DC vs RR Highlights, IPL 2026: DC (197/5 in 19.2 ovs). Ashutosh Sharma wins it for Delhi, RR's playoff hopes dented

That's a wrap - Just one week remains in the league stage action of IPL 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru being the only team so far to have locked in a playoff berth. A massive game awaits us in Chennai on Monday, 18th May, where Chennai Super Kings lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad, with both teams harbouring playoff aspirations. The game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). See you then. Cheers!

Royals slip, Capitals survive - With this result, the Rajasthan Royals no longer have their destiny in their own hands. They need to win their remaining two games and then hope that other results go their way. It is a quick turnaround for the Royals, who next face Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Tuesday, 19th May. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, hang in there with an outside chance and now have a bit of a break before their next game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, 24th May. By then, though, they may not even be in the race anymore.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Mitchell Starc gets the award for his outstanding display of 4/40 from his 4 overs, with three of those wickets coming in a single over that proved to be the turning point of the match. Starc says that it was an interesting game and the pitches have been different in Delhi right throughout the tournament. Goes on to say that they didn't bowl too badly in the Powerplay, but managed to pull it back, and it's always good to sign off at home with a win. Mentions that the key is to adjust not just quickly, but quicker than the other team as well and feels that there was reverse swing on offer and they adjusted well after the Powerplay. Starc also says that the beauty of T20 is that you can't dwell on too many things, and neither can you celebrate for too long, so it's important to stay level-headed. On the group, he says that there are plenty of talented youngsters in their team and says that every season he plays in the IPL, there's just such a good mixture of youth and experience.

The captain of the Delhi Capitals - Axar Patel says that winning at home feels special, especially after a string of defeats and with this being the final home game of the season. He adds that the side had been losing wickets in clusters in previous matches, but tonight, after getting a strong opening stand, they stayed well placed throughout and managed to build partnerships. Axar says that his side has repeatedly managed to make comebacks with the ball after the Powerplay this season. Mentions that the side once again pulled things back in the middle overs, joking that it was their youngster (Mitchell Starc) who did the job for them. Patel shares that he and Mitchell Starc kept discussing field placements and ways to make life difficult for every new batter at the crease.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

RR flatter to deceive - After being asked to bat first, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got the Royals off to a flying start before Riyan Parag carried the momentum forward. At 160/2 with 6 overs left, it looked less about whether RR would cross 200 and more about how far beyond they could get. A triple-wicket over from Mitchell Starc turned the game on its head, and the rest of the DC attack chipped in to complete a remarkable fightback.

Experience carried DC over the line - The Royals managed to apply the squeeze after breaking the opening partnership and picked up wickets along the way to force a slowdown. With momentum on their side, lapses in the field did not help their cause, and a costly gamble to introduce Donovan Ferreira, who conceded 16 runs in the over, eased the pressure on DC. In the end, they had enough quality in the likes of David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma and Axar Patel to get them over the line.

The Capitals carried the momentum from their fightback with the ball into the chase and raced to 72 in the Powerplay without losing a wicket. The Royals were a bit too short with the new ball upfront, and dropping KL Rahul on 0 only made matters worse.

DC's crisis man - KL Rahul says that this season feels a bit more special, as he has been scoring in excess of 500 runs season after season, but his strike rate is up, which is positive, and he would have liked to have won a few more games. Hopes that they can win their last game, and a few other teams can help their cause. Mentions that he hasn't cracked the game completely, and the sport is such that you need to be open to experimentation and doing things that make you uncomfortable. Also mentions that before the season started, the coaches wanted him to play at a certain strike rate and dominate the Powerplay, but in the last few games, the pitches have been tricky, and he's had to take a step back, and the way Abishek Porel played today allowed him to play the anchoring role. Goes on to talk a bit more about Porel, saying that Porel is someone who can play according to the situation well, and unfortunately, he didn't get too many chances this season, and he's also trying to improve his strike rate, and this innings will give him that confidence.

