Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals IPL, 2026, Full Score Card

SIX! Ashutosh Sharma doesn't need a second invitation, and he derails Rajasthan Royals' playoff hopes, keeping Delhi Capitals in with an outside chance. The Capitals win by 5 wickets. Milne bangs it in quick and short over middle, Sharma stays back again and climbs into the pull, launching it high and in front of deep square leg for a biggie.

FOUR! As easy as you like from Ashutosh Sharma. Overpitched delivery on off, Sharma hangs deep in the crease, keeps the front leg out of the way and hammers it over mid off for a boundary. Just 3 needed now off 5 balls.

Right, we are down to the final over. With the way DC started, few would have expected it to get this close. Last year, these two sides played out a thriller here in Delhi when RR needed 9 off the final over, and Mitchell Starc dragged the game into the Super Over. Tonight, DC need 7. Adam Milne has been given the task of bowling the final over. Well, RR have been penalised for maintaining a slow over rate. They will be allowed only 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Advantage DC.

Oh, a direct hit, and Ashutosh Sharma would have been a goner. Back of a length again, straighter this time. Sharma jams it across to mid-wicket and sets off for the single, and luckily for him, the fielder misses the direct hit at the bowler's end. 7 needed now off the last over.

SIX! Right on cue, Ashutosh Sharma goes big and eases the pressure a bit on the batting side. Back of a length, on off, Sharma hangs back and just shovels it across to deep mid-wicket and over the fence for a biggie.

The boundaries aren't just coming for Delhi at the moment. Full and outside off, Patel can't get under it and squeezes it to covers for one.

WIDE! Another fumble from Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps. Full and down the leg side, it is the slower delivery. Jurel spills it to short fine leg and they get a single as well.

Patel doesn't get the connection, it was there to be hit. Full and straight, not quite yorker-length, Patel backs away and hits it down to long on for just a single.

Full and wide outside off, landing it near the tramline. Ashutosh Sharma gets across and eases it through cover-point for one.

Ashutosh Sharma walks in next. Ashutosh is DC's Impact Sub. Mukesh Kumar has been subbed out.

Mukesh Kumar is substituted by Ashutosh Sharma

OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the man in the deep, and there's still a lot of life left in this game. Brijesh Sharma comes around the wicket and bowls a slower one into the pitch, just around off. David Miller gets his hands out in front and looks to drag the pull over mid-wicket but ends up hitting it flat. Dasun Shanaka moves a step to his right in the deep and pouches it around head height. The mighty Miller goes and Brijesh gets his second wicket. 19 required off 11.

Brijesh Sharma to bowl the 19th over. How much can he leave for the final over?

SIX! A costly gamble from the Royals, 16 off the over. Tossed up on middle and leg, Axar Patel stays leg side of the ball and just swings across the line, slogging it high and over cow corner for a biggie. 19 needed now off 12 balls.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere. Full again, angled into the leg pole. Miller sets up for the slog sweep but toe-ends it into the off side for one run.

Speared into the left-hander, on a length, Axar backs away and smears it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Well bowled. High-arm delivery, angled a long way into the batter. Miller backs away again but fails to get under it and hits it down to long on for a single.

SIX! Overpitched and punished. Full, trying to angle it in at the toes. David Miller makes a bit of room and slams it over long on for a biggie.

That's well bowled. The under-cutter from Ferreira, lobbed up and drifted into middle. Patel almost misreads it and dabs it late towards short third for a single.

That's Archer done for the night. Interesting call from Riyan Parag. An interesting call from Riyan Parag. With two left-handers at the crease, Donovan Ferreira has been introduced for his off-breaks. A golden duck earlier with the bat for Ferreira, but he now has an opportunity to make an impact against his old side.

A dot to finish, and that's a fine comeback from Archer, ending up with figures of 4-0-35-2. Back of a length, slanted back into the batter. Miller gets cramped for room and jams it into the off side. 35 needed now off 18 balls.

Archer goes for the yorker now, on off stump, pushed down to long off for a single by Patel.

FOUR! Not where Axar intended that to go, but they all count the same. Good length, angled in at the stumps, Axar Patel comes down the pitch and goes after it, ends up slicing it high and to the right of deep point. Yashasvi Jaiswal runs to his right but the ball spins away from him and goes over the fence.

A fine delivery to the new batter. Just short of a length and around off, at 148.1 kph. The ball shoots off the deck and takes Miller by surprise. He manages to keep it down behind point and picks up a single.

David Miller makes his way out to bat. Four balls left in Jofra Archer's spell, and the Royals would dearly love another wicket here.

OUT! CAUGHT! Yashasvi Jaiswal is back on the field and he takes a top catch, and the game keeps getting tighter and tighter. Tristan Stubbs is a bit early to shuffle past the off stump and sets up for the lap shot. Jofra Archer sees him and drags the length back, slowing it down a touch as well. Instead of hitting it fine, Stubbs ends up hitting it over backward square leg. Jaiswal charges in from deep square leg and takes a fine running catch. Archer delivers for RR, and DC now need 41 off 22 balls.

Short of a length, on a tight line around off, and at 147.5 clicks. Patel hops back and glides it late, down to third man for a single.

WIDE! Around the wicket, a bit short and angled down leg. Wide called. Actually, Riyan Parag has reviewed it, pretty late as well. The third umpire is called into action. He checks UltraEdge and finds that the ball has missed the bat as well as the body and it will stay a wide. A review wasted here.

Jofra Archer (3-0-27-1) will bowl out now. Riyan Parag is not holding Archer back for later because by then, the pacer may have nothing left to work with.

Full again, attacking the stumps, lofted on the bounce to long on for just one more. 43 needed now off 24 balls.

Pitched up, full and around off, Tristan Stubbs backs away and laces the straight drive, a few inches above the ground as well. Adam Milne gets his left hand down on the follow-through and gets fingertips on it, slowing the ball down to long off for a single. The 150 is also up for DC.

WIDE! Slower bumper, dug in well short and well wide of the off stump. Patel leaves it alone and Dhruv Jurel gets a bad bounce, fumbling the ball towards short third and the batters cross over.

Fuller now, attacking the stumps, flicked away to deep square leg for a single. Five runs off the over so far.

Bowled into the pitch, around off, Stubbs fails to put it away through the off side.

Oh, that's not what you want at this time. Bowled from around the wicket to the left-hander, back of a length and on off. Patel comes down the pitch and punches it wide of mid off. It is the skipper, Riyan Parag who dives to his right and over the ball, allowing the ball to roll down to long off. The batters get three, a rarity on this ground.

Back of a length and on off, slightly slower. Stubbs pushes it through mid on and picks up a single.

Adam Milne is back into the attack, replacing Yash Punja.

Overthrows! Riyan Parag is not happy at all. Skidding through, on a short of a length, on middle. Axar looks to work it away on the leg side with a closed bat face but is beaten for pace. The ball rolls to short third off the thigh and the batters cross over. In comes a wild throw from Yash Punja at the batting end that goes towards deep mid-wicket and the batters sneak in one more.

Ravi Singh has gone off the field. Rajasthan already have a couple of substitute fielders out in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as mentioned by Harsha Bhogle on air, and now Singh is off with what looks like a hamstring pull.

SIX! Crashed away! Halfway down the track, pace off, on middle. Axar waits for the ball to arrive and climbs into it. He nails the pull over mid-wicket and it goes over the fence for a six.

Bowls it on a short of a length, on middle. Stubbs turns it in front of deep mid-wicket and they think about the second run. Ravi Singh comes charging in off the ropes and seems to have pulled up his hamstring while bending to pick the ball up. The sub fielder, Ravi Bishnoi gets to the ball and keeps the batters down to a single.

