Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets with five balls to spare in IPL 2026 Match 43, riding a blazing 75 off 40 from Player of the Match KL Rahul in a remarkable chase of 226. In a contest packed with clean hitting, Pathum Nissanka’s 62 off 33 and Nitish Rana’s 33 off 17 ensured RR’s imposing 225/6 was overhauled at 226/3 in 19.1 overs.
The result keeps the Indian Premier League league-stage race moving into Match 43 of 70 and extends the season rather than deciding anything, with plenty still to come in the round-robin campaign. Delhi added another important win to a season that has already featured victories in Matches 5, 8 and 26, while Rajasthan, who had won Matches 3, 9, 13, 16, 32 and 40, were unable to defend one of the biggest totals of the tournament. Next up in the league is Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians on Saturday, May 2.
Rajasthan Royals pile up 225 after Parag and Ferreira explode
Rajasthan’s innings began at full pace, even if the openers did not last long. Yashasvi Jaiswal struck 6 off 3 and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 4 off 2, but Delhi hit back through Mitchell Starc, who finished with 3/40 from his four overs and removed key batters at important moments.
The innings was rebuilt, then accelerated sharply, by Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. Jurel made a measured 42 off 30, striking four fours and a six, while Parag produced the standout knock of the first innings with 90 off 50 balls, including eight fours and five sixes. He kept the Royals moving through the middle overs and looked set for a hundred before Delhi finally found a way through.
Once Parag had laid the platform, Donovan Ferreira turned a very good total into a daunting one. His 47 off just 14 balls, featuring two fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 335.7, gave Rajasthan an explosive finish. Ravindra Jadeja contributed 20 off 14 as RR closed on 225/6. Alongside Starc’s three wickets, Axar Patel returned 1/39 and T Natarajan took 1/54, but this was largely an evening for damage limitation with the ball.
Rahul and Nissanka set the tone for a stunning chase
Chasing 226 in a T20 match demands immediate intent, and Delhi delivered exactly that. Pathum Nissanka attacked from the outset, making 62 off 33 with six fours and three sixes, while Rahul matched him stroke for stroke in an opening stand that knocked the pressure back onto Rajasthan’s bowlers.
Rahul’s innings was the defining act of the match. His 75 came off 40 balls and included six fours and five sixes, a superb blend of placement, power and control in a chase that never allowed RR to settle. Given Rahul had already come into the match with 404 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 183.6, this was another elite contribution in an outstanding tournament.
Even after the openers had done the heavy lifting, Delhi did not lose momentum. Nitish Rana hammered 33 off 17, striking three fours and two sixes to keep the required rate in check. Tristan Stubbs added 18 off 11 before Ashutosh Sharma closed things out calmly with 25 off 15, hitting four fours as DC reached 226/3 in 19.1 overs.
Rajasthan’s attack had few answers on a flat night. Jofra Archer took 1/46 in four overs, Tushar Deshpande claimed 1/38 and Jadeja finished with 1/33 from three overs, but none of the Royals bowlers could produce the dot-ball squeeze or middle-overs breakthroughs needed to defend 225. Ravi Bishnoi’s two overs went for 28, while Nandre Burger conceded 41 from three.
Match-turning moments
The biggest swing came in the powerplay of the chase, when Delhi’s top order refused to treat 226 like an exceptional target. Instead of consolidation, Rahul and Nissanka counterpunched immediately and forced Rajasthan off their lengths. That opening surge meant RR were always one wicket away from only a partial comeback rather than true control.
Parag’s 90 had seemed likely to decide the match, especially when Ferreira’s 47 off 14 launched Rajasthan beyond 220. But Delhi’s response was even cleaner. Rahul’s command against pace and spin, followed by Rana’s brisk cameo, meant the required rate never spiralled. In a chase of this size, that was the decisive difference.
Key performers
- KL Rahul (Delhi Capitals): 75 off 40 balls, 6 fours and 5 sixes
- Pathum Nissanka (Delhi Capitals): 62 off 33 balls, 6 fours and 3 sixes
- Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals): 90 off 50 balls, 8 fours and 5 sixes
- Donovan Ferreira (Rajasthan Royals): 47 off 14 balls, 2 fours and 6 sixes
- Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals): 3/40 in 4 overs
- Nitish Rana (Delhi Capitals): 33 off 17 balls in a critical middle-overs burst
NerdSports Stat: Rajasthan Royals scored 137 runs from Riyan Parag’s 90 and Donovan Ferreira’s 47 alone, yet still ended up on the losing side after posting 225/6 — and Delhi got there with five balls left, which underlines just how relentlessly efficient the chase was.
Frequently Asked Questions
Delhi Capitals won the match by 7 wickets with 5 balls remaining.
KL Rahul was named Player of the Match for his 75 off 40 balls in Delhi Capitals’ successful chase.
This was Match 43 of 70 in the Indian Premier League league stage, so the result extends the season race rather than deciding it, with more fixtures still to come.
Riyan Parag top-scored with 90 off 50 balls.
The next match in the series is Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians on Saturday, May 2.