The captain of the Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag reflects on the game. He says that they were in a pretty good space in the first innings, but when he got out, they failed to get to 220-230 runs. With the ball, they weren't at their best and mentions that Ferreira wasn't a gamble, it was a ploy against the two left-handers. On the fielding, Parag says that if you want to win the tournament, the fielding needs to be top-notch and feels that if they are playing like this, then they shouldn't be in contention for the top four. On the playoff scenario, he says that now their fate isn't only in their hands, which he doesn't like and hopes that they can win their remaining two games.

DC live to fight another day - They would have surely loved to have finished the chase in a more comfortable and clinical fashion, but two points in the bag is all that matters for now, and it keeps their playoff hopes alive, however slim they may be. RR, meanwhile, will be kicking themselves for not making the most of the launchpad they had set for themselves with the bat. Though they fought till the very end with the ball, they just did not put up enough runs on the board.

19.2: Adam Milne to Ashutosh Sharma, 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.

19.1: Adam Milne to Ashutosh Sharma, 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.

18.6: Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, 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.

18.5: Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, 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.

18.4: Brijesh Sharma to Axar Patel, 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.

18.4: Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, 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.

18.3: Brijesh Sharma to Axar Patel, 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.

18.2: Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, 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

18.1: Brijesh Sharma to David Miller, 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?

17.6: Donovan Ferreira to Axar Patel, 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.

17.5: Donovan Ferreira to David Miller, 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.

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

17.3: Donovan Ferreira to David Miller, 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.

17.2: Donovan Ferreira to David Miller, 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.

17.1: Donovan Ferreira to Axar Patel, 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.

16.6: Jofra Archer to David Miller, 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.

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

16.4: Jofra Archer to Axar 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.

16.3: Jofra Archer to David Miller, 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.

16.2: Jofra Archer to Tristan Stubbs, 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.

16.1: Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, 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.

16.1: Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, 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.

15.6: Adam Milne to Axar Patel, Full again, attacking the stumps, lofted on the bounce to long on for just one more. 43 needed now off 24 balls.

15.5: Adam Milne to Tristan Stubbs, 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.

15.5: Adam Milne to Axar Patel, 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.

15.4: Adam Milne to Tristan Stubbs, Fuller now, attacking the stumps, flicked away to deep square leg for a single. Five runs off the over so far.

15.3: Adam Milne to Tristan Stubbs, Bowled into the pitch, around off, Stubbs fails to put it away through the off side.

15.2: Adam Milne to Axar Patel, 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.

15.1: Adam Milne to Tristan Stubbs, 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.

14.6: Dasun Shanaka to Axar Patel, 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.

14.5: Dasun Shanaka to Axar Patel, 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.

14.4: Dasun Shanaka to Tristan Stubbs, 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.

14.3: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, 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.

14.2: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, 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.

14.1: Dasun Shanaka to Axar Patel, 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.

13.6: Yash Punja to Axar Patel, 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.

13.5: Yash Punja to Axar Patel, 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.

13.4: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

13.3: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

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

13.1: Yash Punja to Axar Patel, 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.

12.6: Jofra Archer to KL Rahul, 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.

12.5: Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, At the ribs, on the shorter side. Axar hops and works it uppishly but through the vacant square leg region for a single.

12.4: Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, 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.

12.3: Jofra Archer to Sahil Parakh, 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.

12.2: Jofra Archer to Sahil Parakh, 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.

12.1: Jofra Archer to KL Rahul, 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.

11.6: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, Fractionally short, outside off. Rahul presses back and wrists it behind square leg for a run.

11.6: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, Wide! Sprayed beyond the tramline on off. KL lets it pass.

11.5: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

11.4: Yash Punja to Sahil Parakh, Across off, on the shorter side. This is slapped to deep cover by Parakh. Single taken.

11.3: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

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

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

10.6: Brijesh Sharma to Sahil Parakh, Delivers it on a back of a length, on off. Sahil gets on top of it and punches it to cover.

10.5: Brijesh Sharma to Sahil Parakh, 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.

10.4: Brijesh Sharma to KL Rahul, Targets the off pole with a good-length ball. KL punches it on the up to wide long off for a run.

10.3: Brijesh Sharma to Sahil Parakh, 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.

10.2: Brijesh Sharma to Sahil Parakh, 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.