Well, well, the Capitals are doing what Rajasthan did in their batting innings. Tristan Stubbs walks out to bat next.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Dasun Shanaka provides RR with a big scalp. Slower one by Dasun, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Rahul makes a bit of room to force it away on the off side but ends up chopping it back onto the stumps. KL really lost his rhythm towards the back end of his innings. DC are 133/3, needing 61 runs off 33 balls.

Good placement. Pace off, angled into the pads, on a length. Rahul tucks it with soft hands through the vacant mid-wicket region and comes back for the second before throw comes in from the deep.

Hits the back of a length, on middle. Axar pulls it hard towards deep mid-wicket. A slight misfield in the deep by Yashasvi Jaiswal but that does not cost RR any extra run.

Dasun Shanaka (2-0-19-0) is back into the attack.

Looped up, very full, on middle and leg. Axar whips it towards wide long on for just a single. Despite the boundary, just 7 runs off the over. DC require 64 runs from 36 balls.

FOUR! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should have done better there. A bit short, on middle and leg. Patel goes on the back foot and plays the pull through square leg.  Sooryavanshi sprints and slides to his right but the ball catches him on the wrist and deflects behind into the fence.

Sliding in towards the right-hander, on a good length. KL punches it to long on with a straight bat and turns the strike over.

Missed out! A long hop by Punja at 90.7 kph, well wide on off. Rahul reaches out to force it away. Toe-ends it to extra cover.

Fractionally short, on top of off. Rahul hops back and cuts but picks out backward point. He lets out a cry in anguish.

Drops it short, it is the googly, on off. Axar drags the pull to long on and crosses over.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Well, this is turning out to be a bit of a mirror image of the first innings. The Capitals are starting to lose steam, but as long as they keep wickets in hand, 71 off the last 7 overs shouldn't be too difficult. The Royals have done well to get that required rate up over 10 runs an over, but they will need a lot more and unfortunately for them, they are a bit under-equipped with the ball. Someone like a Dasun Shanaka might have to bowl at the death for them. This is slowly turning out to be a fascinating chase, and the next 2-3 overs will give us a better idea of which way the game is going.

Fuller and on off. KL leans on and knocks it straight to cover. A wicket and just 2 runs off the over. 2 wickets and 18 runs from the last 3 overs. DC need 71 runs in 42 balls.

At the ribs, on the shorter side. Axar hops and works it uppishly but through the vacant square leg region for a single.

Nails the yorker, tailing back in at the toes. Axar squeezes it out to mid-wicket.

Archer does get a wicket on his return. That brings DC's skipper, Axar Patel, to the crease.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Jofra Archer strikes on his return to the attack. Troubled on the previous ball, Sahil Parakh tries to go for the big shot, but it does not come off. Angled in, on a nagging length, on middle and leg. Parakh backs away and swings for the hills. The ball takes the outside edge and goes behind to the keeper, Dhruv Jurel, who gobbles it up. DC are 122/2, needing 72 off 45 balls.

Not in control at all. Archer serves it at 145 kph, tucking the batter up for room. Sahil Parakh was perhaps expecting the short ball and tried to duck. The ball was not that short and Parakh ends up fending it awkwardly towards mid-wicket.

Skidding through, on a short of a length, outside off. KL rides the bounce and cuts it to deep point for one.

Jofra Archer is back on. Riyan Parag wants him to make an impact as Mitchell Starc did for Delhi in the middle phase.

Fractionally short, outside off. Rahul presses back and wrists it behind square leg for a run.

Wide! Sprayed beyond the tramline on off. KL lets it pass.

FIFTY FOR RAHUL! A well-compiled knock from Rahul. 4th half-century of the season to go with a century. This is the 50th 50-plus score for KL in the IPL, according to Ian Bishop. Yash drags the length back and it is slower through the air. A bit of turn but KL manages to shovel it wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Across off, on the shorter side. This is slapped to deep cover by Parakh. Single taken.

A bit of extra bounce on this one for Punja due to his height. On a nagging length, outside off. KL cuts it late towards backward point. It gets to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bounce and he can't make a clean stop, allowing a single.

Attempted googly but it is dragged down, on off. Sahil rocks back and pulls it through mid-wicket for one more run.

Drops it short, outside off. A bit of away turn and Rahul cuts it to the right of backward point for a single.

Delivers it on a back of a length, on off. Sahil gets on top of it and punches it to cover.

FOUR! Squeezed away! Brijesh Sharma nails the yorker, right at the base of the off stump. Sahil hurriedly drops his bat down and presents an angled face of the blade. Not sure if it was intended, but it raced down to the deep third fence off the face of the blade.

Targets the off pole with a good-length ball. KL punches it on the up to wide long off for a run.

Bowls the dipping yorker, on leg. Parakh takes it on the full and flicks it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Pushes the length up, outside off. Parakh leans on and slices it with an open bat face between backward point and deep third. Yash Punja gets around in the deep but cannot prevent the batters from taking the second run.

Sahil Parakh walks out to bat at number 3.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND TAKEN! Brijesh begins from around the wicket and dishes it out on a length, on off. Porel has a big swing at it, looking to go down the ground, but he is early into the lofted hit. It is skied off the lower half of the blade towards long on. Donovan Ferreira runs in off the ropes and takes a safe catch close to his waist. End of a 105-run opening stand. DC need 89 runs in 59 balls.

Halfway through and the Capitals are doing this all too easily at the moment. Brijesh Sharma has been brought back into the attack.

Rahul tries to be cheeky but misses out. A fuller delivery, wide outside off, Rahul goes for the reverse-scoop but fails to get a bat on it.

Bowled well short and outside off, Porel jams the cut through point and turns the strike over.

Good length, outside off, cut away in front of point for a single by KL.

That's turned a bit but Abishek Porel manages to fend it away and picks up a single to bring up his 4th IPL FIFTY. A googly on leg, turns across the left-hander. Porel presses back and gets a leading edge towards cover, picking up a single in the process.

Dragged short and pushed wide of the off stump, Rahul reaches for it and cuts it to deep backward point for a run.

SIX! KL Rahul had a look at Punja in his first over, but he's decided to take him on now. Tossed up on middle and leg, Rahul skips down the track and lifts it cleanly over long on for a biggie. The 100-run stand is also up between these two.

Pace off from Shanaka, attacking the stumps. Rahul tucks it into the open space at mid-wicket for a single. Porel is keen on the second run but Rahul opts against it. 99 needed now off 66 balls.

Bowled into the pitch and angled just across the left-hander. Porel gets on his toes and pats it down through point for a run.

Two is the call, and they will get it with ease. In and around off, stroked away to the right of Jofra Archer at deep extra cover for a brace. Porel moves on to 48 now.

Fuller one on off and middle, heaved away aerially down to the right of long on for just one run.

Finds the fielder, does Rahul. Slower ball, pushed wide of the off stump. KL Rahul slices the cut and hits it straight to the man at backward point.

Pitched up full on off, Porel leans on and pushes it down to long off for a run.

First over of the chase without a boundary, top over from Punja. Good length on leg, Porel gets cramped for room but rocks back and heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A bit more flight on this one, Rahul comes forward and drives it uppishly. Abishek Porel at the non-striker's end ducks and the ball goes down to long on for a single.

Nagging length, goes across from middle and leg to off. Porel hangs back and wrists it through mid-wicket for one more.

Short of a length, around middle, Rahul rocks back and hacks it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter one around off, cut away off the back foot but straight to point.

Lovely start from the tall man. Nagging length, sliding onto the off stump. Rahul presses back and taps it to covers.

