Delhi Capitals Beat Rajasthan Royals by Five Wickets, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

Delhi Capitals secured a five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, boosting their Indian Premier League (IPL) playoff hopes. This win moved Delhi to seventh place in the 10-team table.

Mon May 18 2026

Delhi Capitals Dominate Early, Disrupt Rajasthan's Batting Lineup

Delhi Capitals secured a crucial win, earning 12 points to reach seventh position in the standings, while Rajasthan Royals also have 12 points but remain in fifth. Delhi won the toss and elected to bowl first. Ngidi provided Delhi with a perfect start, sending back Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 12 runs in the second over. However, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel stabilized the innings, forming a 70-run partnership. Madhav Tiwari denied Suryavanshi a half-century, dismissing him for 46. Subsequently, Jurel and captain Riyan Parag maintained the momentum. However, Mitchell Starc rocked Rajasthan's middle order, taking two wickets in two balls in the 15th over, including that of Parag. Starc then claimed a third wicket in the same over, intensifying the pressure on Rajasthan.

Delhi's Late Surge Secures Victory and Playoff Aspirations

Jurel held the innings together but eventually fell in the final over, as Rajasthan posted a total of 193/8. Delhi's bowlers performed exceptionally well, conceding only 33 runs and taking six wickets in the last six overs. In response, Delhi's openers, KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel, shared a commanding 105-run stand in the first ten overs. Rajasthan then fought back, dismissing Porel for 51 and Rahul for 56. Jofra Archer removed Tristan Stubbs for four, while Brijesh Sharma dismissed another South African, David Miller, for nine, raising Rajasthan's hopes. However, poor fielding and a debatable decision to give the ball to Donovan Ferreira cost Rajasthan the advantage. Ferreira conceded 16 runs in the 18th over, reducing the equation to 19 off 12 balls. Captain Axar Patel and impact player Ashutosh Sharma then guided their team home with four balls to spare.