Delhi Capitals ended their IPL 2026 season on a high, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs in a dead-rubber at Eden Gardens on Sunday. KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav delivered the key moments as the match lost any real playoff pressure before a ball was bowled.
Quick facts
- Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs in IPL 2026.
- KL Rahul scored 60 off 30 balls, with five fours and four sixes.
- Delhi posted 203/5 after KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane chose to bowl.
- Kuldeep Yadav returned 3/29 to swing the contest, helping bowl KKR out for 163 in 18.4 overs.
- Rahane made 63 off 39 balls for KKR, including four fours and four sixes.
- Delhi finished sixth on the points table (7 wins, 7 losses), with KKR ending seventh.
Earlier on the same day, Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians, completing the picture for the final playoff spot. With that result, both KKR and Punjab Kings were already eliminated before Delhi and Kolkata met. Delhi themselves had been knocked out on Saturday, after PBKS’ win over Lucknow Super Giants, leaving this clash to settle final standings and pride.
Rahane won the toss but opted to bowl first, and Delhi took control immediately in their innings. The Capitals’ openers looked comfortable against both pace and spin, and Rahul in particular set the tone from the outset. He attacked with conviction, striking five boundaries to the fence and clearing the ropes four times in his 30-ball 60, his sixth fifty of the season.
Rahul repeatedly targeted Sunil Narine, using the pace off the spinner and stepping out of his crease with intent. He sent Narine for a massive six over long-on in one over, then followed it with another boundary straight over the bowler’s head. The aggression didn’t stop there—against Kartik Tyagi, Rahul struck a boundary and then a straight six in an over that brought 20 runs, helping him move to a 25-ball half-century.
At that point, Delhi looked set to push beyond 220. KKR did manage a brief interruption through Anukul Roy, who dismissed Rahul against the flow of momentum. Sahil Parakh added 24, and Axar Patel contributed 39 as Delhi built to 203 for 5, setting a demanding target at Eden Gardens.
Rahane fires, Kuldeep strikes back
KKR’s chase started brightly, with Rahane leading the way in what could have been his last appearance in the franchise. The veteran delivered one of his strongest knocks of the campaign, striking 63 off only 39 balls. His innings included four fours and four sixes, and he kept the chase moving with two sets of back-to-back sixes—first against Auqib Nabi and then again at Axar Patel—before racing to a 31-ball fifty.
Just as Kolkata began to find momentum, Kuldeep Yadav took over and flipped the match. Brought back into the playing XI after being omitted previously and after a run of wicketless outings in his prior three matches, the left-arm wrist-spinner tormented his former side with a spell of 3 for 29.
Kuldeep’s first breakthrough came quickly when he dismissed Cameron Green cheaply. The decisive turn arrived when he bowled a floated ball that dipped sharply outside leg stump as Rahane tried to loft it straight. Rahane sliced the delivery to David Miller, and the chase lost its rhythm immediately.
On the very next ball, Kuldeep removed Rinku Singh for a duck, leaving KKR in serious trouble. He went close to a hat-trick as well when Tejasvi Dahiya edged the next delivery, but Abhishek Porel failed to hold the chance behind the stumps. From there, the collapse accelerated, and Kolkata were dismissed for 163 in 18.4 overs, marking their seventh defeat of the season.
Mitchell Starc also made an impact against his former franchise, finishing with 2 for 26. Lungi Ngidi cleaned up the tail with 3 for 27, ensuring Delhi controlled the final phase of the chase and secured the 40-run win.
The result shaped the final table: Delhi Capitals ended sixth with seven victories and seven defeats, finishing above KKR. Kolkata, under Rahane’s leadership, were placed seventh after another disappointing campaign, despite Rahane’s standout 63.
