IPL 2026: Starc’s Four-Fer, Batting Firepower Help DC Sink Rajasthan Royals

Fluent half-centuries from Abishek Porel and KL Rahul, followed by a blistering late cameo from Axar Patel, powered Delhi Capitals to a five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League clash in New Delhi on Sunday.

Porel struck a brisk 51 off 31 balls, studded with seven fours and a six, while Rahul anchored the chase with a composed 56 from 42 deliveries, including a four and three sixes.

DC skipper Axar then applied the finishing touches with an explosive 34 off just 18 balls, smashing two fours and two sixes.

Chasing 194, Abishek Porel and KL Rahul gave the Delhi Capitals a flying start with an aggressive opening stand. The duo hammered 14 runs in the first over and followed it up with another 13 in the next over to put immediate pressure on the bowlers.

DC raced to their fifty in just four overs, with Porel and Rahul continuing their attacking approach to propel the hosts to a commanding 72/0 at the end of the powerplay. The duo slammed boundaries and knocked singles when needed.

Delhi Capitals' blistering 72/0 in the powerplay was their highest total in the first six overs of IPL 2026. It was only the third time in 13 innings this season that DC went wicketless in the power play, with two of those instances coming against the Rajasthan Royals.

The score also became DC's second-highest powerplay total against RR in IPL history, only behind the 78/2 they registered in Delhi during the 2024 season.

The duo continued to take the attack to the Rajasthan Royals bowlers, powering Delhi Capitals past the 100-run mark in the 10th over. The visitors finally found a much-needed breakthrough when Brijesh Sharma dismissed Abishek Porel for a fluent 51 off 31 balls, bringing Sahil Parakh to the crease.

Jofra Archer also struck, removing Parakh for 9 off 8 balls, bringing DC skipper Axar Patel to the crease. Dasun Shanaka also had a much-needed breakthrough, removing the set batter Rahul for 56, bringing Tristan Stubbs to the crease.

DC reached 151-3, after 16th overs, needing 43 runs in 24 balls with Stubbs and Patel at the crease. Archer also struck, removing Stubbs for 4, bringing David Miller to the crease.

Miller and Patel slammed Donovan Ferreira for 16 runs in the 18th over, bringing the equation to 19 runs in 12 balls. In the following, Brijesh Sharma struck and removed Miller for 9, bringing Ashutosh Sharma to the crease.

Sharma and Patel sealed the match in the final over with 4 balls to spare.

Earlier in the match, DC bowling, led by Mitchell Starc's four-fer and key contributions from Lungi Ngidi and Madhav Tiwari, restricted RR to 193/8 in 20 overs despite getting a strong start.

From a strong position of 140/2 in 12 overs, RR were restricted to 193/8, with Starc starring for DC with a four-wicket haul. He was well supported by two wickets each from Ngidi and Madhav.

“We didn't bowl too bad in the powerplay. We fought back really well towards the end. Very good start for us. To get those two points is always nice. That's the key, adjusting quickly. Lungi bowled fantastically. We adjusted really well after the powerplay,” said Starc after Delhi Capitals’ win.

(With inputs from ANI)