Toss & Conditions

The match will be played on pitch no. 4, where the last three IPL night games saw first-innings scores of 196/3, 217/2, and 206/8. Two of those totals were defended unsuccessfully, pointing to another high-scoring night where chasing has recently worked on this strip.

Head-to-Head

DC lead 2-1 in the last three meetings with RR. The most recent match on 2025-04-16 ended tied at 188/5 (DC) and 188/4 (RR). The note states the match was tied and DC won the one-over eliminator. In the previous meeting on 2024-05-07, DC won by 20 runs after scoring 221/8 to RR’s 201/8.

DCDelhi Capitals 188/5

RRRajasthan Royals 188/4

2025-04-16 · Match tied (DC won the one-over eliminator)

DCDelhi Capitals 221/8

RRRajasthan Royals 201/8

2024-05-07 · DC won by 20 runs

RRRajasthan Royals 185/5

DCDelhi Capitals 173/5

2024-03-28 · RR won by 12 runs

Rajasthan Royals

RR are #4 with 12 points (6W-3L) and are currently in the playoff zone. They have won 2 of their last 3 matches, including a 6-wicket win over PBKS chasing 228/4.

RRRajasthan Royals 228/4

PBPunjab Kings 222/4

2026-04-28 · RR won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)

RRRajasthan Royals 228/6

SRSunrisers Hyderabad 229/5

2026-04-25 · SRH won by 5 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)

RRRajasthan Royals 159/6

LSLucknow Super Giants 119/10

2026-04-22 · RR won by 40 runs

Delhi Capitals

DC are #7 with 6 points (3W-5L). They have lost their last three matches, most recently being bowled out for 75 and losing to RCB by 9 wickets.

DCDelhi Capitals 75/10

RCRoyal Challengers Bengaluru 77/1

2026-04-27 · RCB won by 9 wickets (with 81 balls remaining)

DCDelhi Capitals 264/2

PBPunjab Kings 265/4

2026-04-25 · PBKS won by 6 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)

DCDelhi Capitals 195/9

SRSunrisers Hyderabad 242/2

2026-04-21 · SRH won by 47 runs

Playing XI

News & Facts

Key Stats

Verdict

All four models favour RR, with RR projected at 60–74% and a 65% model average. Bookmakers also lean RR at 57% (1.68) vs DC at 43% (2.22). Key stats favour RR 6-2 overall; the matchup is shaped by RR’s stronger recent results and DC’s three-game losing run. The contest also features DC adding Starc while RR’s powerplay wicket-taking has been a standout metric in the provided data.

Rahul and Nissanka go hard

Lokesh Rahul’s calm violence at the top, backed by Pathum Nissanka’s free-flowing strokeplay, flipped a 225 chase into a statement. Delhi Capitals overhauled Rajasthan Royals’ 225/6 with 5 balls to spare, finishing 226/3 in 19.1 overs, and never let the asking rate settle. Even when RR briefly clawed back through the middle, Rahul’s ability to reset and then accelerate ensured DC stayed ahead of the game’s tempo.

Powerplay blow sets chase

The match was effectively won in the first six overs of the chase. DC raced to 70/0 in the powerplay at 11.7 an over, wiping out RR’s early advantage and forcing their bowlers into defensive fields far too soon. That start also insulated DC from the only real wobble: the middle overs where RR claimed three wickets and DC went 114/3. But with the platform built, the finish stayed uncomplicated — 42 without loss in the death overs, the chase closing before RR could manufacture a late squeeze.

Parag’s peak, DC’s finishers

Parag’s 90 off 50 was the innings of the match, lifting RR from 56/2 in the powerplay into a commanding position through the middle. Mitchell Starc’s 3/40 was DC’s key check, breaking rhythm just enough to keep 225 within reach. Then Rahul (75 off 40) and Nissanka (62 off 33) did the heavy lifting, with Rahul’s late control — especially after the middle-overs wickets — ensuring DC’s chase never spiralled into panic.

Pre-match edge, on-field reversal

Everything pointed to a Rajasthan game: better recent results, a sizeable Elo gap, and a reputation for powerplay wicket-taking. Instead, RR struck twice early while DC’s openers batted as if those trends didn’t exist, turning the matchup on its head. RR’s own innings had a similar twist — Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel’s 102-run stand powered them, but the final overs didn’t create separation, leaving a chaseable target on a night when the ball came on.