IPL 2026: Ngidi and Kuldeep take 3 each as DC beat KKR by 40 runs
Synopsis
KKR's IPL 2026 campaign ended as it began — in defeat. Chasing 204 at Eden Gardens, they were cruising at 128/3 before Kuldeep Yadav's double strike in the 13th over triggered a collapse of seven wickets for 35 runs. Ngidi and Kuldeep with three wickets each did the damage; Rahane's 63 was ultimately a lone hand in a 40-run loss.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Capitals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs at Eden Gardens on 24 May 2026 in the final league match of IPL 2026 .
Lungi Ngidi took 3-27 and Kuldeep Yadav took 3-29 to bowl KKR out for 163 in 18.4 overs .
Ajinkya Rahane top-scored for KKR with 63 off 39 balls , but a collapse of 7 wickets for 35 runs from 128/3 sealed the defeat.
KL Rahul (60) and Axar Patel (39) anchored DC's total of 203/5 in 20 overs .
DC finished sixth in the IPL 2026 points table; KKR ended their campaign on a losing note.
Lungi Ngidi and Kuldeep Yadav claimed three wickets each as Delhi Capitals produced a commanding bowling display to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs in their final IPL 2026 league match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday, 24 May. Defending a total of 204, DC bowled KKR out for 163 in 18.4 overs, finishing the league stage in sixth position on the points table.
KKR's Chase Collapses After Strong Start
Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen gave KKR a brisk platform with a 43-run opening stand before Ngidi bowled Allen out for 20. Manish Pandey then joined Rahane and the pair put on 44 runs together, before Ngidi returned to dismiss Pandey for 25, with a sharp catch taken by Mitchell Starc. Cameron Green fell cheaply to Kuldeep, leaving KKR at 98/3 at the halfway mark.
Kuldeep's Double Strike Turns the Game
Rahane reached his fifty off just 31 balls and appeared to be steering KKR toward a competitive total, but the required rate had climbed above 10 an over. The decisive moment arrived in the 13th over, when Kuldeep struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Rahane for 63 and Rinku Singh in quick succession. The wrist-spinner nearly completed a hat-trick when Tejasvi Dahiya edged behind, only for Abishek Porel to put down a straightforward chance.
DC Bowlers Complete the Job
Axar Patel made up for the dropped catch by castling Dahiya for just 1. Rovman Powell was run out for 29 as KKR's lower order crumbled. From a position of 128/3, the hosts lost their last seven wickets for just 35 runs, folding in 18.4 overs. Ngidi finished with figures of 3-27, while Kuldeep ended a challenging season on a high with 3-29. Starc also chipped in to remove the tail.
DC's Batting Platform
KL Rahul top-scored with 60 and Axar Patel contributed 39 as Delhi Capitals posted 203/5 in 20 overs. Saurabh Dubey was KKR's most effective bowler with 2-28, while Anukul Roy took 1-23.
Season Ends on a Low for KKR
The defeat was a fitting summary of KKR's IPL 2026 campaign — the three-time champions ended their season the way they began it, on a losing note. For DC, the win provided a morale-boosting send-off from the league stage, even as a sixth-place finish kept them out of the playoffs.
Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 203/5 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 60, Axar Patel 39; Saurabh Dubey 2-28, Anukul Roy 1-23) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 163 all out in 18.4 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 63, Rovman Powell 29; Lungi Ngidi 3-27, Kuldeep Yadav 3-29) by 40 runs.
Point of View
There is no second engine. For DC, the win is cosmetic at sixth place, but Kuldeep's late-season rhythm and Ngidi's pace will be the real takeaway heading into the auction cycle.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the DC vs KKR IPL 2026 match on 24 May?
Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs at Eden Gardens on 24 May 2026. DC posted 203/5 and bowled KKR out for 163 in 18.4 overs in the final league game of IPL 2026.
How did Kuldeep Yadav perform against KKR?
Kuldeep Yadav took 3-29 and was the decisive bowler, removing Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh in successive deliveries in the 13th over to trigger KKR's collapse. He narrowly missed a hat-trick when a catch was dropped behind the wicket.
What were Lungi Ngidi's bowling figures against KKR?
Lungi Ngidi finished with figures of 3-27, dismissing Finn Allen and Manish Pandey in the middle overs before returning to clean up the tail alongside Mitchell Starc.
Where did Delhi Capitals finish in the IPL 2026 points table?
Delhi Capitals finished sixth in the IPL 2026 league-stage points table. The win over KKR was their final league match but was not enough to secure a playoff berth.
How did KKR's batting collapse unfold?
KKR were placed at 128/3 and appeared on course before Kuldeep's double strike in the 13th over removed Rahane (63) and Rinku Singh. The side then lost their last seven wickets for just 35 runs, folding for 163 in 18.4 overs.
