Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar dismantle DC for 75 in IPL 2026 collapse
Synopsis
Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar didn't just bowl DC out for 75 — they rewrote IPL history in the process. A 13/6 powerplay, the lowest in tournament annals, exposed Delhi's fragility against quality seam bowling and raised uncomfortable questions about their top-order construction just as the tournament reaches its business end.
Key Takeaways
Josh Hazlewood took 4 for 12 ; Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 3 for 5 as RCB dismantled DC for 75 all out on 27 April .
Delhi Capitals scored just 13 runs for 6 wickets in the powerplay — the lowest in IPL history.
Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar became the first bowling pair to each claim three powerplay wickets in a single IPL match.
Abishek Porel top-scored with 30 off 33 ; no other batter crossed 20 .
DC's total of 75 is the second-lowest in IPL history.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's pace duo Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar orchestrated one of the season's most dominant bowling displays, dismantling Delhi Capitals for a paltry 75 all out in Match 39 of the IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, 27 April. The pair combined for seven wickets in the opening four overs, producing Test-match seam movement and bounce that left DC batters helpless.
The Powerplay Collapse
Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck immediately, drawing an edge off debutant Sahil Parakh in the opening over before dismissing him off the very next ball with a late-swinging yorker that castled him for a two-ball duck. Hazlewood then took over, extracting a top edge from KL Rahul on a short-pitched delivery and trapping debutant Sameer Rizvi with an expansive drive outside off-stump. Tristan Stubbs offered momentary respite by clipping Hazlewood for four, but Bhuvneshwar responded by finding his outside edge off a late swinger, caught at first slip. Captain Axar Patel followed, caught behind off Bhuvneshwar, as DC slumped to 9 for 6 in four overs.
Historic Powerplay Low
When the six-over phase concluded, Delhi had managed just 13 runs for 6 wickets — the lowest powerplay score in IPL history. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar became the first bowling pair in the tournament to each claim three powerplay wickets in the same match, a feat that underscored the ruthlessness of their execution. Nitish Rana was later caught at gully off a sharp short ball from Hazlewood, extending the rout.
Porel's Lone Fight
Impact Player Abishek Porel provided the only meaningful resistance, scoring 30 off 33 balls, while David Miller contributed 19 before holing out to Jitesh Sharma off Rasikh Salam Dar. A brief 35-run stand between Porel and Miller off 31 balls offered momentary respite, but no other DC batter reached 20. Kyle Jamieson struck a six over mid-wicket off Romario Shepherd to push DC past 50 in the 10th over, sparing them the ignominy of the lowest total in IPL history.
The Final Onslaught
Krunal Pandya joined the wicket-taking tally with Jamieson's dismissal — a straight delivery that trapped him lbw — before Suyash Sharma castled Kuldeep Yadav with a ripping leg-break. Hazlewood sealed the demolition by bowling Porel with a pin-perfect yorker in the 16th over.
What Lies Ahead
With 75 on the board, RCB's chase is a mere formality, though the magnitude of DC's collapse — the second-lowest total in IPL history — raises questions about their batting depth and ability to handle swing bowling in the powerplay. Delhi's tournament position now hinges on salvaging wins in remaining fixtures.
Point of View
The question isn't whether they can recover from this loss, but whether their selection committee has the clarity to address a top-order collapse that has now become a pattern, not an aberration.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Delhi Capitals' final score and how quickly did they collapse?
Delhi Capitals were bundled out for 75 all out in 16.3 overs. They scored just 13 runs for 6 wickets in the powerplay — the lowest powerplay score in IPL history — and never recovered from the initial onslaught by Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar.
How many wickets did Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar take?
Josh Hazlewood took 4 wickets for 12 runs; Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 3 wickets for 5 runs. Together they accounted for 7 of DC's 10 dismissals, with both achieving the rare feat of taking three powerplay wickets each in the same match.
Who was Delhi Capitals' top scorer?
Impact Player Abishek Porel top-scored with 30 off 33 balls. No other DC batter crossed 20 runs, with David Miller contributing 19 before being dismissed.
Is 75 the lowest total in IPL history?
No, 75 is the second-lowest total in IPL history. Delhi's powerplay score of 13/6, however, is the lowest powerplay total ever recorded in the tournament.