Time for spin as the tall leggie Yash Punja comes on.

Slower delivery, back of a length and on off. Porel hops back to cut but hits it in front of square and straight to the cover fielder. 13 off Shanaka's first over, and DC are cruising through the chase at the moment.

The call is for two, but Rahul won't get it. Hard length on off, Rahul opens the bat face and punches it to the right of deep backward point for one.

SIX! That's gone absolutely flat. Full and straight, Rahul clears the front leg and pummels it straight down the ground and over the ropes for a maximum.

Back of a length, on a tight line around off, Porel hops up and cuts it through point for one.

FOUR! Easy pickings, especially with third man inside the ring. A gentle-paced delivery, dug in well short and outside off. Abishek Porel reaches up to his left and just deflects it off the blade over short third for a boundary.

Starts with the leg-cutter, bowling it full on off. Rahul looks to heave but gets it off the inner half of the blade and behind square leg for one.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Rajasthan Royals take the timeout at the first opportunity available. After letting a position of strength slip away with the bat, they haven't helped themselves with the way they have started with the ball. The quicks have been a bit too short, especially Jofra Archer, and the dropped catch of Rahul in the first over only added to their frustration. The two DC openers haven't had to take too many risks to give their side this start, and they will look to keep going. We have had a slightly longer timeout than usual with Porel briefly off the field for a comfort break, but he is back now, and we are ready to resume. Dasun Shanaka to bowl after the break.

FOUR! Sheer timing and this is Delhi's highest Powerplay of the season, according to Harsha Bhogle on air. Just back of a length, in the channel outside off. Porel hangs back and gets on his toes, punching it sweetly through covers for a boundary. DC are 72/0 after 6 overs.

FOUR! There's the boundary. Dug in short but angled down leg, Abishek Porel gets inside the line and controls the pull down to the vacant long leg region, picking up four easy runs.

Rahul backs away early and a long way as well. Brijesh follows him and Rahul clips it in front of square on the leg side for a fourth straight single in the over.

One more. Shortish length, angled into the body. Porel works it off the hips to deep square leg and rotates strike.

Full-pitched delivery, darted into the pads. Rahul brings the bat down straight and punches it to long on for one more.

A length ball outside off, Porel gets low and taps it down to deep backward point for a single.

Good stop! On top of off by Milne, Rahul gets on top of the bounce and punches it away, but cannot beat Donovan Ferreira at cover-point, who dives to his left to make the stop.

Hurls it on a short of a length, on off. Porel runs it down to deep third and picks up a single.

Pushes the length up, on off, Rahul eases it to mid off and crosses over.

SIX! Thumped! Milne digs it in short but fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. This is around off and it comes below the chest. Rahul swivels and cracks the pull over deep mid-wicket for a flat six. KL brings up 500 runs for the season.

Oh, that kept low! Bowled on a nagging length, in and around the off stump. Porel tries to steer it behind point with an open bat face but fails to connect. The ball goes on the bounce to the keeper, Dhruv Jurel, who fails to make a clean stop. It deflects away off his knees towards short third and the batters sneak in a bye.

Hits the hard length, over off. Rahul stands tall and drops it with soft hands beside the strip on the off side. They cross.

Adam Milne switches ends now. He went for 13 in his first over.

Brings out the leg-cutter at 120.1 kph and it is on a length. KL turns it off the pads through square leg for a single. The 50 comes up for DC.

Goes wide on the crease on the around-the-wicket angle and serves it on a good length, just outside off. Porel slices it with an open bat face to deep third for a single.

Wide! Sharma takes pace off and goes into the surface, outside off. Porel hops to play the late dab but misses. Wide given for height.

Delivers it on a shortish length, over off. Porel swivels for the pull but is late on the shot and mistimes it to mid on. Rahul was keen for a single but was sent back in time by Abishek.

FOUR! Gets it through! Pace now, on a good length, on off and middle. Porel shimmies down the track and dabs it late to thread the gap between short third and backward point for another boundary.

FOUR! Cleverly done! Slower, short ball by Brijesh, on off. Porel hops and gets his hands high. He picks the slower ball and waits for it to arrive. He glides it fine of the diving short third fielder for a boundary.

Begins with a full ball, angled in, on middle and leg. KL drives it to wide long on for a single.

Time for a ball change because the previous one has gone out of the ground. Also, Brijesh Sharma comes into the attack now.

SIX! That has gone a long way. Archer drifts down leg, on the shorter side. Porel is quick to get inside the line of the ball and helps it away with the angle over long leg for a 92-metre six.

Fuller and around the off stump. Abishek Porel tries to punch it away on the off side but the bat turns in his hand and he bunts it back to the bowler.

Ouch, a painful blow. At 148 kph, into the surface, tucking the left-hander for room. Porel tries to shovel it away but is beaten for pace. The ball goes under his bat and catches Abishek on the midriff. Porel tries to shake off the pain by moving away and looks fine to resume.

Slightly too straight, on a short of a length. Rahul rises with the bounce to work it through backward square leg for a run.

A big mix-up but no harm done. Archer hits the back of a length, on middle and leg. KL stands tall, looking to play it square of the wicket. Miscues it to the left of the man at square leg and sets off for the run. He is halfway through the run before being sent back. Donovan Ferreira moves to his left quickly but gets into a tangle and trips over. That allows Rahul to get back in and he ends up putting in a dive for safety.

FOUR! A valiant effort, but it goes in vain. Archer strays at the hips, on a back of a good length. Rahul hops to get on top of the bounce and tucks it behind square leg. Ravi Singh is quick across the turf in the deep and puts in a dive but the ball evades him.

Serves it full, on off. KL goes a bit too hard on the drive and mistimes it to mid off for another single.

Back to around the wicket for the left-hander, goes full, on off. This is pushed to mid off for a run.

BUZZERS! Milne hurls it on a good length, outside off. Rahul gets low and plays the square drive towards cover-point, where the fielder dives to his left and saves a certain boundary. Ravi Singh picks the ball up from point and has a shy at the bowling end as the batters cross over. Singh hits the stumps, but KL has managed to slide his bat in by then. The ball deflects away off the sticks, wide of mid on for a boundary.

Stays full, around off. Porel presses onto the front foot and plays a punchy drive in front of mid off for a quick single.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Tailing back in sharply and late, full and on middle and leg. Porel stays balanced at the crease and brings his bat out in front to whip it away. Plays it uppishly but between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary.

Nearly chopped it on! At 140 kph, bowled on a back of a length, on off. Rahul rises with the bounce and tries to defend it late with soft hands. The ball drops off the face of the blade and nutmegs him before going behind on the leg side. They cross.

A long and entertaining first over of the chase. Adam Milne, playing his first game of the season, will steam in from the other end now.

Bashes the surface, over middle. KL gets on top of the bounce and nudges it behind square leg for a run.

Honing in on the off pole, on a good length. Porel goes deep in the crease and guides it through third man for a single.

Beaten! Angles it into the left-hander from around the wicket, on a back of a length. Porel plays down the line of the ball but it straightens to square him up and go past the outside edge.

Wide! Very full but beyond the tramline on off. Porel reaches out but fails to connect.

FOUR! Adding insult to injury. Full and outside off, Porel leans forward and opens the bat face slightly to caress it past cover-point for a boundary.

DROPPED! Yash Punja puts it down. Fuller and drifting onto the pads. Rahul picks it up off the pads but fails to get it wide enough of the short fine leg fielder. It comes at waist height to the tall Punja. He gets both hands to his left but can't hold on. Single taken and KL is off the mark. No reaction from Archer as he just turns around and starts walking back to his mark. The Royals need to take every chance that comes their way.

