IPL 2026: KL Rahul's 56 and Starc's 4-40 power DC to five-wicket win over RR
Synopsis
Delhi Capitals pulled off one of IPL 2026's more dramatic home wins — blazing to 130/2 before nearly throwing it away, then relying on an over-rate penalty and Ashutosh Sharma's five-ball cameo to cross the line. The real story, though, is Starc: after leaking 28 in two overs, he returned to take four wickets in two, single-handedly converting a 220-plus threat into a chaseable 193.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by five wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium on 17 May in IPL 2026 .
KL Rahul top-scored with 56 off 42 balls ; Abishek Porel hit 51 off 31 balls in a 105-run opening stand .
Mitchell Starc took 4 for 40 , claiming all four wickets in his final two overs to trigger an RR collapse of 6 for 33 .
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit 46 off 21 balls and Riyan Parag made 51 off 23 balls for RR before the collapse.
Impact player Ashutosh Sharma sealed the chase with an unbeaten 18 off 5 balls , including a boundary and six off the final over.
DC climbed from eighth to seventh in the IPL 2026 standings, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
Delhi Capitals kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a pulsating five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on Sunday, 17 May. KL Rahul top-scored with a composed 56 off 42 balls, while Mitchell Starc's devastating 4 for 40 in the death overs pegged RR back to 193/8 — a total DC overhauled with four balls to spare.
Starc's Death-Over Demolition
Mitchell Starc was expensive in his opening two overs, leaking 28 runs, but the Australian left-armer transformed the contest entirely in his final two, claiming all four wickets while conceding just 12 more. Slower balls, altered pace, and varied angles dismantled RR's middle and lower order, halting a charge that had threatened a total well above 220. Lungi Ngidi supported with 2 for 24, trapping a well-set Dhruv Jurel lbw late in the innings.
RR's Blazing Start and Dramatic Collapse
RR's innings was a tale of two halves. Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi enthralled a crowd of 31,200 fans with a blistering 21-ball 46, pulling Ngidi over deep square-leg and carting debutant off-spinner Tripurana Vijay for back-to-back boundaries. Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed a brisk start at the top before edging Ngidi to a sharp catch at short third man.
Riyan Parag then seized control, reaching his fifty off just 23 balls with five sixes and a four off Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar. Jurel chipped in with his fourth fifty of the season. RR blazed to 160/2 before losing six wickets for 33 runs in the final six overs — a collapse almost entirely engineered by Starc. DC also dropped three chances during RR's innings, with KL Rahul, Sameer Rizvi, and Tristan Stubbs all guilty of missed opportunities.
Rahul and Porel Build the Platform
Chasing 194, DC were given an early lifeline when Yash Raj Punja dropped Rahul at short fine leg off Jofra Archer. Rahul and Abishek Porel made the most of it, constructing a 105-run opening stand — DC's second century opening partnership of IPL 2026, both coming against RR. Porel, the aggressor, drove and ramped his way to 51 off 31 balls before holing out in the 11th over. Rahul, characteristically measured, reached his fifty in the 12th over off 34 balls before chopping a Dasun Shanaka slower ball onto his stumps.
Ashutosh Sharma Seals It Under Pressure
With 19 runs needed off 12 balls, DC wobbled — Tristan Stubbs was caught attempting a pre-meditated scoop and David Miller perished pulling to deep mid-wicket. Impact player Ashutosh Sharma steadied nerves with an unbeaten 18 off five balls, heaving Brijesh Sharma for six and then driving and pulling Adam Milne for four and six in the final over to seal the win. RR's over-rate penalty, which restricted them to four fielders outside the circle in that last over, proved costly.
Standings and What's Next
The victory lifted DC from eighth to seventh place in the IPL 2026 standings, concluding their home campaign on a high at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Their playoff qualification remains slim but alive. Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 193/8 in 20 overs (Dhruv Jurel 53, Riyan Parag 51; Mitchell Starc 4-40, Lungi Ngidi 2-24) lost to Delhi Capitals 197/5 in 19.2 overs (KL Rahul 56, Abishek Porel 51; Jofra Archer 2-35, Brijesh Sharma 2-44) by five wickets. DC's next assignment away from home will be pivotal to their playoff arithmetic.
Point of View
Separated by a drinks break. DC's playoff run depends on whether Starc can reproduce that second-phase version consistently, because their middle-order fragility — exposed again after the 130/2 platform — remains unresolved. Notably, both of DC's century opening stands this season have come against the same opponent, raising questions about RR's powerplay bowling strategy. The over-rate penalty in the final over was a gift DC should not have needed.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 match on 17 May?
Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals by five wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on 17 May, chasing down 194 with four balls to spare. The win lifted DC from eighth to seventh in the IPL 2026 standings.
How did KL Rahul perform in DC vs RR on 17 May 2026?
KL Rahul top-scored for Delhi Capitals with 56 off 42 balls, anchoring the chase with his characteristic calmness. He shared a 105-run opening partnership with Abishek Porel before being dismissed by Dasun Shanaka.
How did Mitchell Starc turn the match for Delhi Capitals?
After leaking 28 runs in his first two overs, Starc returned in the death to claim four wickets in his final two overs while conceding just 12 more runs, finishing with 4 for 40. His spell triggered an RR collapse of six wickets for 33 runs.
Who were the top performers for Rajasthan Royals in this match?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blazed 46 off 21 balls and Riyan Parag hit 51 off 23 balls, while Dhruv Jurel contributed 53. Jofra Archer took 2 for 35 and Brijesh Sharma claimed 2 for 44 with the ball.
Are Delhi Capitals still in the IPL 2026 playoff race after this win?
Yes, DC's five-wicket win over RR kept their slim playoff hopes alive, moving them from eighth to seventh in the IPL 2026 standings. Their remaining away fixtures will be decisive to their qualification chances.