10.1: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

9.6: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

9.5: Yash Punja to Abishek Porel, Bowled well short and outside off, Porel jams the cut through point and turns the strike over.

9.4: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, Good length, outside off, cut away in front of point for a single by KL.

9.3: Yash Punja to Abishek Porel, 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.

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

9.1: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

8.6: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, 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.

8.5: Dasun Shanaka to Abishek Porel, 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.

8.4: Dasun Shanaka to Abishek Porel, 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.

8.3: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, Fuller one on off and middle, heaved away aerially down to the right of long on for just one run.

8.2: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, 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.

8.1: Dasun Shanaka to Abishek Porel, Pitched up full on off, Porel leans on and pushes it down to long off for a run.

7.6: Yash Punja to Abishek Porel, 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.

7.5: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

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

7.3: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, Short of a length, around middle, Rahul rocks back and hacks it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

7.2: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, Flatter one around off, cut away off the back foot but straight to point.

7.1: Yash Punja to KL Rahul, 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.

6.6: Dasun Shanaka to Abishek Porel, 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.

6.5: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, 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.

6.4: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, 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.

6.3: Dasun Shanaka to Abishek Porel, Back of a length, on a tight line around off, Porel hops up and cuts it through point for one.

6.2: Dasun Shanaka to Abishek Porel, 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.

6.1: Dasun Shanaka to KL Rahul, 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.

5.6: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

5.5: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

5.4: Brijesh Sharma to KL Rahul, 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.

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

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

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

4.6: Adam Milne to KL Rahul, 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.

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

4.4: Adam Milne to KL Rahul, Pushes the length up, on off, Rahul eases it to mid off and crosses over.

4.3: Adam Milne to KL Rahul, 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.

4.2: Adam Milne to Abishek Porel, 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.

4.1: Adam Milne to KL Rahul, 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.

3.6: Brijesh Sharma to KL Rahul, 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.

3.5: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

3.5: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

3.4: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

3.3: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

3.2: Brijesh Sharma to Abishek Porel, 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.

3.1: Brijesh Sharma to KL Rahul, 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.

2.6: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

2.5: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

2.4: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

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

2.2: Jofra Archer to KL Rahul, 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.

2.1: Jofra Archer to KL Rahul, 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.

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

1.5: Adam Milne to Abishek Porel, Back to around the wicket for the left-hander, goes full, on off. This is pushed to mid off for a run.

1.4: Adam Milne to KL Rahul, 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.

1.3: Adam Milne to Abishek Porel, Stays full, around off. Porel presses onto the front foot and plays a punchy drive in front of mid off for a quick single.

1.2: Adam Milne to Abishek Porel, 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.

1.1: Adam Milne to KL Rahul, 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.

0.6: Jofra Archer to KL Rahul, Bashes the surface, over middle. KL gets on top of the bounce and nudges it behind square leg for a run.

0.5: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

0.4: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

0.4: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, Wide! Very full but beyond the tramline on off. Porel reaches out but fails to connect.

0.3: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

0.2: Jofra Archer to KL Rahul, 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.

0.1: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

0.1: Jofra Archer to Abishek Porel, 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.

We are back for the all-important run chase. The umpires are back out in the middle, and so are the players of Rajasthan Royals. Abishek Porel is all set to open the innings for Delhi Capitals alongside KL Rahul. It will be Jofra Archer to kickstart things with the ball for the Royals. Let's play...

... The Run Chase ...

Enough on the board? Doesn't look like it, in all fairness, especially with the dew expected to come around. A lot will rest on how RR's frontline pacers open up with the new ball. They brought Shanaka in as their Impact Sub to bolster the batting, but that leaves them with just four full-time bowlers in Archer, Milne, Punja, and Brijesh. Shanaka and Ferreira will inevitably need to chip in with the ball as well. How well Parag uses the bowling resources at his helm will be interesting to watch. And FYI, the Delhi Capitals have won all their games while chasing this season, which makes the second half all the more interesting. Back in a bit with the run chase. Stay tuned. 

DC's young pacer is up for a chat - Madhav Tiwari starts by talking about his pace variations and says that coming into the season, he brought 4-5 variations with him and was determined to work on them, and thankfully, it is coming good for him. Mentions that the slower balls were certainly gripping, so tried to make the most of it. Further adds that he put himself into high-pressure situations in the nets by bowling to the likes of David Miller and KL Rahul. Jokes about leaving his MBA and ends by saying that he is confident of his side chasing it down.

A bowling masterclass by Starc - Jurel anchored things quietly at one end while Parag exploded onto the scene, taking the attack apart and cantering to a half century as the two wove together a crucial 72-run alliance. Then Starc uncorked something special. One over, and the match tilted on its axis. Parag and Ferreira were gobbled up in consecutive deliveries. The young Madhav Tiwari twisted the knife further, dipping into his bag of variations to finish with a tidy 2/27 from his four overs whereas Ngidi also bowled a miserly spell, picking two to his name. Jurel was marooned off strike, and the life was sucked right out of RR's innings. From 161/2, they went into a tailspin, crashing to 187/7, with Shanaka, their Impact Sub, also dismissed without any impact. Jurel did manage to get off to a laboured fifty, which was more due to the situation, but with his fall, RR just couldn't get that final kick and were restricted below 200.

The top order laid the bricks - DC pulled off an early breakthrough, with Ngidi sending Jaiswal back inside the second over to split the dangerous opening pair. But that was as good as it got for a while. Sooryavanshi unleashed a relentless assault on even the best in DC's attack, pulling out every trick in his locker to keep the scoreboard motoring. Jurel, handed a lifeline on 4, held firm at the other end and provided the perfect foil. However, Sooryavanshi was fished out eventually by Madhav, but a solid base was formed by then. DC did manage to rein things in somewhat after that, with RR adding just 29 runs post-Powerplay to reach 104/2 at the halfway mark.

DC make a fabulous comeback - That was a fantastic display of death bowling by the Capitals. At one stage, the Rajasthan Royals were looking to get well more than 200, but they lost so many wickets in the climax that they could not even reach that figure. And once again, their middle order vulnerabilities have been exposed. But for DC, it couldn't be more promising as they conceded just 33 runs in the last 6 overs and will surely be the happier of the two sides at halfway stage.

19.6: Lungi Ngidi to Adam Milne, 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.

19.5: Lungi Ngidi to Adam Milne, 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.

19.4: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

19.3: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

19.2: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

19.1: Lungi Ngidi to Jofra Archer, 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. 

18.6: Mitchell Starc to Jofra Archer, 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.

18.5: Mitchell Starc to Dasun Shanaka, 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.

18.4: Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, Full and angled just across off, hammered square through covers for just one more.

18.3: Mitchell Starc to Dasun Shanaka, 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.

18.2: Mitchell Starc to Dasun Shanaka, Full and straight, Shanaka chips it back over the bowler's head and picks up a couple of handy runs.

18.1: Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

17.6: Lungi Ngidi to Dasun Shanaka, 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.

17.5: Lungi Ngidi to Dasun Shanaka, 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.

17.4: Lungi Ngidi to Dasun Shanaka, 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.

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

17.2: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

17.1: Lungi Ngidi to Dasun Shanaka, 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. 

16.6: Madhav Tiwari to Dasun Shanaka, 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

16.5: Madhav Tiwari to Shubham Dubey, 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.

16.4: Madhav Tiwari to Shubham Dubey, 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.

16.3: Madhav Tiwari to Shubham Dubey, 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.

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

16.1: Madhav Tiwari to Shubham Dubey, 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.

15.6: Axar Patel to Shubham Dubey, 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.

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

15.4: Axar Patel to Shubham Dubey, Fired in on the pads, Dubey hangs back and works it through backward square leg for one more.

15.3: Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

15.2: Axar Patel to Shubham Dubey, A bit fuller and on the pads, tucked away around the corner on the leg side for a single.

15.1: Axar Patel to Shubham Dubey, Flatter, on a length and around leg. Dubey stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

14.6: Mitchell Starc to Shubham Dubey, 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.

14.5: Mitchell Starc to Ravi Singh, 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. 

14.4: Mitchell Starc to Ravi Singh, 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.

14.3: Mitchell Starc to Donovan Ferreira, 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.

14.2: Mitchell Starc to Riyan Parag, 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.

14.1: Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

13.6: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, 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.

13.5: Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Full, on off, tapped off the front foot to the off side for a quick single.

13.4: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Tad short, around off. Parag slaps it on the bounce to long on for a single.

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

13.2: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, 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.

13.1: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, 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.

12.6: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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!

12.6: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

12.5: Madhav Tiwari to Riyan Parag, Outside off, slightly full. Parag eases it away to long off for a single.

12.4: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

12.3: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

12.2: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

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

11.6: Mukesh Kumar to Riyan Parag, 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.

11.5: Mukesh Kumar to Riyan Parag, 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.

11.4: Mukesh Kumar to Riyan Parag, 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.

11.3: Mukesh Kumar to Riyan Parag, 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.

11.2: Mukesh Kumar to Riyan Parag, 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.

11.1: Mukesh Kumar to Riyan Parag, 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.

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

10.5: Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, On a length, outside off, Jurel cuts it straight to point off the back foot.

10.4: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, 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.

10.3: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, 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.

10.2: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Nice and full, on middle and leg. Parag pushes to the right of the bowler.

10.1: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, 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.

9.6: Madhav Tiwari to Riyan Parag, 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.

9.6: Madhav Tiwari to Riyan Parag, WIDE! Too full and too wide outside off, spilled beyond the tramline. Parag leaves it alone again.

9.6: Madhav Tiwari to Riyan Parag, WIDE! This time, Parag lets it go. Another slower bumper, wide outside off and sails over head height.

9.5: Madhav Tiwari to Riyan Parag, 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.

9.4: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

9.3: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

9.2: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, Pitched fuller and outside off, driven on the up and through extra cover for a couple of runs. 100 is up for the Royals.

9.1: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

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

8.5: Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Dragged short on leg, Jurel whips it off the hips and in front of square on the leg side for one more.

8.4: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, 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.

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

8.2: Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Fuller now, drifted into the pads, Parag fails to get it away.

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

7.6: Madhav Tiwari to Riyan Parag, 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.

7.5: Madhav Tiwari to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

7.4: Madhav Tiwari to Riyan Parag, 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.

7.3: Madhav Tiwari to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

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

7.1: Madhav Tiwari to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

7.1: Madhav Tiwari to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

6.6: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Off break, fractionally short, outside off. Vaibhav punches it off the back foot to long off for a single.

6.5: Tripurana Vijay to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

6.4: Tripurana Vijay to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

6.3: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

6.2: Tripurana Vijay to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

6.1: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

5.6: Mukesh Kumar to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

5.6: Mukesh Kumar to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

5.5: Mukesh Kumar to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

5.4: Mukesh Kumar to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

5.3: Mukesh Kumar to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

5.2: Mukesh Kumar to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

5.1: Mukesh Kumar to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

4.6: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

4.5: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

4.4: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Slides it into the batter, on a length, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi watches it closely and blocks it down the pitch.

4.3: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

4.2: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, In and around off, on a length. Vaibhav taps it to point off the back foot.

4.1: Tripurana Vijay to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

3.6: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

3.5: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, Low full toss, outside off, Jurel clips it across to mid-wicket.

3.4: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

3.3: Lungi Ngidi to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

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

3.1: Lungi Ngidi to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

2.6: Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, Short of a length, and this is bunted back to the bowler.

2.5: Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

2.4: Mitchell Starc to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

2.3: Mitchell Starc to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

2.2: Mitchell Starc to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

2.1: Mitchell Starc to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

2.1: Mitchell Starc to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

1.6: Lungi Ngidi to Dhruv Jurel, 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.

1.5: Lungi Ngidi to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

1.4: Lungi Ngidi to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

1.3: Lungi Ngidi to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

1.2: Lungi Ngidi to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Slower ball, pitched up around off, Sooryavanshi gets an inside edge towards square leg and pinches a single.

1.1: Lungi Ngidi to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 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.

0.6: Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

0.5: Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

0.4: Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

0.3: Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

0.2: Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.

0.1: Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 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.