Royal Challengers Bengaluru handed Delhi Capitals a ruthless blow in Match 39 of IPL 2026, turning the contest into a one-sided affair long before the second innings could properly begin. Delhi were dismissed for 75 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium after a powerplay collapse that left them reeling at 13/6—the lowest powerplay total in IPL history. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood struck early and repeatedly, ensuring the innings never gained momentum. Bengaluru then chased the target in 6.3 overs to complete a nine-wicket victory, one that leaves Delhi staring at a defeat among the most damaging of their campaign.
Key takeaways
- Delhi Capitals were bowled out for 75 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL 2026 Match 39.
- The Capitals’ powerplay ended at 13/6, the lowest powerplay score ever recorded in IPL history.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood dismantled Delhi’s top order and prevented any recovery.
- RCB chased down the total in 6.3 overs to win by nine wickets.
- Axar Patel, speaking after the match, urged his team to “move on” despite the scale of the collapse.
Axar’s response after a historic collapse
The backdrop for Axar Patel’s post-match interaction was stark. Murali Kartik opened the conversation with an almost apologetic tone, saying, “Sorry, I have to ask you questions after this kind of a game.” It set the mood for a moment that clearly demanded sensitivity—because the loss wasn’t just heavy, it was unsettling in its impact.
Axar, however, came across as unusually light in his reply. During the exchange, he smiled at intervals and repeatedly guided the conversation back to the idea of leaving the result behind.
“We did not play the match today. We have to accept it that way and move on,” Axar said, framing the defeat as something to acknowledge quickly and then set aside.
From calming the dressing room to addressing public reality
In the aftermath of a crushing defeat, captains are expected to steady their environment and protect the dressing room from panic. But there is a clear difference between keeping teammates composed and sounding detached when the numbers and the manner of the collapse are so extreme.
Delhi’s 13/6 powerplay wasn’t a run-of-the-mill start that merely slipped out of shape—it was a historical low that immediately raises uncomfortable questions. The conversation naturally turns to preparation, shot choice, and how the leadership reacted once the innings started going wrong.
Axar was asked whether earlier small moments in the season—such as missed chances, including those in the GT game—had affected Delhi’s rhythm. He again steered away from dwelling on emotional specifics.
“If you keep thinking that we should have taken that catch or completed that run in the GT game, that moment would stay with you. But instead of talking about what has gone, it is more important to focus on what is in front of you,” Axar said.
There was sense in the message, but it still felt incomplete in the context of a nine-wicket loss built on the most damaging powerplay collapse in IPL history. While a captain doesn’t have to publicly point fingers at individuals, the expectation is that he shows the defeat has been properly registered—so the team can respond with urgency rather than comfort.
“One bad day” — and RCB’s ruthless new-ball work
Axar made it clear he would not single out Delhi’s batters. “I will tell the team the same thing, that we had one bad day. It is not about pointing someone out or saying the batters made a mistake. We have to forget it and come back in a positive way.”
That dressing-room message was understandable. The challenge was the public tone. Delhi’s home supporters had watched their side unravel in front of them, watched the batting card collapse before the powerplay even ended, and then saw RCB complete the chase in a way that made the outcome feel inevitable soon after the innings began.
Against that backdrop, a smiling and almost effortless “forget and move on” response sat oddly beside the match’s brutal scoreline.
Axar did give credit where it was due, saying he wasn’t surprised by the movement Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood found. “They are bowlers who swing the ball on any surface. They deserve credit for the way they bowled.”
A defeat that carried both margin and manner
That acknowledgment was fair. RCB’s new-ball bowling was sharp and relentless, and the early wickets ensured Delhi never had a platform to rebuild. Still, the collapse went far beyond what can simply be dismissed as “one bad day.” Some defeats sting because of the margin; others hurt because of the manner in which they happen. This one delivered both.
Axar may have wanted to protect the squad from spiralling. But after a powerplay horror session that became a record, his post-match tone arguably needed more edge—more accountability, less ease. A captain can move on, but he must also ensure the loss is treated with the seriousness it deserves, and that the team understands the damage has truly landed.