Pushed across the left-hander, on a length. Abishek extends his hands for the drive. The bat turns in his hand and it is miscued to mid off for a single.

FIVE WIDES! Oh, dear. A wayward start from Archer and DC are underway. Shaping back into the left-hander but it starts too straight. On a good length, landing outside the line of the leg stump. Porel misses out on the glance and the keeper stands no chance despite the dive.

Lungi Ngidi rounds off a remarkable last 5 overs for Delhi, including just five runs in the final over. Full and outside off, Milne goes deep in the crease and pummels it wide of long on for a couple of runs. Rajasthan Royals finish with 193/8 on the board.

This is more than just a sensational comeback from the DC bowlers. Slower delivery, pushed wide outside off. Adam Milne charges down the pitch and swings wildly at it but does so even before the ball is anywhere close to him. Another dot ball.

Jurel limps off the field after a fighting knock. Adam Milne is in at number 10.

OUT! LBW! That seemed dead straight and up goes the umpire's finger. Dhruv Jurel has reviewed it, as he should at this stage of the game, but he doesn't seem too optimistic. Lungi Ngidi spears in a yorker on middle stump. Jurel gets across to the off side to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. The third umpire has a look at it and there's nothing on UltraEdge as Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. Jurel had already started walking before the review was completed.

That definitely tailed back in. Very full and outside off, reversing back in. Dhruv Jurel drills the drive wide of sweeper cover and picks up a couple of runs to keep strike.

Oh, tight call, and it has been reviewed. Full and wide outside off, shaping away a bit as well. Dhruv Jurel advances down the pitch, but the ball zips past the outside edge, and a wide is called. The third umpire is called into action now. The replays suggest that the ball is passing within the revised guideline, and it will be a fair delivery. Another good review from DC.

Low full toss on middle, angling in. Archer steps out to swing across the line but mistimes it down to long on for one.

Righto, time for the final over of the first inning. Can RR breach the 200 figure? Let's see. Lungi Ngidi (3-0-19-1) will bowl the last over.

Starc keeps the length full, around off, this is drilled through covers for one. 4-0-40-4 are Starc's figures for the night.

Wicket number 4 for Starc in what has been a decisive second spell from him. Jofra Archer is the new batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Safe as houses from Tristan Stubbs. Mitchell Starc stays around the wicket to Dasun Shanaka and looks for the yorker around off, but ends up serving a juicy full toss. Shanaka backs away and goes after it but ends up slicing it high and wide of long off. Stubbs sprints to his left and slides in to take a fine catch and Starc has a four-fer. Rajasthan Royals are reduced to 187/7 now.

Full and angled just across off, hammered square through covers for just one more.

Oh, just short! A round-arm delivery, angled into the batter. Dasun Shanaka backs away and smacks it flat over wide mid off. Tristan Stubbs runs in, but the trajectory of the ball is such that it dips quickly. Stubbs gets his body behind the ball and keeps it down to a single.

Full and straight, Shanaka chips it back over the bowler's head and picks up a couple of handy runs.

Risky single, but the batters get across and Dhruv Jurel gets to his FIFTY as well. Off 36 balls. Not at the pace that he would have liked, but he has kept losing partners at the other end and has to stay till the end. Back of a length, speared across off, Jurel cuts it hard and straight to Abishek Porel at backward point. Porel has a shy at the keeper's end but misses.

Mitchell Starc will bowl the 19th. 3-0-34-3 so far are his bowling figures.

A couple of dots to end the over, just 8 runs off it, despite the six. Slower one, ends up being a full toss around off, but the ball dips a bit as well. Shanaka swings across the line but misses.

Cheeky attempt from Shanaka, doesn't come off. Yorker-length delivery, just outside off. Shanaka shuffles across for the lap but falls over and gets hit on the pads.

SIX! That's a colossal hit from Dasun Shanaka. Another slower one, Shanaka picks it early, dances down the pitch and hits through the line, launching it a long way over long on for a biggie.

Full again, straighter in line, ends up being a low full toss. Jurel jams it down to long on for a run.

Nice change-up from Ngidi. A slower delivery, served a tad fuller outside off. Dhruv Jurel looks to drive but the ball dips and bamboozles the batter.

An appeal for LBW, probably angling down leg. Very full and angled into the pads, Dasun Shanaka fails to flick it away and the ball goes off the pads to short fine leg for a leg bye.

Last 3 overs to go. Lungi Ngidi (2-0-12-1) is back on.

Good length, in the channel outside off, Shanaka hangs back and glides it to deep backward point for one. Madhav Tiwari finishes an impressive spell of bowling with figures of - 4-0-27-2.

It has been a free fall for RR since Parag's departure. Jurel is stranded at one end but is starved of strike. And the Rajasthan Royals use their Impact Sub option by bringing in Dasun Shanaka, who comes out to bat, while Shubham Dubey is subbed out. This also means, that the Royals will be with only four frontline bowlers, with Shanaka their preferred fifth option.

Shubham Dubey is substituted by Dasun Shanaka

OUT! CAUGHT! A fine catch in the deep and Madhav Tiwari's impressive start in the IPL continues. Tiwari puts pace back onto the ball and hits a length, bowling it on middle and leg. Shubham Dubey goes for the pick-up shot but gets more height than distance. Tripurana Vijay settles himself just inside the ropes at deep backward square leg and takes it low to his right. The Royals keep bleeding wickets.

Another slower ball, dug in short and outside off. Shubham Dubey lets it be and feels that he should have got a wide call here. He has a chat with Jurel and they opt against the review.

Attempted slower ball, short and well wide outside off. Left alone for a wide. The bowler doesn't seem too pleased with the call, and eventually, Axar Patel reviews it. It didn't seem over head height, which means the wide is for being too much outside off stump. The third umpire has a look and finds that the call is within the revised guideline, and the on-field decision is changed. Good review.

Back of a length, over middle, Jurel stays back and punches it across to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Tiwari comes back in to finish his spell. He bowls it full on off, Shubham Dubey drives it down to long off and turns the strike over.

Just five singles in the over. Good length, pushed wide outside off, cut away to deep point for another single. Axar is done with his spell with his figures reading 4-0-31-0.

Tidy stuff from Patel. Fractionally short, around off, and slapped off the back foot to sweeper cover for a run.

Fired in on the pads, Dubey hangs back and works it through backward square leg for one more.

Angled in with the arm, towards leg stump. Jurel rocks back and hits it wide of deep mid-wicket. He looks for two but has to settle with one.

A bit fuller and on the pads, tucked away around the corner on the leg side for a single.

Flatter, on a length and around leg. Dubey stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Full with a bit of reverse swing, on middle. Dubey flicks it to the right of deep square leg for a single.

Shubham Dubey is in at number 7 for the Royals.

OUT! LBW! Momentum changing over in the game. Fuller in length, outside off stump, with a hint of nip back in. Ravi clears his front leg and looks to heave it across the line, but plays all over it, and the ball sneaks through the inside edge and catches him flush on the back leg. A huge, confident shout for LBW and up goes the finger. Ravi Singh, however, has a chat with Jurel and goes for a review. It looks dead straight in real time, though. UltraEdge comes up and detects no spike. Ball Tracking shows three reds. The on-field decision is upheld. A short stay on IPL debut for Ravi. A triple whammy for Starc as RR slide down from 161/2 to 165/5.

FOUR! No Hat Trick for Starc. The newcomer opens his account with a boundary. Starc goes searching for a yorker but it slips out as a full toss, on leg. Ravi Singh takes it on the full and flicks it to deep square leg. The fielder in the deep runs and dives to his right, but the ball wins the race.

