Delhi Capitals edged past Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in a tense IPL 2026 clash, with David Miller delivering a decisive late flourish to seal victory with a ball to spare.
Chasing 176, DC found themselves needing 15 runs from the final over bowled by Romario Shepherd. After a quiet start to the over left them requiring 13 off four balls, Miller turned the game on its head with a sequence of 6, 6, 4, completing a remarkable turnaround and handing RCB their first home defeat of the season.
RCB Start Fast but Lose Momentum
Earlier, RCB made a brisk start after being put in to bat. Virat Kohli and Phil Salt provided early impetus despite the pitch offering less pace than usual. Kohli struck boundaries through the off side before falling for 19 off 13 balls, caught at sweeper cover.
Salt, after a cautious beginning, accelerated with attacking strokes, reaching his half-century off 30 balls and eventually scoring 63 off 38. His innings included multiple boundaries against Kuldeep Yadav before he was dismissed attempting another big hit.
Spin Duo Restrict RCB
Delhi’s spinners played a key role in slowing the innings. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel applied pressure through the middle overs, triggering a collapse in momentum.
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Rajat Patidar was dismissed early, while Tim David’s quick 26 off 15 balls briefly lifted RCB. However, Axar removed him soon after, and further wickets of Romario Shepherd and others compounded the slowdown.
RCB struggled to accelerate late, managing only two boundaries in their final six overs and none in the last two, finishing on 175 for 8.
Bhuvneshwar’s Early Burst Shakes DC
In response, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave RCB a dream start with the ball, striking early to remove Pathum Nissanka and then dismissing Karun Nair and Sameer Rizvi in quick succession. DC were reduced to 18 for 3 inside three overs.
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Rahul and Stubbs Rebuild
KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs steadied the innings with contrasting approaches. Rahul scored 57 off 34 balls, playing attacking strokes to counter the early pressure, while Stubbs paced his innings carefully.
The pair helped DC recover to 50 for 3 at the end of the powerplay, before Rahul fell in the 11th over. Stubbs then continued to build, eventually finishing unbeaten on 60.
Miller Finishes the Job
Despite a steady recovery, the chase remained tight heading into the final overs. Axar Patel contributed 26 before retiring hurt, leaving DC needing 42 from the last 25 balls.
RCB’s bowlers tightened the contest, with Bhuvneshwar and Josh Hazlewood applying pressure through accurate yorkers. However, Miller’s late assault proved decisive, as he capitalised on missed lengths from Shepherd to complete the chase in dramatic fashion.
A Crucial Win for Delhi
The victory marked a significant moment for Delhi Capitals, reversing Miller’s earlier missed opportunity in a similar situation this season and handing them a key win against a strong RCB side.
