Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to lock horns in the next IPL 2026 clash, with the rivalry’s historical numbers leaning towards RCB. The matchup also carries a current-season edge, as both sides arrive with influential form leaders—setting the stage for a contest shaped by past trends and present momentum.
Key takeaways
- In their IPL head-to-head meetings, RCB have won 21 of 35 encounters, while DC have recorded 13 victories.
- Over the last 13 matches, DC’s win rate sits at 30.77% (4 wins), compared to RCB’s 78.57% (11 wins from 14 games).
- KL Rahul leads DC’s run-scoring charts with 573 runs, while Axar Patel has taken 11 wickets for the side.
- Virat Kohli is at the forefront for RCB with 663 runs, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar tops their wicket tally with 20.
- The game takes place at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, with the first ball scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.
Head-to-head: RCB’s advantage, but the gap narrowed recently
RCB continue to hold the upper hand when the two teams’ overall record is compared. Across 34 earlier meetings, Bengaluru have won 20, Delhi have won 13, and one match has ended without a result. That said, the rivalry has looked more competitive in recent seasons, with both franchises sharing the spoils by winning three matches each since 2023.
Venue-wise, RCB’s dominance at the Kotla has been a major talking point. Bengaluru have claimed seven wins there, while DC have managed four, underlining how strongly RCB have performed in Delhi in recent history.
Head-to-head summary: Matches 34; RCB wins 20; DC wins 13; No Result 1.
Individual battles that could swing the contest
The upcoming match features several key matchups driven by leading run-getters and wicket-takers. For DC, KL Rahul is their top run scorer with 573 runs, while Axar Patel has contributed significantly with 11 wickets. On the RCB side, Virat Kohli has piled up 663 runs, remaining central to the team’s batting plans, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the pace spearhead with 20 wickets.
With both squads relying on their in-form leaders, the contest is likely to be shaped by how effectively each team turns those key contributions into scoreboard pressure.
Squads for DC vs RCB
Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), K.L. Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungisani Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, and Vihaan Malhotra.
Match start time, broadcast and streaming
The DC vs RCB fixture will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, beginning at 7:30 PM IST. Star Sports Network will carry the broadcast, while live streaming is set to be available on JioHotstar.
Predicted XIs
RCB probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Auqib Nabi.
DC probable XI: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma.
Weather update for Delhi
Conditions in New Delhi are expected to remain clear, with no rain forecast to disrupt play. Delhi typically sees peak summer around April, and the daytime is expected to be extremely hot, followed by a milder evening.
Temperatures could hover around 40–42°C during the day, with a drop to roughly 30–32°C by the time the match begins. Later in the night, it may cool further to around 28–29°C. Humidity is expected to stay relatively low, estimated between 20–30%.
Pitch report: a batting-friendly Kotla track
Arun Jaitley Stadium is widely regarded as a batter-friendly venue in the IPL. The surface is expected to provide true bounce, allowing batters to play their strokes with confidence. The last match at the venue between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings turned into a high-scoring affair, and a similar run-filled contest could be on the cards again.
Shorter boundaries and a quick outfield should make it easier to score, while the evening heat is expected to stay in play. Dew is not anticipated to be a major factor, which could keep conditions relatively consistent through the innings.
Fielding and spin: where DC may need to sharpen up
Beyond batting and bowling, DC’s fielding has been a concern. This season, they have dropped 16 catches, leaving their catch conversion at 60%—the lowest figure among all teams. If that continues, it could provide RCB extra lives at crucial moments.
On the bowling front, the spin duel is expected to be a key feature. Axar Patel, DC’s captain and a frequent threat to RCB given his record of 23 IPL wickets against them, is likely to bowl in the powerplay. Kuldeep Yadav will also play an important role in the middle overs, adding another dimension to DC’s spin plans.
Krunal Pandya reflects on RCB’s first IPL title
All-rounder Krunal Pandya has looked back on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic IPL 2025 triumph, describing it as one of the most emotional moments of his career. He said the title was dedicated to the fans and to former captain Virat Kohli.
Bengaluru lifted the trophy for the first time in franchise history after 18 years, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs. Punjab fell short in their chase of 191 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Speaking on JioStar’s “The Krunal Pandya Experience,” Krunal added that the long-awaited success meant the most to Kohli and to the RCB supporters who had backed the team through years of waiting. He also stressed that seeing Kohli emotional made the moment special for everyone watching.
“The ones who deserved it the most are Virat Kohli and the RCB fans. Virat has been an integral part of RCB from the first season. So, to win it and see him get emotional was special. Watching him cry was an emotional moment for everyone,” Krunal said.
Kohli eyes a historic milestone
Virat Kohli is also positioned on the brink of another IPL milestone as RCB prepare to face Delhi Capitals on Monday. Kohli needs only 11 runs to become the first player to reach 9,000 runs in the tournament’s history.
Since 2008, Kohli has consistently been one of the league’s key performers, and IPL 2026 has continued to reflect that trend. In the current season, he has already amassed 328 runs in seven innings, averaging 54.66 while striking at 163.18—evidence of his ability to adapt to modern T20 demands.
Form and pressure: what DC must fix
Delhi Capitals are entering the contest still smarting from a surprise defeat in which they posted 264 runs but still ended up losing. With limited time to regroup, they now face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday.
DC are currently placed sixth on the points table and remain in a tight race for qualification. Another loss could significantly damage their playoff chances, putting added urgency on their performance.
So far this season, Delhi’s batting has been strong, with KL Rahul leading the top-order and delivering solid starts. Nitish Rana and David Miller have also helped keep the momentum moving in the middle overs, adding stability as innings progress.
However, their bowling has been the major weak link. DC have struggled to defend even when they post big totals, and the death overs in particular have not been up to the mark. Opponents have been able to take advantage at the end of innings, turning those phases into opportunities.
Bowlers such as Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, and captain Axar Patel will need sharper executions, especially during high-pressure spells.
RCB’s balanced campaign and strong finishing
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in contrast, have looked more complete this season. They sit second in the standings and have shown capability in both departments—batting and bowling—making them difficult to outplay across full match cycles.
With Virat Kohli leading from the front, RCB’s batting has remained potent, and Devdutt Padikkal’s return to form has provided additional depth to their lineup.
Their bowling has also drawn praise, particularly in the final overs. In their most recent match against Gujarat Titans, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood helped control the game at the death, limiting the opposition and stopping them from building a late surge.