What a comeback over this is turning out to be from Mitchell Starc. Ravi Singh walks out to face the hat-trick ball.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! It's Axar once again to catch, and Starc has two in two. Hits the deck hard, does Starc, on middle and angling away. Donovan Ferreira stays put and tries to muscle it over the long on fielder, but gets no timing on it and lobs a simple catch to Axar Patel at long on. A golden duck for Ferreira and RR slip from 161/2 to 161/4. Starc is on a Hat Trick.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The middle overs have been highly productive for Rajasthan Royals, just like the Powerplay and they are eyeing up a huge score on the board. However, Delhi Capitals have just managed to get rid of a hard-hitting Riyan Parag and will be looking to build on it. With as many as 34 legal deliveries still remaining, it will be interesting to see which side can finish the first innings with a flourish. With that said, Donovan Ferreira walks out to bat now.

OUT! OUTSTANDING CATCH BY AXAR! Starc gets his first wicket and breaks the 72-run partnership. He bowls it quite full and outside the off stump line. Riyan Parag clears the front leg to hit it over long on, but he fails to get underneath the ball cleanly. Still, he goes through his shot off the toe end and airs it towards long on. The ball threatens to dip in front of Axar Patel, but the DC skipper shows good awareness. He bends his knee and dives forward to scoop the ball before the ground. A top effort by Axar and Rajasthan Royals are 161/3 after 14.2 overs.

Short on leg, Jurel swivels in the crease and pulls it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

There is a bit of a halt in the play. Riyan Parag is getting some attention from the physio as his left hamstring has started acting up again. Hopefully, he is good to continue. Parag is good to go again, and Mitchell Starc also returns to the attack.

A round-arm delivery, short and sliding onto the pads. Parag shapes up for the pull shot but the ball skids through and beats the bat, striking his front pad. A relatively quiet over as just 8 runs come off it. 3-0-26-0 for Axar so far.

Full, on off, tapped off the front foot to the off side for a quick single.

Tad short, around off. Parag slaps it on the bounce to long on for a single.

On a length, at 93 kph, on middle. Jurel tucks it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for an easy run.

FIFTY FOR RIYAN PARAG! His second half century this season. He gets there in just 23 deliveries. It's been an intent-laden knock so far and that has kept his team motoring along well. Overall, this is his 9th IPL fifty as well. Round-arm delivery and on a length at 99.5 kph, attacking the stumps. Parag nudges it through mid-wicket with soft hands for a single. A simple raise of the bat from him. The RR dugout is on its feet, acknowledging a breezy knock by their skipper.

FOUR! Off the inside edge and runs away! Around the stump comes Axar, pushes it outside off, on a fractionally fuller length. It lands but stays low and goes underground. Parag tries to force it away to the off side, but only manages a thick bottom edge and the ball squirts past the keeper to the fence behind.

Axar Patel brings himself back into the attack.

FOUR! My word, that's swatted away! Keeps it on a length, around off. A slower one at just 114.1 kph, but it sits up nicely for the batter. Jurel camps back and flat bats it down the ground, beating Mitchell Starc to his left at long on for a boundary. 150 UP FOR THE RAJASTHAN ROYALS!

WIDE! Bowls an off cutter, but sprays it beyond the tramline. Jurel sees it off. KL Rahul collects the ball on a couple of bounces.

Outside off, slightly full. Parag eases it away to long off for a single.

Takes a bit of pace off, and hits the length on middle. Dhruv Jurel waits on it and tucks it across to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! That is such a gorgeous-looking stroke! In-between length by Madhav, outside off. Dhruv Jurel plays off the back foot, gets a bit crouched and square cuts it away to the off side, beating deep covers slide to his left for a four.

In the channel around off, on a fuller length. Dhruv Jurel commits on the front foot and knocks it straight to the backward point fielder.

There seems to be an issue with the bowler's landing area. Axar Patel gets a bit of sawdust and spreads it over the area before hammering it with his boot.

Slowish leg cutter, on a length, at 110.8 kph, outside off, Parag swats it down to long off for a single.

Spears it a lot fuller and on middle. Parag heaves it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single. Parag moves to 43 off just 19 balls.

SIX! Mukesh has been taken to the cleaners! Too short and outside off. Riyan Parag stands tall and flat bats it comfortably behind long on for a cracking six. 22 runs off the over already, with a ball to go. This also brings up the 50-run partnership between Parag and Jurel.

SIX! Goes the distance! Pitches the ball halfway down the track by pushing it outside off. It gives enough room for Parag to swing his arms freely. He connects with the sweet spot of the bat and sails it over long on for a half dozen more runs.

FOUR MORE! Another slot ball from Mukesh, outside off, Riyan Parag smashes it wide of extra cover and picks up another boundary. Hit with absolute brute force by the RR captain.

SIX! Easy-peasy! Hard length, on top of middle. Parag gets the ball at a comfortable height, hardly climbing above the midriff. Parag nails the pull shot over deep mid-wicket and clears the fence.

Back of a length, around off, holding on a touch. Parag chops it back to the bowler.

Madhav Tiwari has bowled a couple of fine overs on the trot. Will he be held back for later? Yes. Mukesh Kumar comes in to replace him. Mukesh went for 17 runs in his first over.

Pitched fuller, an in-drifter on middle. Dhruv Jurel takes out a huge stride and eases it back to Axar.

On a length, outside off, Jurel cuts it straight to point off the back foot.

Slower through the air, a bit more round-armish, on a length, on off. Riyan Parag tries to force it through cover, but inside edges to the left of short fine leg for a single.

SIX! CLEAN HIT! Drops it fuller and in front of middle. Parag plays through the line and launches it cleanly over the long on fence for a mammoth six.

Nice and full, on middle and leg. Parag pushes to the right of the bowler.

SIX! KABOOM! Slot ball, on middle. Riyan Parag gets the front foot out of the way and slogs it just over Abishek Porel, the leaping deep mid-wicket fielder, for half a dozen.

Halfway through the first innings. The Capitals have managed to slow things down considerably since the Powerplay. The Royals have added only 29 runs since the restrictions lifted.

Just back of a length, a bit slower and angled into the batter. Parag stays back and hoicks it across to deep mid-wicket for a single. RR are 104/2 after 10 overs.

WIDE! Too full and too wide outside off, spilled beyond the tramline. Parag leaves it alone again.

WIDE! This time, Parag lets it go. Another slower bumper, wide outside off and sails over head height.

Oh, almost a stellar catch, but not clean enough from Tristan Stubbs. Madhav Tiwari bangs it halfway into the deck and takes pace off as well. Riyan Parag comes down the pitch, gets his bat up over his head and forces a tennis-like smash down to long on. Stubbs sprints to his left and dives in to clutch it with his fingers. However, replays show that the ball didn't quite get in the grasp completely and touched the grass as Stubbs took a tumble. NOT OUT!

Is that a clean catch? If yes, that's an absolute screamer from Stubbs. The on-field umpires send it upstairs for a review to check the legality of the catch. The replay shows that Stubbs does not have his fingers underneath the ball, but rather alongside and the ball is grounded. It looked like a clean catch in real time. A valiant effort, though. NOT OUT loads on the big screen.

Sharp fielding in the deep from Mitchell Starc. Fractionally short on leg, flicked away down to the right of deep backward square leg for a single.

A bit fuller than the good length, darting back in towards the stumps. Jurel plays it with a straight back, but straight to the bowler, who makes a stop on the followthrough.

Pitched fuller and outside off, driven on the up and through extra cover for a couple of runs. 100 is up for the Royals.

