IPL 2026: KL Rahul, Ashutosh Sharma Guide Delhi Capitals to Thrilling Five-Wicket Win Over Rajasthan Royals

New Delhi, May 2026 : KL Rahul produced a calm and classy knock under pressure, while impact player Ashutosh Sharma delivered a stunning late cameo as Delhi Capitals edged past Rajasthan Royals by five wickets in a thrilling IPL 2026 contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.

The victory helped Delhi Capitals climb from eighth to seventh place in the points table and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. More importantly, the hosts signed off from their home campaign on a winning note after successfully chasing down a challenging target of 194 with four balls remaining.

Earlier in the evening, Rajasthan Royals posted 193/8 after explosive half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag. However, a sensational spell from Mitchell Starc, who finished with 4/40, prevented Rajasthan from crossing the 200-run mark.

Chasing 194, Delhi Capitals received a flying start from KL Rahul and Abishek Porel, who added a brilliant 105-run opening partnership that laid the foundation for the chase.

Rahul enjoyed an early slice of luck when Yash Raj Punja dropped a catch at short fine leg off Jofra Archer. The missed opportunity proved costly for Rajasthan as Rahul settled quickly and began dictating the pace of the innings.

Porel, meanwhile, attacked from the outset. The young left-hander looked fearless against both pace and spin as he punished loose deliveries with confidence. He hammered Archer for a boundary and a six before taking apart Brijesh Sharma with an array of stylish strokes including ramps, pulls, cuts and drives.

Delhi raced to fifty in just four overs as both batters maintained relentless pressure on the Rajasthan bowlers.

Rahul complemented Porel perfectly with his trademark composure. He rotated strike efficiently while punishing anything short or wide. When Adam Milne dropped short in the fifth over, Rahul dispatched the ball over deep mid-wicket for a massive six.

The pair brought up Delhi’s century stand in the ninth over when Rahul smashed Punja straight over the sightscreen for another maximum. It was Delhi’s second century opening partnership of IPL 2026, both coming against Rajasthan Royals.

Porel eventually completed a superb half-century off just 30 balls before falling for 51 in the 11th over. Attempting to accelerate further, he mistimed a slower ball from Brijesh Sharma and was caught at long-on.

Rahul, however, remained unfazed and soon brought up his fifty off 34 deliveries with another composed innings at the top of the order.

Rajasthan Royals fought back strongly in the middle overs. Archer returned to provide a crucial breakthrough when Sahil Parakh edged a delivery behind to Dhruv Jurel. Soon after, Dasun Shanaka delivered a massive blow by dismissing Rahul for 56. Attempting an ambitious punch shot against a slower delivery, Rahul chopped the ball back onto his stumps.

Delhi suddenly found themselves under pressure as the required run rate climbed above ten runs per over.

The tension increased further when Tristan Stubbs fell while attempting an audacious scoop shot, only to be caught by a sprinting fielder at deep backward square leg.

However, Delhi managed to regain momentum through skipper Axar Patel and veteran batter David Miller. Axar sliced Archer for a crucial boundary, while both batters launched Donovan Ferreira for sixes to keep the chase alive.

With 19 runs required off the final two overs, the contest hung delicately in balance.

Another twist followed when Miller was dismissed attempting a pull shot against Brijesh Sharma, leaving Delhi needing a composed finish.

That responsibility was brilliantly handled by Ashutosh Sharma.

The hard-hitting batter displayed nerves of steel under pressure. He rotated strike smartly before launching Brijesh Sharma for a towering six that shifted momentum decisively in Delhi’s favour.

Rajasthan’s problems worsened due to an over-rate penalty in the final over, allowing only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

Needing seven runs from the last over, Ashutosh made full use of the field restrictions. He drove Milne straight down the ground for four before pulling the next delivery over deep mid-wicket for a match-winning six.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium erupted in celebration as Delhi completed a memorable chase in 19.2 overs.

For Rajasthan Royals, Archer and Brijesh Sharma picked up two wickets each, but their bowlers failed to defend a strong total despite several opportunities during the middle overs.

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.