Hazlewood's 4-12, Bhuvi's 3-5 seal RCB's 9-wicket rout of DC in IPL 2026
Synopsis
RCB's nine-wicket demolition of Delhi Capitals wasn't about batting fireworks — it was about bowling precision. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar's Powerplay onslaught reduced DC to 75, and Patidar's tactical flexibility with spinners Prabhudesai and Shepherd sealed one of IPL 2026's most one-sided contests.
Key Takeaways
RCB defeated Delhi Capitals by nine wickets on 27 April in IPL 2026 .
Josh Hazlewood took 4 for 12 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 3 for 5 , reducing DC to 75 .
RCB chased the target with 81 balls to spare .
Early Powerplay breakthroughs by the pace duo set the platform for a dominant victory.
Patidar praised the bowlers' stump-to-stump discipline and pre-planned tactical adjustments.
RCB face Gujarat Titans next in Ahmedabad .
RCB captain Rajat Patidar on 27 April attributed his team's dominant nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals to a clinical bowling display in the Powerplay, led by pacers Josh Hazlewood (4 for 12) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3 for 5). The emphatic win in IPL 2026 saw RCB bowl out DC for just 75 and chase the target with 81 balls to spare.
The Powerplay blueprint
Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar's early strikes kept Delhi Capitals under sustained pressure throughout the opening six overs. "I think even I am surprised the way the wicket played, and all credit goes to the bowlers, the way they have bowled, especially in the powerplay," Patidar said post-match. "The way they hit those areas and got that bit of swing earlier, I think that was tremendous to see."
Swing and early breakthroughs
When asked if the conditions offered more swing than usual, Patidar clarified that the wicket behaved normally but the early wickets proved decisive. "I think the swing was normal, and the good thing was we got the early wicket, and that's why it kept us in the driving seat," he explained. This early dominance effectively settled the contest before Delhi could build momentum.
The role of spinners
Suyash Prabhudesai and Romario Shepherd complemented the pace attack with disciplined bowling. Patidar highlighted Prabhudesai's stump-to-stump accuracy and the turn he extracted. "Suyash bowled really well, I think he got a lot of spin, but the way he bowled stump to stump, I think that was really good to see," the RCB skipper noted.
Strategic planning and execution
RCB had pre-planned to deploy three overs each from their opening bowlers if early breakthroughs came, then assess the wicket's behaviour. This tactical flexibility allowed them to adapt and rotate bowlers effectively, keeping Delhi Capitals under constant siege.
Tournament momentum and next challenge
Patidar stressed the importance of maintaining discipline and sticking to routines as RCB advances deeper into the tournament. "It's very important to follow your routines because you know it's still a long way to go, but I think we are just taking one game at a time," he said. RCB will next face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, with different players stepping up across matches a positive sign for the franchise's depth.
Point of View
They could be the dark horse of IPL 2026.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the RCB vs Delhi Capitals match?
Delhi Capitals scored 75 all out, which RCB chased down with 81 balls to spare, winning by nine wickets.
How many wickets did Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar take?
Josh Hazlewood took 4 for 12 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3 for 5, combining for 7 wickets in the Powerplay to dismantle Delhi Capitals' innings.
What did RCB captain Rajat Patidar say about the bowling performance?
Patidar credited the bowlers for their disciplined Powerplay execution, particularly praising Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar for hitting the right areas and extracting early breakthroughs that kept RCB in control.
What was RCB's bowling strategy?
RCB had pre-planned to deploy three overs each from their opening bowlers if early wickets came, then assess the wicket and rotate spinners Suyash Prabhudesai and Romario Shepherd accordingly.
What is RCB's next match in IPL 2026?
RCB will face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad next, as they continue their campaign in the tournament.