On a hard length, around the fifth stump line and skidding through. Dhruv Jurel plays it late and cuts it down to backward point.

DC have managed to string a couple of quiet overs. Just 12 runs in the last 2 overs for RR. Madhav Tiwari to continue. 1-0-6-1 so far.

No run there. Good length on off, Parag rocks back and punches it straight to the cover fielder. Tidy start from Axar Patel.

Dragged short on leg, Jurel whips it off the hips and in front of square on the leg side for one more.

A prolonged appeal for LBW, not given. The bowler and the keeper both seem certain and the review is taken. Coming to the delivery, Axar Patel slides this one in full and on off stump. Riyan Parag goes for the reverse sweep but misses and the ball brushes the pad before rolling towards short third. There's nothing on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows that the impact is outside the line of off stump. Eventually, it is just a leg bye.

FOUR! Top shot from Parag! Floated up around off, Riyan Parag lunges forward and just punches the drive over covers for a boundary.

Fuller now, drifted into the pads, Parag fails to get it away.

Axar starts off with the arm ball. Good length, darts in towards middle and leg, Parag pushes it into the off side.

Another single to end the over, a fruitful one for Tiwari and DC. A tad slower and shorter, outside off. Parag rocks back and jams it through the cover region for one.

Back of a length again, on a tight line around off. Jurel leans back and short-arm jabs it towards deep mid-wicket for a run more.

Just back of a length, outside off, punched away down to long off for a single by Parag.

Big, big wicket for the Capitals. Tiwari breaks the rapid 70-run partnership. In walks the RR skipper, Riyan Parag, at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! Madhav Tiwari gets the big fish, and David Miller isn't going to drop that. That's smartly bowled again by Tiwari, as he slows it up and pitches it fuller on off and middle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looks for the big heave but is undone by the lack of pace and checks his shot. He ends up chipping it down the ground, and Miller slides across to his right from long on to take the catch. Sooryavanshi falls short of his half-century here. The Royals are 89/2 in 7.3 overs.

Good length around off, Jurel takes a step to the off side and pats it down to long off for one more.

Another slower ball, into the pitch and angles just across off. Sooryavanshi has to really wait for it and drags the pull towards mid-wicket for one.

WIDE! Madhav starts off with an extra. Slower one, dug in well short over middle, Sooryavanshi leaves it alone.

Bowling change? Yes. Madhav Tiwari to have a bowl now.

Off break, fractionally short, outside off. Vaibhav punches it off the back foot to long off for a single.

In front of the sticks, touch short, spinning in. Jurel gets inside the line and steers it to the deep square leg region for a run.

SIX! That's a mighty hit! Drops a half volley just outside off. Dhruv Jurel shimmies down the track and dumps it over deep mid-wicket for a huge six. Vijay under huge pressure.

Full and floated around off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lofts it over mid off with a still head. The ball lands and spins the other way as Mitchell Starc almost overruns to his left at long off. But manages to stop it with his long levers. One taken.

Drag-downer, on leg. Dhruv Jurel pulls it powerfully off the back foot but there is protection in the deep square leg region. So will only get a single.

Slightly short, on off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hangs deep in the crease and punches it to the right of long off for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! A prolific Powerplay with the bat for the Royals, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seems in the zone yet again. For the Capitals, Lungi Ngidi has bowled well and that tough dropped catch is proving to be a bit costly. They will hope that with the fielding restrictions lifted, they can keep a check on the boundaries, but wickets will be key for both sides. If Sooryavanshi keeps going at this rate, the DC bowlers could be in for a long night. Tripurana Vijay to continue after the break.

Nails the yorker, around off. Dhruv Jurel tries to carve it through point, but gets an inside edge as the ball rolls back to Mukesh. 17 runs off the over, 35 in the last 2 for the Royals.

WIDE! Oh dear, that's a wild delivery! Way too short and far down the leg side. Dhruv Jurel lets it be and KL Rahul collects it moving to his left.

FOUR! SHOT! Touch fuller and on off, nipping in slightly. Dhruv Jurel picks it up and over the bowler's head and finds the fence for a boundary down the ground.

SIX! Free-flowing stroke from Jurel! A hit-me ball, full on off. Dhruv Jurel clears the front leg, and launches it over the cow corner fence for a cracking six. The 50-run partnership comes up between this pair in super-quick time.

FOUR! Powered down the ground! Mukesh pulls the length back, and keeps it around off. Dhruv Jurel goes deep in the crease and bludgeons it back past the bowler for a boundary to the right of long off.

Hit really hard, but straight to Miller. At 139.9 kph, this is full and around off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi laces it to cover, where David Miller stops the ball travelling at the rate of knots. Makes a half stop but the ball rolls around him. Just a single.

Hard length, outside off, Dhruv Jurel waits back and square cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

A dropped catch and 18 runs off the debutant's first over. Also, Mukesh Kumar comes in to replace Lungi Ngidi.

SIX! MASSIVE HIT! Short and sliding in and around middle and leg. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hangs deep inside the crease and nails the pull shot behind deep mid-wicket. It has gone deep into the stands. 18 runs off the over. A tough start for Vijay.

IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! Almost a first wicket for Vijay, but Rizvi cannot hold on to it. A tough chance, though. Tossed up on the stumps. Vaibhav charges down the track but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. He commits to the shot anyway, heaving it down the ground. Rizvi at mid on turns and sprints back, flings himself into a dive, and gets two hands to it, but it bursts through his grasp. To rub salt into the wound, he spills it and parries it into the ropes. Four.

Slides it into the batter, on a length, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi watches it closely and blocks it down the pitch.

FOUR! Sooryavanshi continues to pepper the boundaries. A touch fuller, outside off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets on the front foot and slams it over wide extra cover for a boundary.

In and around off, on a length. Vaibhav taps it to point off the back foot.

FOUR! Put away! Short and from around the stump, on off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi camps back and finds the gap between cover and point by punching it off the back foot.

The debutant, Tripurana Vijay, has now been tossed the ball inside the Powerplay.

EDGED AND DROPPED! KL Rahul shells a regular chance as he gets a good piece of glove on it. Lungi Ngidi is down on his haunches in disbelief. Good length, in the channel just outside off. Jurel looks to guide it behind square on the off side, but gets a thick outside edge that flies to the right of the keeper. Rahul dives to his right behind the stumps and gets a decent hand to it, but cannot hold on.

Low full toss, outside off, Jurel clips it across to mid-wicket.

On a length, around off, Jurel punches it off the front foot to cover. Again, it is Miller who makes a diving stop to his right.

Wowza! Excellent fielding display! Much fuller, outside off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shovels it powerfully to the left of David Miller at extra cover. He dives and parries the ball to Axar Patel at mid off. He gets rid of the ball to the bowling end, but misses his shy. A direct hit would have made things interesting as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi didn't slide his bat to complete the single.

Low, dipping full toss, on off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi runs it down to long off for a single.

FOUR! Wonderful timing! From around the stump, Ngidi hones in a slower one, full, around off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stays steady in his crease and lofts it inside out over extra cover for a boundary.

A couple of really expensive overs from Mitchell Starc. Lungi Ngidi to continue from the other end.

Short of a length, and this is bunted back to the bowler.

FOUR! Valiant effort, but in vain. Full and across the batter, outside off. Dhruv Jurel gets under it to pump it over extra cover, but gets more height than distance. The ball descends into the deep cover region with three fielders converging in. It is Madhav Tiwari who backtracks from the cover region and dives but the ball lands in front of him and hits his right shoulder before rolling into the fence.

Yorker, on the toes, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's head falls over and flicks it to the right of deep square leg for a single.

