IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals Limit RCB to 175/8 Despite Salt's Fiery 63
Key Takeaways
Phil Salt's explosive innings of 63 runs .
Delhi Capitals' bowlers restricted RCB in crucial death overs.
RCB struggled to build momentum in the second half of their innings.
Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were instrumental in taking wickets.
Challenges await DC in their chase on a tricky pitch.
Bengaluru, April 18 (NationPress) A masterclass in disciplined death-overs bowling by the Delhi Capitals led to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru being limited to a total of 175/8, which appeared competitive yet perhaps subpar in their IPL 2026 showdown at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
Despite an explosive innings of 63 runs off 38 balls from opener Phil Salt, featuring four boundaries and three sixes, RCB's scoring momentum significantly slowed in the latter stages. The DC bowlers remarkably allowed only eight runs in the final two overs while taking two crucial wickets. Overall, they restricted RCB to a mere 29 runs in the last five overs while claiming four wickets, with notable performances from Lungi Ngidi, T. Natarajan, and Mukesh Kumar on a pitch that favored slower deliveries.
RCB started strong after being put to bat first. Salt made his intentions clear from the outset, striking a boundary off Auqib Nabi Dar in the opening over. Virat Kohli (19) also contributed with a characteristic drive over mid-off off Mukesh Kumar, but his innings was cut short by Ngidi, who lured him into miscuing a delivery for a catch at deep cover.
Salt continued to dominate, reaching his second half-century of the season with a towering six over long-off against Kuldeep Yadav in the ninth over. However, the introduction of spin turned the match in favor of DC. Axar Patel dismissed Devdutt Padikkal, who failed to connect properly and was caught at long-on, while Kuldeep Yadav delivered a critical blow in the 11th over, having Salt caught at long-off. Mukesh Kumar added to the pressure by claiming an edge from in-form Rajat Patidar, caught behind by KL Rahul.
Tim David provided a brief spark in the innings with 26 runs off 17 balls, including a six off Ngidi that marked his 1000th IPL run. Nonetheless, Axar struck again, catching David's leading edge, while Romario Shepherd was trapped lbw by Kuldeep as RCB slumped from 110/3 to 149/6.
The final two overs were dominated by DC's pace attack. Natarajan delivered an exceptional 19th over, allowing only two runs through pinpoint yorkers and clever slower bouncers.
The 20th over encapsulated RCB's frustrations: Krunal Pandya was run out due to a miscommunication on a wide ball, while Jitesh Sharma fell to a slower cutter from Ngidi, caught at long-off. As DC prepares for the chase, the challenging pitch and RCB's solid bowling lineup present a significant challenge.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 175/8 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 63, Tim David 26; Axar Patel 2-18, Kuldeep Yadav 2-32) vs. Delhi Capitals
Point of View
The match showcased the importance of disciplined bowling in T20 cricket. Delhi Capitals' strategy to restrict RCB, especially in the death overs, proved effective, highlighting the challenges teams face when batting on slower pitches.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the match?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 175/8 in their innings against Delhi Capitals.
Who was the top scorer for RCB?
Phil Salt was the top scorer for RCB with 63 runs off 38 balls .
How many wickets did Axar Patel take?
Axar Patel took 2 wickets for 18 runs in his bowling spell.
Where was the match played?
The match was played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
What was the date of the match?
The match took place on April 18, 2026 .
