IPL 2026: DC conclude campaign with win over KKR
What's the story
Delhi Capitals concluded their IPL 2026 campaign with a victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. The Capitals racked up 203/5, riding on impactful knocks from KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and David Miller. They eventually restricted KKR to 163. Ajinkya Rahane was KKR's lone warrior in the chase, scoring a half-century. With this, the league stage of IPL 2026 is done and dusted.
Chase
Rahane bolsters chase's first half
Rahane and Finn Allen gave KKR a bright start, adding 40-plus runs within five overs. Although Lungi Ngidi knocked over Allen, the KKR skipper and Manish Pandey kept the required run rate in check. However, successive dismissals of Pandey and Cameron Green derailed KKR's chase. Meanwhile, Rahane completed his 31-ball half-century, taking KKR past 100. He continued to tick the scoreboard.
Information
Pandey completes 4,000 IPL runs
During his 16-ball 25, Manish Pandey completed 4,000 runs in the IPL. As per ESPNcricinfo, Pandey took 180 games and 164 innings to go past 4,000 runs. The Indian batter now has 4,012 runs at an average of 29.50. His strike rate reads 121.83.
Collapse
Kuldeep triggers KKR's collapse
After the boundaries dried up, Kuldeep's third over completely turned the tide. He dismissed Rahane and Rinku Singh on successive balls. The hat-trick ball even found the edge of Tejasvi Dahiya's bat, but wicket-keeper Abishek Porel dropped the catch. Kuldeep, who earlier dismissed Green, recorded figures of 4-0-29-3. In the very next over, Axar Patel dismissed Dahiya, reducing KKR to 129/6.
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KKR perish for 163
KKR faced an uphill task, requiring 51 runs off three overs. They lost Rovman Powell to an uncanny run-out, while Anukul Roy and Kartik Tyagi fell in the same over to Mitchell Starc. Ngidi took the final wicket, his third (3/27) as KKR perished.
Numbers
Kuldeep reaches 250 T20 wickets
With his second, Kuldeep raced to 250 wickets in T20 cricket. Kuldeep, who made his T20 debut over a decade ago (2014), touched the mark in his 201st game. Bowling in 195 innings, the Indian spinner has an average of under 22 and a sub-8 economy rate. His tally includes 11 hauls of four-plus wickets (3 fifers).
Innings
How DC's innings panned out
DC earlier had a steady start after KKR elected to field. After losing Porel early on, DC concluded their Powerplay at 53/1. Rahul upped the ante by smashing Sunil Narine for 2 sixes. Although the latter dismissed Sahil Parakh, Rahul hammered Kartik Tyagi to reach his half-century. After taking DC past 110, Rahul fell to Anukul Roy for a 30-all 60 (4s-5 and 6s-4).
Records
Rahul reaches these landmarks
Rahul recorded his sixth 50-plus score of IPL 2026, the joint-most in a season for a wicket-keeper. He also slammed six such scores in 2018. Rishabh Pant (2018) and Prabhsimran Singh (2026) also share the top spot with Rahul. Rahul scored his 51st half-century in the IPL, equaling Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli (76), David Warner (66), and Shikhar Dhawan (53) are ahead of them.
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Cameos from middle order
With Rahul's dismissal, DC were 125/3 in 12.4 overs. Axar Patel (39 off 25 balls), David Miller (28 off 19 balls), and Ashutosh Sharma (18* off 11 balls) played fine cameos to propel the side past 200.
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Standings of DC, KKR
Both DC and KKR were already knocked out of the playoff race. With this win, DC jumped from eighth to sixth, finishing with 14 points. And KKR finished behind DC with 13 points (NR: 1).