The ball seems to have been lost in the crowd and the fourth umpire is out with a box of balls. Hang on, the old ball has been thrown back and the fourth umpire goes back.

SIX! Oh my days! This kid is just fearless. He has smashed Starc out of the park like it's nothing. Short of a good length, on middle angling in at chest height. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has a free swing at it and pulls it massively over long leg for a six.

Goes in search for the yorker, but slips in a high full toss. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi mistimes it to cover. He will feel that he has missed out.

FOUR! Not timed well enough, but he still finds the fence! Fuller and outside off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with an aggressive approach, swings the bat hard to smoke it downtown, but the ball swings away late and takes the outside edge. The ball flies over backward point for a boundary on the bounce.

WIDE! Far down the leg stump line, on a fuller length. Vaibhav misses the flick. The keeper dives to his right and gathers it. Wide called.

Full of a good length, slightly wide outside off, Riyan Parag gets a good stride across and shoulders arms at it. A wicket and 7 runs off Ngidi's first over.

Another low score for Jaiswal. He now has just 21 runs in the last 3 matches, including this one. Dhruv Jurel makes his way to the crease at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! Mitchell Starc makes great use of his height, and Lungi Ngidi gets the first breakthrough for DC. Ngidi stays around the wicket and bowls a slower ball, full and wide outside off. Yashasvi Jaiswal throws the kitchen sink as he looks to clobber it leg side but gets an outside edge. The ball lobs fine of short third, where Starc leaps to his weaker right side and pouches it with both hands. Jaiswal's slim run of form continues and Rajasthan are 19/1 already.

How has that missed everything? Ngidi dishes out a full ball on middle and leg, and the ball just keeps angling in. Jaiswal takes the front leg out to drive but the ball beats the inside edge and goes a whisker past the leg stump as well.

Lovely drive, but finds the fielder. Fullish length, on the fifth stump line, Jaiswal walks across and hits it firmly but straight to a widish mid off.

Slower ball, pitched up around off, Sooryavanshi gets an inside edge towards square leg and pinches a single.

SIX! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets off the mark in classic fashion. Back of a length, angled in from around the wicket. Sooryavanshi hangs back and lays into the pull, doesn't quite middle it, but enough to take the ball sailing over the leaping fielder at deep backward square leg.

Very productive start for RR. Lungi Ngidi will bowl from the opposite end.

A dot to end but 12 runs come off the first over. Good-length delivery, on off and middle, Jaiswal blocks it from inside the crease.

FOUR! Majestic from Jaiswal! A touch too full again, wide outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal lunges across and punches it sweetly and well wide to the right of mid off for a third boundary in the over.

Starc is forced to change his length, and he bowls it a bit short and outside off. Jaiswal stays upright and taps it in front of point.

FOUR! Nicely timed! Full and straight, shaping away again. Yashasvi Jaiswal keeps his balance, shows the full face of the blade and drives it to the left of the bowler for another boundary.

FOUR! Too straight and Jaiswal is off the mark with a boundary. Another low full toss, on the pads, shaping away a bit. Jaiswal clips it in front of square on the leg side and through the gap for four runs.

Oh, a lot of swing but too full. On off and middle, swinging away, turns out to be a full toss. Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it to mid off.

We are all set for the game to begin. The bell is rung, signalling the start of play and the two umpires are the first ones out on the field of play. The players of Delhi Capitals can be seen in a huddle before they spread out onto the field. It will be the southpaw duo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings as usual for Rajasthan Royals. Mitchell Starc has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

THIS JUST IN - Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the reigning champions, become the first team to qualify for the playoffs in the 2026 season. RCB beat Punjab Kings by 23 runs to move to 18 points. Meanwhile, it is another body blow to the Kings, who lose 6 in a row to stay on 13 points, and they can now get to a maximum of just 15 points, which might not be enough come the 24th of May.

Let's now hear from RR's lead pacer - Jofra Archer says that they had a few team bonding exercises in the break as they played a bit of pool and volleyball, and even enjoyed a nice dinner at a historic restaurant. On his own performance this season, he says that he's not working on anything specific and just tries to hit a consistent area. On the challenge of the remaining few games, he says that any team can beat anyone and they cannot take the games for granted.

The skipper of Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag starts by mentioning that he's fit and ready to go. Mentions that they were unsure about the wicket, and he's happy to lose the toss. Mentions that they have had a few ups and downs in the last few games, and mentions that they have brought in an extra seamer to bolster their bowling. Goes on to inform that Ravindra Jadeja is not playing as they are managing his workload and Ravi Singh comes in place of him.

The captain of Delhi Capitals - Axar Patel says that they will bowl first. Adds that when they win, the morale is high, but even when they were losing, the team stayed together. Informs that they have made one change depending on the wicket, as Tripurana Vijay comes in for Auqib Nabi. Goes on to say that he isn't thinking much about the wicket and is focused on executing their plans with the ball. Further mentions that when the toss doesn't go your way, in that moment, it feels a bit bad but you need to get that out of your way.

Impact Player options for DC - Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Pathum Nissanka, and Karun Nair.

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI) - KL Rahul (WK), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, Tripurana Vijay (On debut, in for Auqib Nabi), and Lungi Ngidi.

Impact Player options for RR - Dasun Shanaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, and Aman Perala.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (In for Tushar Deshpande), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Ravi Singh (In for Ravindra Jadeja), Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Yash Punja, Jofra Archer, Adam Milne (In for Dasun Shanaka), and Brijesh Sharma.

TOSS - It's time for the toss, but before that, we can see Tripurana Vijay get his debut cap for Delhi Capitals. The two captains - Axar Patel and Riyan Parag make their way out to the middle now as well. Axar spins the coin, as Parag calls, and does so incorrectly. Delhi Capitals will BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Former Indian women's cricketer, Anjum Chopra, is pitchside. She starts by saying that they are at the center pitch. Mentions that the straight hit 73 meters and the square boundaries are equidistant at 63 meters each. Cricket's very own encyclopedia, Ian Bishop, joins her and says that this has been a chasing venue this season, and mentions that one half of the pitch is fairly hard and there's not much grass on it, but on the other half, there are a few dark spots and it is even drier. Bishop feels that the seamers will enjoy and hopefully, there won't be much dew either.

Delhi's star pacer is up for a chat - Mitchell Starc says that they have had a bit of a break and a few of the guys have been playing a bit of golf and hopefully, they are good to go tonight. He adds that as days go by, they get a chance of still having a shot of qualifying and there's been a bit of a change in the last game, and it's an opportunity for those coming in to prove their worth. On playing against Rajasthan, he says that they played them a week or so ago and the key will be adapting to this wicket, which is a bit of an unknown.

Punjab's hopes dwindling in Dharamshala - Meanwhile, in the first game of the day, Punjab Kings are 146/5 in a chase of 223 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They need 77 runs in just 30 balls for the win, otherwise, it will be a sixth successive defeat for last season's runners-up, blowing the playoff race wide open, more than it is right now. Also, if RCB win, they will qualify as only 3 more teams can get to 18 points.

Now or never for Delhi - The battleground at the Arun Jaitley Stadium promises a run-fest, given the venue's historical friendliness toward batsmen and Delhi's struggle to defend their home turf this season. Mitchell Starc’s impact with the ball will be vital for the Capitals as they attempt to contain a dangerous RR top order spearheaded by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Which team will be able to squeeze out two invaluable points? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for the toss and teams.

