Delhi Capitals secured a thrilling victory over Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets in IPL 2026 Match 62. Discover the highlights of this exciting run-chase!
Survival Instincts Prevail in High-Stakes Kotla Thriller
The atmospheric conditions at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi were dense with anticipation as the home side walked out for a must-win clash. Match 62 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season was not just another fixture on the calendar; it was a high-stakes, uncompromising battle for survival. For the Delhi Capitals, the equation arriving into this Sunday night blockbuster was entirely binary—win and keep the mathematical calculations alive, or lose and face immediate elimination from the top-four conversation. Facing them were the dangerous Rajasthan Royals, a side desperately hunting for form after a string of disappointing mid-season results.
By the time the final ball was whacked into the ecstatic stands, Delhi Capitals had managed to script a phenomenal five-wicket victory, hunting down a target of 194 with just four balls to spare. It was a match characterized by dramatic swings in momentum. From Rajasthan’s early boundary-blitz that threatened to breach the 240-mark, to a legendary death-bowling exhibition spearheaded by Mitchell Starc, the first innings set the stage for an equally pulsating run chase.
Half-centuries from KL Rahul and Abishek Porel provided Delhi with the ideal launchpad before a middle-over stutter threatened to derail their ambitions. Ultimately, the tactical composure of skipper Axar Patel and the raw, unadulterated power of Ashutosh Sharma got the hosts across the finish line, keeping their tournament alive and throwing the IPL 2026 playoff qualification matrix into absolute chaos. See also:Â Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli Power RCB to 222/4 Against PBKS
Teenage Turbo-Charge: Sooryavanshi Assaults the Powerplay
After Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel won the toss and elected to field first—anticipating that the notoriously unpredictable Delhi surface would settle under the evening dew—Rajasthan Royals walked out with an incredibly aggressive blueprint. Even though the visitors suffered a temporary setback when South African speedster Lungi Ngidi outsmarted the explosive Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 12 runs in the second over, the early wicket did absolutely nothing to dampen Rajasthan’s attacking intent.
What followed was an absolute masterclass in fearless hitting from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The young prodigy, playing with the freedom of youth, took an immediate liking to Delhi’s premium international bowling options. Alongside his senior partner, Dhruv Jurel, Sooryavanshi launched a spectacular, calculated assault on Mitchell Starc, milking the veteran left-arm quick for 16 runs in a single over.
The teenager did not stop there, turning his attention to the domestic spinners by punishing Tripurana Vijay for 18 runs in the subsequent over to rocket the Royals to 58 for 1 within the first five overs. Backed by Jurel, who survived an early lifeline on 4 when KL Rahul dropped a difficult chance, the pair capitalized on every loose delivery. Mukesh Kumar was targeted next as the scorecard read an ominous 75 for 1 at the end of the mandatory powerplay.
Domestic bowler Madhav Tiwari eventually undid Sooryavanshi in the eighth over. Still, his sensational 46 off just 21 deliveries—packaged beautifully with five boundaries and three majestic sixes—had firmly placed the Royals on track for a gargantuan total.
Parag Explodes Before the Starc Storm Tilted the Axis
With an imposing foundation constructed at 92 for 2, Rajasthan skipper Riyan Parag stepped onto the turf and immediately shifted into maximum overdrive. Parag played with breathtaking authority, treating the home crowd to an exhibition of brutal spin-hitting. He targeted Axar Patel for two towering maximums in the 11th over before completely dismantling Mukesh Kumar’s rhythm with three consecutive sixes and a boundary in the 12th over. The Rajasthan total swelled rapidly to 140 for 2 in 12 overs, with Parag bringing up a fiery half-century off just 23 deliveries.
However, just as the Royals looked primed to cruise comfortably past the 220-run barrier, Mitchell Starc engineered an unforgettable, match-defining comeback that turned the game completely on its head. Returning for his second spell in the 15th over, the Australian veteran unleashed a masterclass in modern death bowling.
