Delhi Capitals player Kuldeep Yadav and his teammates celebrate (ANI Image)
Delhi Capitals wrapped up their IPL 2026 campaign with a 40-run thrashing over Kolkata Knight Riders in a dead rubber encounter, with KL KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav starring on Sunday. With Rajasthan Royals defeating Mumbai Indians earlier in the day to clinch the final berth in the playoffs, both KKR and Punjab Kings were officially eliminated before the start of the match.
Delhi Capitals have already been eliminated after PBKS’ win over Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, leaving only the Pride and the final standings to play at Eden Gardens. Batting first after KKR captain
Ajinkya Rahane
Delhi Capitals opted for a run, and piled on 203 for 5, thanks in large part to Rahul’s explosive half-century at the top. The DC opener looked completely in control from the start, attacking speed and spin with ease.
Rahul hit five fours and four sixes during his 30-ball 60, hitting his sixth fifty of the season. Specifically targeted
Sunil Narine
and dance on the track repeatedly to remove the ropes. On one occasion, Rahul fired Narine for a long six before following it up with another boundary over the spinner’s head. Rahul then shifted gears further against Kartik Tyagi, smashing boundaries and two straight sixes in over 20 runs to race to a 25-ball half-century.
At that point, Delhi looked set to cross the total of 220 people. However, KKR managed to regain some control through Anukul Roy, who dismissed Rahul against the run of play. Sahil Parakh also scored 24 points before Axar Patel added 39 points, while Varun Chakravarthy returned with one goal for 35 points despite continuing to play with a hairline fracture in his left toe. KKR’s chase started on a positive note, with Rahane leading the charge in what could be his final appearance of the series.
The veteran batsman produced one of his best innings of the season, smashing 63 off just 39 balls with four fours and two sixes. Rahane attacked aggressively, facing Aqib Nabi with successive sixes before repeating the same against Axar Patel to notch a quick 31-ball fifty. But just when KKR seemed to be building momentum, Kuldeep Yadav completely turned the game around. Returning to the playing XI after being dropped and having been left wicketless in his previous three matches, the left-arm pacer tormented his former team with a brilliant spell of 3 for 29. Kuldeep first removed Cameron Green cheaply before producing the decisive moment of the match. Sensing Rahane moving through him, he bowled a tossed ball outside his leg stump which dipped sharply. Rahane tried to lift it straight but only managed to clip it to David Miller. On the next ball, Kuldeep dismissed Rinku Singh for a duck, putting KKR in complete trouble. He almost completed a hat-trick as well after Tejasvi Dahiya edged the next delivery, but Abhishek Porel wasted the opportunity behind the stumps. From there, KKR collapsed quickly and were bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs, slumping to their seventh defeat of the season.
Mitchell Stark
His former franchise also impressed with figures of 2-for-26, while Lungi Ngidi cleaned up the tail with figures of 3-for-27. The result helped Delhi Capitals finish sixth in the points table after seven wins and seven losses, leapfrogging KKR who finished seventh after another disappointing season under Rahane.