New Delhi: Sizzling spells from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru storm to a nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in a one-sided match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
The right-arm pace duo ripped through DC’s batting order through a devastating new-ball spell, as the hosts were bundled out for just 75 before Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli hit 34 and 23 not out respectively to wrap the chase with 81 balls to spare, sealing a win that was emphatic and swift in equal measure.
Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar combined for taking six wickets inside the first four overs, producing prodigious movement and bounce after hitting the deck, which was more reminiscent of a Test match than an IPL game, and ensured DC were bowled out for the lowest score of this season.
Outside edges flew, batters were beaten repeatedly, and DC had no answers to counter Hazlewood (4-12) and Bhuvneshwar (3-5). Impact Player Abishek Porel's 30 off 33 was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal batting effort, as no other DC batter crossed 20 and fell like ninepins.
As per CricViz, DC became just the second team in IPL history to lose six wickets inside the Power-play in a non-rain curtailed game. The only previous occurrence came in IPL 2011, when Kochi Tuskers Kerala slumped to 29/6 against Deccan Chargers. Coincidentally, both of these happened on April 27.
Hazlewood raised the tempo of carnage with two huge blows in as many deliveries. A brutal short ball cramped KL Rahul for room on the pull, and the top edge settled into Jitesh Sharma's safe gloves, while debutant Sameer Rizvi was enticed in chasing one around the off-stump, and the outside edge on an expansive drive was grabbed by the keeper.
After RCB ended the Power-play at 65/1, Kohli finished off the easy chase in style – lofting Natarajan down the ground for six, before going on the backfoot to pull over deep mid-wicket for another maximum to complete a comprehensive victory for the defending champions.
GT register 8-wicket win over CSKChennai: A dominant top-order performance led by Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler helped Gujarat Titans chase down a 159-run target against hosts Chennai Super Kings with remarkable ease, sealing an eight-wicket win with 20 balls to spare at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Chasing 159, Gujarat got off to a brisk start despite some early discipline from the Chennai bowlers. Gill looked in fluent touch from the outset, striking three sixes in his 33 off 23 balls, while Sudharsan complimented him well as the duo stitched together a quickfire opening stand. The Titans raced to 55/0 in the Power-play, but soon after, Gill was stumped off Noor Ahmad, courtesy sharp glovework from Sanju Samson. However, any hopes of a Chennai comeback were quickly extinguished as Sudharsan and Buttler took control. The left-hander continued his rich vein of form, bringing up a 33-ball fifty and targeting both spin and pace with authority. Buttler, after a watchful start, grew in confidence and found boundaries at crucial intervals, ensuring the required rate never became a concern. The pair added a decisive partnership, with Sudharsan particularly severe on Akeal Hosein, smashing multiple sixes to tilt the contest firmly in Gujarat’s favour. Some missed chances by the fielders only added to Chennai’s woes as the Titans batters capitalised fully. Sudharsan eventually fell for a superb 87 off 46 balls, laced with four boundaries and seven sixes, after a brilliant catch in the deep by Dewald Brevis. By then, however, the result was a mere formality. Buttler remained composed till the end and fittingly finished the chase in style, hammering a straight six to seal the win. |