With his very first delivery of the over, Starc induced a false stroke from the well-set Riyan Parag, who was caught brilliantly by a diving Axar Patel for 51 off 26 balls. On the very next delivery, Starc cleaned up the dangerous Donovan Ferreira for a golden duck with a blistering yorker. He twisted the knife further by trapping the incoming youngster Ravi Singh leg-before-wicket for 4 on the fifth delivery, narrowly missing out on a historic hat-trick.
This single-over blitz left Rajasthan completely paralyzed. From a position of absolute dominance at 161 for 2, the Royals fell into a catastrophic tailspin, losing five wickets for a mere 30 runs. Despite a fighting, anchor-like 53 off 40 balls from Dhruv Jurel, disciplined finishing from Lungi Ngidi (2-24) and Madhav Tiwari (2-27) ensured Rajasthan were restricted to 193 for 8.
Domestic Foundations: Rahul and Porel Set Up the Chase
Needing a strong, calculated start to chase down 194 against a varied Rajasthan bowling attack, the Delhi Capitals benefited immensely from a terrible defensive lapse by the visitors in the very first over. Yash Raj Punja dropped a routine catch off KL Rahul in the covers off Jofra Archer’s bowling—a mistake that left Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara visibly incensed in the dugout.
Delhi’s opening pairing of KL Rahul and young Abishek Porel made Rajasthan pay heavily for their lack of defensive discipline. Porel was the primary instigator during the power play, showing no respect for the express pace of Jofra Archer or Adam Milne. The left-hander combined traditional cricketing shots with innovative modern ramps, bringing up a dazzling half-century in just 30 balls.
At the other end, Rahul played a deeply mature, calculated innings, ensuring that Delhi kept the required run rate well within striking distance. The duo put together a magnificent 100-run opening alliance in just ten overs, dismantling Rajasthan’s bowling plans. Porel was eventually dismissed by Brijesh Sharma for a brilliant 51 off 31 balls, which included seven boundaries and a six.
Sahil Parakh came and went quickly for 9, but Rahul held firm to notch his own half-century, compiling a steady 56 off 42 deliveries. When Archer returned to remove Rahul in the 15th over, followed shortly by the dismissal of Tristan Stubbs for 4, a cold sense of anxiety gripped the home crowd as the required run-rate began to climb.
The Ashutosh Onslaught: Final-Over Heroics Seal the Night
With the scoreboard reading a tense 153 for 4 and the pitch visibly slowing down in the middle overs, making life difficult for incoming batters, the responsibility fell squarely upon the shoulders of skipper Axar Patel and finisher Ashutosh Sharma. The Royals sensed an opportunity to strangulate the chase, using tight defensive lines from Jofra Archer (2-35) and Brijesh Sharma (2-44) to keep things tight.
The true turning point of the chase arrived in the 18th over, a tactical decision that will be debated heavily in the days to follow. With two left-handers in the middle, Rajasthan skipper Riyan Parag opted to bowl part-time off-spinner Donovan Ferreira instead of using his full-time bowling options. The gamble backfired spectacularly. Axar Patel read the play instantly, launching a ferocious assault on the part-timer by hammering two crucial sixes and a boundary to collect 16 runs from the over, swinging the momentum firmly back to Delhi.
Even though David Miller fell in the 19th over for 9, Ashutosh Sharma ensured there would be no final-day heartbreak for the Delhi faithful. Walking out with immense pressure mounting, Ashutosh produced an absolute blitzkrieg, slamming two towering sixes and a boundary in a frantic five-ball cameo to score 18 runs at an incredible strike rate of 360. His explosive hitting took Delhi to 197 for 5 with four balls left in the match. The spectacular five-wicket victory moves Delhi Capitals to 12 points with one league game remaining, keeping their tournament dreams alive, while Rajasthan Royals leave Delhi wondering how a position of complete control slipped through their fingers.