Time for revenge? The backdrop to this fixture is a narrative of redemption for Rajasthan and survival for Delhi. In their last head-to-head meeting earlier this season in Jaipur, Delhi pulled off a spectacular chase, hunting down Rajasthan’s imposing total of 225 with seven wickets to spare. That night, Riyan Parag’s magnificent 90 and Donovan Ferreira’s late-innings blitz for RR were ultimately overshadowed by a commanding 75 from DC’s KL Rahul and a fiery start by Pathum Nissanka. Delhi will be looking to channel that exact blueprint, especially coming off a confidence-boosting successful chase of 211 against the Punjab Kings. Conversely, Rajasthan's potent bowling unit, featuring the likes of Ravi Bishnoi and Jofra Archer, will be itching to avenge that previous defensive failure.

Crunch time in Jaipur - Hello and welcome to our coverage of Match number 62 of the 2026 IPL season. Rajasthan Royals are all set to go up against Delhi Capitals in what is yet another four-pointer as the race for the playoffs heats up. While the Capitals are clinging to their top-four hopes by a thread and desperately need a victory, the Royals return to action fresh off an eight-day hiatus, eager to shake off a heavy 77-run defeat in their previous outing against the Gujarat Titans and solidify their position in the race for the top four.

... MATCH DAY ...

Sunday blockbuster - It’s the final stretch of the league phase in this year’s IPL with truckloads of pride at stake. As many as eight teams are still pretty much alive in the competition, but not all will get the rewards. The Arun Jaitley Stadium is ready for an all-important mid-table clash that will low-key decide the fate of the teams fighting to finish in the top four. It’s the Delhi Capitals taking on the Rajasthan Royals in the 62nd match of this edition. The hanging fruit theory - IPL has truly started IPL-ing. Punjab Kings fumbled a golden chance to consolidate their top-four spot. The very next day, Chennai Super Kings did the same. And on both occasions, teams that had already been knocked out of the tournament were the ones doing the damage. Spoilers with nothing to lose are the most dangerous kind, especially in this phase of the tournament. That is precisely the role Delhi Capitals find themselves in today against Rajasthan Royals. Now, the Capitals are not out yet, technically. But realistically? Their ceiling is 14 points. With RR and CSK both still capable of reaching 18 and 16 points, respectively, if they win all their remaining games, Delhi's path is impossibly narrow. A loss here and the campaign is done. A win and they are still not safe. There is only one option in front of them, and that is to beat RR at home. Rajasthan Royals are the lowest-hanging fruit on Delhi's tree, and they have to grab it now, before the season moves on without them. As for the Rajasthan Royals, they have had the strangest past fortnight. One game in the better part of a week, long days on the bench, watching others play for their lives. And yet, despite all that sitting around, they have quietly moved up to fifth, helped along by CSK's heavy defeat to LSG that crushed the Super Kings' net run rate badly enough to push them below the Royals in the standings. Rajasthan did not earn that gift. But they will take it. However, they won their last match on 28th April, against PBKS, and have since lost two games in a row, so they would hope that this break serves them right to get back to winning ways. Talent undeniable, problems aplenty - Yes, they won their previous game against Punjab in emphatic fashion, chasing 211. But in the greater scheme of things, DC’s batting unit hasn't worked in sync properly. Individual contributions have come and gone, but the collective effort has been largely missing. The Capitals have lost 25 wickets in the Powerplay, sitting among the teams that have lost the most wickets in this phase. And on top of that, the likes of KL Rahul have been quiet since the last few matches. He has scored just 44 runs in the last three matches and has been dismissed inside the Powerplay on all three occasions. For DC’s leading run getter with 477 runs this season, KL Rahul’s form is paramount. But still, Rahul remains their best batter by a distance, and the gulf after him is a massive one. Pathum Nissanka is second on the charts with 278 runs, while Stubbs is next in line, but again, consistency has been their biggest issue. On the brighter side, though, skipper Axar Patel is back among the runs, scoring a crucial half-century in the previous game, his first of the season, albeit too late in the season. And David Miller has been instrumental in the finishing role whenever he has had the opportunity. Concerns bowling-wise - The early season gave DC fans some real hope with the ball. Mukesh Kumar and Lungi Ngidi were at it, doing the job upfront, and the bowling unit looked like it had teeth. Fast forward to now, and that feels like a distant memory. Sixteen wickets in the last five matches as a unit, reinforcements and all, including Mitchell Starc, who has managed five wickets in four outings since joining the camp. But the one name that keeps coming up in DC's bowling concerns is Kuldeep Yadav. Batters have simply found him out this season. He has been hit out of the park more often than not, and an economy of 10.66, his worst in his IPL career, alongside a bowling average of 50.28, is the evidence. This has been truly a season to forget for a bowler of his craft. Axar, with 10 wickets this year, the highest by any DC bowler, has been reasonably decent with his bowling figures, but he has missed his spin partner to keep up at the other end. Running out of steam? Rajasthan Royals arrived at this IPL with a bang, winning four on the trot to announce themselves as genuine contenders. But that feels like a long time ago now. Since that electric start, they have not managed to string two wins together, and their last three out of four have all come while defending totals, games they have lost. The pattern that stands out most, though, is the runs they have been leaking. In five of their last seven matches, Rajasthan have conceded 200 or more, regardless of whether they batted or bowled first. That is not a one-off defensive lapse. That is a recurring problem, and one they will be desperate to fix this time around. They have all the weapons in their armoury, from raw pace to spin deception. But both their pace spearheads, Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, have been on the expensive side recently, and the wickets haven't come regularly either. Archer has managed just two wickets in the last three matches, while Burger has managed only one. Brijesh Sharma has impressed with the opportunities he has got, while the spin duo of Jadeja and Bishnoi have been miserly as well. Explosive edge with the bat - Whatever their struggles have been, Rajasthan's batting has a dimension that few sides in this tournament can match. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the top of the order is a genuinely fearsome proposition. They have registered five fifty-plus opening stands between them, the most by any opening pair this season, and the third-best partnership overall in IPL 2026, averaging 45 so far. While Dhruv Jurel has been relatively consistent, scoring 314 runs at an average of 31.40, the lack of support from Shimron Hetmyer and the early-season struggles of Riyan Parag created a bottleneck in the middle overs. The Royals attempted to address these issues by introducing Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey. Ferreira has provided flashes of brilliance, including a brutal 14-ball 47 not out against the Delhi Capitals and an unbeaten 52 against the Punjab Kings. Will Parag play? Parag's tenure as a captain has been marked by a period of underwhelming individual form, where he averaged below 20 in the first eight games of the season, before a massive breakthrough against DC in Jaipur, where he smashed a breezy 90 off 50 balls. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in the same game. The injury was severe enough to rule him out of the subsequent high-stakes match against the Gujarat Titans. While there is no official update on his fitness or whether he is fit enough to play, Jaiswal, who was the stand-in captain in RR’s last game, did mention that the week’s break should help Riyan to recover. Team form (Last 5 completed IPL matches, recent first) DC - WLLWL | RR - LLWLW. What to expect? Delhi has usually been a high-scoring venue due to its small boundary dimensions, but the highest first innings score across the last three matches here has been just 155. And with the summer heat at its peak, pitch deterioration is going to give bowlers a lot more say than the batters would like. Five out of six games so far have been won by teams chasing in Delhi this year. And in a striking stat, the Delhi Capitals have lost all four matches while batting first at home. This also includes a stinging 75 all out vs RCB and a spectacular failure to defend 264 vs PBKS. Rajasthan Royals have a wider chance at qualification and will definitely come harder at their opponents, as they cannot afford to lose from here. Delhi Capitals can be seen from the rearview mirror, but they are too far to catch up to the top four and the teams crowded below the qualification mark. Let’s see who trumps this one. Should be a cracking contest.