Delhi Capitals Crush KKR by 40 Runs to End IPL 2026 Campaign on High

Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a high-scoring IPL 2026 clash at Eden Gardens on Sunday, as disciplined bowling and key breakthroughs at crucial moments helped them defend a target of 204 and finish their league-stage campaign on a winning note.

The Axar Patel-led side won by 40 runs against Ajinkya Rahane's KKR.

Chasing 204, KKR got off to a good start with openers Finn Allen and Rahane adding 43 runs for the first wicket in 4.2 overs. The Kiwi batter was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi for 20 runs off 13 balls with three fours and one six.

Despite Allen's dismissal, the KKR skipper didn't let his team lose the momentum and continued the flow of runs along with Manish Pandey. The Knight Riders ended up scoring 55 runs in the power play with the loss of just one wicket.

While the hosts were anchoring their chase well, Ajinkya Rahane smashed DC skipper Axar Patel for 21 runs in the eighth over, with three massive sixes.

Pandey also contributed with 25 runs off 16 balls, before getting dismissed by Lungi Ngidi. The seasoned batter slammed two fours and two sixes during his stay at the crease.

Pandey's wicket was soon followed by the fall of Cameron Green, who got dismissed for 2 runs off 3 balls against Kuldeep Yadav. The hosts ended the power play at 98 runs for the loss of three wickets. Soon after the powerplay finished, Ajinkya Rahane completed his half-century in just 31 balls.

After 13 overs, KKR were placed at 126/3.

However, the 14th over turned the game as DC's Kuldeep Yadav struck on back-to-back deliveries, removing KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane for a 39-ball 63, which included eight boundaries, and then dismissing Rinku Singh for a golden duck, leaving KKR reeling at 129/5.

In the very next over, DC captain Axar Patel added to the pressure by clean bowling wicketkeeper-batter Tejasvi Dahiya for just one run, further reducing KKR to 129/6 and deepening their collapse.

After the end of the 16th over, KKR reached 142/6 with Rovam Powell and Anukul Roy trying to stitch a partnership after losing three quick wickets.

On the opening ball of the 18th over, KKR suffered another setback as a sharp throw from DC fielder Ashutosh Sharma resulted in Powell being run out for 29 off 21 balls.

On the very next delivery, Mitchell Starc dismissed Anukul for nine, leaving KKR reeling at 154/8. In the same over, Starc got his second wicket after he removed Kartik Tyagi as KKR lost their ninth wicket.

Lungi Ngidi got the final wicket after he removed Varun Chakaravarthy for five as Delhi bundled out Kolkata for 163 in 18.4 overs, ending their campaign on a winning note.

"Tonight was good. We’ve had an up-and-down season, so to be able to finish on a high the way we did makes it easier to look back and see where we went wrong because obviously we put great performances together towards the end," Ngidi said after the game.

Earlier, Delhi set a 204-run target for the Knight Riders in their last league-stage match of IPL 2026. KL Rahul was the only player for DC to cross the 50-run mark, which helped DC post 203/5 on the board after the late efforts from David Miller and Ashutosh Sharma.

(With inputs from ANI)