last ball of the over.

KL Rahul has dropped a tough chance while diving to his right. The ball went into the glove but popped out before he fell down. Jurel has got it twice now. He was on 0 when his mistimes shot fell just ahead of the fielding running back. Now, he's dropped on 4.

Sooryavanshi vs Starc wasn't really great. First a wide down leg, then a hoick, and the leading edge goes over short third's head. Then a full toss that Sooryavanshi fails to get away from. Followed by a stomach-high short ball on leg, which goes for six. Good enough batting but Starc hasn't bowled well today. In fact, he hasn't really done well in IPL 2026.

Bowled short, but sent long by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 🔥

🎥 He greets Lungi Ngidi and Mitchell Starc with maximums 👊

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/JwHkQQ1ayi #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvRR | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/FPBJT7Jr62

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026

Ngidi had Jaiswal in trouble. On the previous ball, he almost had him bowled with a beautiful incoming ball. Then, he mixed it up with a full slower ball near the wide line. Jaiswal goes hard and edges it to Starc at short third.

Fewest innings to 4000 runs in T20s (Indians)

• 116 - Ruturaj Gaikwad
• 117 - KL Rahul
• 125 - Tilak Varma
• 129 - Shubman Gill
• 129 - Yashasvi Jaiswal

Poor start from Mitchell Starc as he bowls two full tosses and a full ball on middle to start, two of which are guided for a boundary by Yashasvi Jaiswal. All of us were waiting for Starc vs Vaibhav Suryavanshi but Jaiswal has other ideas as he drives the pacer through covers to give RR a rapid start and takes him for 12 runs in the first over.

Ravi Singh is 24-year-old left-handed wicketkeeper batter from Uttar Pradesh who plays for Railways. He made his T20 and List A debut in 2024 and has an exceptional record across formats. Ravi was picked up for INR 95 lakh at the auction with RCB also bidding for him.

Format	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
FC	2	4	1	232	98	77.33	345	67.24	0	2	24	9	1	0
List A	9	9	2	463	109*	66.14	375	123.46	1	4	36	28	4	0
T20s	10	9	2	295	68*	42.14	169	174.55	0	2	24	22	6	0

Ravindra Jadeja isn't part of the playing XI or subs list. Fascinatingly, Parag said that RR is managing his workload, but they haven't played a game since May 9 and only two games in May. Is he injured? Or has he been dropped? We don't know but the latter might just be true.

Delhi Capitals: Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Pathum Nissanka, Karun Nair

Rajasthan Royals: Dasun Shanaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala

Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul (wk), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Ravi Singh, Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja

DC captain Axar Patel has won the toss and opted to bowl first in Delhi's last home game. DC also made a forced change with Auqib Nabi sitting out and Tripurana Vijay making his DC and IPL debut.

Riyan Parag is back as RR's captain after missing the last game with an injury. Parag was unsure whether to bat first or bowl and doesn't mind posting a total on the board. As for changes, RR has benched Ravindra Jadeja to manage his workload. Meanwhile, Ravi Singh is making his RR and IPL debut. Also, Adam Milne will play his first game of the season.

Axar Patel has decided to bowl first after winning the toss in Delhi's last home match.

🚨 Toss Update from New Delhi 🚨@DelhiCapitals won the toss and elected to field first against @rajasthanroyals

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/JwHkQQ1ayi #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvRR pic.twitter.com/u3TocHsOt1

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026

Before the last home match in Delhi, Himesh Reshammiya will serenade the audience. 

Vaibhav's ready, but the question is are DC ready with the plans to stop him?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ASMR! 💗 pic.twitter.com/RHA1k7POz5

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 17, 2026

Delhi are off to the ground for their last home game of the IPL 2026 season.

One last ride to Kotla this season 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/zgkdrUAADO

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) May 17, 2026

Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul (wk), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi. Impact Sub: Auqib Nabi Dar

Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande. Impact Sub: Brijesh Sharma

• Played: 35
• Delhi Capitals: 16 (7-3 in Delhi)
• Rajasthan Royals: 15 (3-7 in Delhi)

The pitch for the DC vs RR match is unpredictable. It's the same centre wicket where they failed to chase down 210 against the Gujarat Titans by 1 run, and in the next game, DC got all out for 75 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. We'll only get to know about the true nature of the surface after watching a couple of overs.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the 62nd match of the IPL 2026 season between the Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals.