Kolkata: Delhi Capitals concluded their 2026 Indian Premier League campaign with a commanding 40-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, powered by a blistering half-century from KL Rahul and a match-turning spell from Kuldeep Yadav. DC posted a formidable total of 203/5, while KKR were eventually bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs in the 70th match of the IPL 2026 season at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The match began with KKR winning the toss and electing to bowl first. DC made a solid start as KL Rahul and Abishek Porel added 40 runs for the opening partnership before Porel was dismissed by Saurabh Dubey after scoring 22 off 18 balls. Rahul continued the attacking momentum and brought up a fluent half-century in just 25 balls after Porel’s dismissal. Rahul then found another steady partnership with Sahil Parakh. The duo stitched together 47 runs before Parakh was dismissed by Sunil Narine for 24 off 17 balls. KL Rahul dominated the KKR bowling attack with authority, scoring a scintillating 60 off 30 balls, including 5 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 200, before being dismissed by Anukul Roy after a fine catch by Rovman Powell. His innings helped DC post a strong total on the board. Axar Patel anchored the middle overs effectively with a composed 39 off 25 balls before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy. Meanwhile, David Miller and Ashutosh Sharma provided a strong finishing touch, adding 35 runs together. Miller scored a valuable 28 off 19 balls, while Sharma contributed 18 off 11, taking DC to 203/5 after 20 overs. KKR’s bowling proved expensive, especially Kartik Tyagi, who conceded 55 runs in his four overs.
Chasing 204, KKR started positively as Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane added 43 runs before Lungi Ngidi removed Allen for 20 off 13 balls. Manish Pandey then scored 25 off 16 before falling again to Ngidi, while Cameron Green was dismissed early by Kuldeep Yadav. At 126/3 in the 13th over, KKR looked in a strong position to chase the target, but Kuldeep Yadav turned the match decisively in DC’s favour with a dominant spell, dismissing Rahane and Rinku Singh in consecutive deliveries. He almost completed a hat-trick, but Abishek Porel missed a catch behind the stumps off Tejasvi Dahiya. Kuldeep finished with impressive figures of 3/29 in his four overs and was named Player of the Match. Rahane played a fighting knock, scoring a well-made half-century of 63 off 39 balls before being dismissed. Under pressure, KKR suffered a dramatic collapse as Mitchell Starc struck with three wickets in a single over, dismantling the lower order. including the dismissal of Rovman Powell for 29 off 21 balls. From 126/3, they were eventually bowled out for 163, suffering a dramatic collapse as wickets tumbled rapidly in the final overs. Delhi Capitals produced a superb bowling performance, with Lungi Ngidi finishing with 3/27 and Starc claiming 2/26 in a high-impact spell.
The victory gave DC their third consecutive win to close the season, taking them to 14 points and sixth position on the table. Meanwhile, KKR’s playoff hopes had already ended earlier in the day with Rajasthan Royals’ win, and with this defeat, they finished their disappointing campaign in seventh place.
