KL Rahul’s Masterclass Powers DC to Record 226 Chase as RR Fall Short in Jaipur Thriller
Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets — chasing 226 with 5 balls to spare in IPL 2026’s highest successful run-chase. KL Rahul’s explosive 75 off 40 balls and Pathum Nissanka’s 62 off 33 set up the greatest chase in IPL history.
This was Match 43 of IPL 2026 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, where DC snapped their three-match losing streak and jumped to 8 points, moving to sixth place in the standings. RR won the toss and elected to bat first on a batting-friendly track.
How It Happened
RR got off to a shaky start but Riyan Parag silenced all critics with a blistering 90 off 50 balls. His innings included 8 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 180. Coming into this match under pressure due to a lean run of form and recent disciplinary action, Parag delivered a captain’s knock that anchored RR’stotal.
Dhruv Jurel chipped in with a composed 42 off 30 balls, forming a crucial 102-run partnership with Parag that steadied RR after early setbacks. The pair took RR from trouble to a competitive position before Parag fell just 10 runs short of his maiden IPL century.
Then Donovan Ferreira exploded onto the scene. Reeling at 168/5, RR looked down and out until Ferreira walked in at No. 6 and wreaked havoc in just 14 deliveries. His unbeaten 47 included 2 fours and 6 sixes at a mind-blowing strike rate of 335.71 — including three sixes off Kuldeep Yadav in the 18th over alone.
For DC, Mitchell Starc made his highly-anticipated IPL return with a three-wicket haul. He finished with 3/40 in 4 overs, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal caught and bowled, then taking Jadeja and Parag in the 17th over to break the dangerous middle order. Starc last played Big Bash in January 2026.
DC needed 226 — the highest chase ever required in IPL history. Openers KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka had other ideas. They put on 110 runs for the first wicket inside the powerplay, racing to 70/0 after 6 overs.
Rahul reached his 23-ball fifty inside the first six overs, the kind of aggressive start that sets chases up. Nissanka hit his maiden IPL half-century off 33 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes before Jadeja dismissed him in the 10th over.
Tristan Stubbs (18 not out) and Ashutosh Sharma (25 not out) finished the job with five balls remaining. The no-ball off Brijesh Sharma sealed Delhi’s record victory.
Read Also – CSK vs MI, Match 44 Preview: Head-to-Head, Predicted XI, Pitch Report | IPL 2026
Scorecard / Match Stats
Rajasthan Royals Innings
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | c and b Mitchell Starc | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | b Kyle Jamieson | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Dhruv Jurel (wk) | c Tristan Stubbs b Axar Patel | 42 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Riyan Parag (c) | c Axar Patel b Mitchell Starc | 90 | 50 | 8 | 5 | 180.00 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | c Ashutosh Sharma b Mitchell Starc | 20 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 142.86 |
| Donovan Ferreira | not out | 47 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 335.71 |
| Shubham Dubey | c Ashutosh Sharma b T Natarajan | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Jofra Archer | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | b 0, lb 3, w 6, nb 0, p 0 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 225-6 (20 Overs, RR: 11.25) | 225 | 6 |
Yet to Bat: Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma
Rajasthan Royals Bowlers
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 4 | 0 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10.00 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Axar Patel (c) | 4 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9.80 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 4 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.20 |
| T Natarajan | 4 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13.50 |
Delhi Capitals Innings
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | lbw b Ravindra Jadeja | 62 | 33 | 6 | 3 | 187.88 |
| KL Rahul (wk) | c Donovan Ferreira b Jofra Archer | 75 | 40 | 6 | 5 | 187.50 |
| Nitish Rana | c Dhruv Jurel b Tushar Deshpande | 33 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 194.12 |
| Tristan Stubbs | not out | 18 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 163.64 |
| Ashutosh Sharma | not out | 25 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 166.67 |
| Extras | b 4, lb 1, w 7, nb 1, p 0 | 13 | ||||
| Total | 226-3 (19.1 Overs, RR: 11.79) | 226 | 3 |
Yet to Bat: Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan
Delhi Capitals Bowlers
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11.50 |
| Nandre Burger | 3 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.70 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9.50 |
| Brijesh Sharma | 3.1 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11.10 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.00 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 3 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11.00 |
Star Performer
KL Rahul won Player of the Match for his commanding 75 off 40 balls — including 6 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 187.5. This was his 8th IPL fifty against RR, tying AB de Villiers for the most fifties against Rajasthan Royals in IPL history.
Rahul crossed 8,500 runs in T20s with this innings and averages 51.62 versus RR across 18 IPL matches. He completed his fifty in just 23 balls — the kind of lightning start that put DC in control before the powerplay even ended.
What made this knock special wasn’t just the runs. It was the timing. Chasing 226 — a target no team had ever successfully chased in IPL history — Rahul kept the required rate manageable while attacking relentlessly. He joined Nissanka for 110 runs, then paced his innings perfectly after the opener fell.
The Turning Point
The turning point came in the 17th over when Mitchell Starc dismissed both Ravindra Jadeja and set batter Riyan Parag in quick succession. RR were 168/5 when Ferreira walked in, but Parag’s dismissal broke the momentum just as RR seemed poised for a 240+ total.
Before Starc’s over: RR building toward 240, Parag looking unbeaten, DC reeling
After Starc’s over: RR at 168/5, Parag gone, Ferreira untested, DC back in it
Ferreira still pushed them to 225/6, but that 17th over prevented RR from posting a truly unapply score.
What This Means
DC now have 8 points and sit sixth in IPL 2026 standings after ending their three-match losing streak. This is their highest ever successful chase in IPL history, breaking the previous record.
RR remain in playoff contention but lost another home match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium — a venue where they’ve struggled this season. DC’s next match details are unavailable at this time.
The Bottom Line
Delhi Capitals wrote IPL history tonight — no team had ever chased 226 before, and they did it with five balls to spare. KL Rahul’s 75 off 40 was the difference between another RR home win and DC’s greatest-ever chase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who won RR vs DC in IPL 2026 Match 43?
A: Delhi Capitals won by 7 wickets, chasing 226 with score 226/3 in 19.1 overs
Q: Who was the Player of the Match?
A: KL Rahul — 75 runs off 40 balls (6 fours, 5 sixes) at strike rate 187.5
References
EspnCricinfo — Rahul, Nissanka fifties lead 226 chase as DC return to winning ways — https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ipl-2026-1510719/rajasthan-royals-vs-delhi-capitals-43rd-match-1529286/match-report
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