New Delhi: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru created history with a stunning nine-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, completing one of the most dominant chases in IPL history. Chasing a paltry 76, RCB reached the target in just 6.3 overs, ending the game with 81 balls to spare – now the second-highest margin in terms of balls remaining in a successful IPL chase.It also marked RCB’s biggest ever IPL win by that metric, while simultaneously becoming DC’s heaviest defeat in terms of balls remaining. Only Mumbai Indians’ 87-ball win against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008 tops the all-time list.
Most of the balls remain in the successful IPL chase.
- 87 – MI vs KKR, Wankhede, 2008 (Target: 68)
- 81 – RCB vs DC, Delhi, 2026 (Target: 76)*
- 76 – KTK vs RR, Indore, 2021 (Target: 98)
- 73 – KXIP vs DC, Mohali, 2017 (Target: 68)
- 72 – SRH vs RCB, Braboune, 2022 (Target: 69)
The Pacers set up a historic upset.A devastating spell with the new ball laid the foundations for a record-breaking win. Bhuvneshwar Kumar And Josh Hazlewood. The duo tore through Delhi’s batting line-up inside the powerplay, reducing them to 8 for 6 in the first four overs.Bhuvneshwar struck on the second ball of the innings, bowling debutant Sahil Park on a wicket. Hazlewood then removed KL Rahul and Sameer Rizvi off successive balls, while Bhuvneshwar dismissed Tristan Stubbs and skipper Akshar Patel.Hazlewood (4/12) and Bhuvneshwar (3/5) ensured DC never recovered, bowling them out for just 75 in 16.3 overs. Only Abhishek Poral (30), David Miller (19) and Kyle Jamieson (12) put up some resistance in an otherwise one-sided contest.Kohli left a clinical chase.in response, Virat Kohli Made sure there were no hiccups, remaining unbeaten on 23 as RCB chased down the target with ease. Devdutt Padikal scored a fluent 34, while Kohli hit back-to-back sixes to seal the win, much to the delight of the home crowd.Kohli also crossed the 9,000-run mark in the IPL during his innings, adding another milestone to an already memorable outing for RCB.It was a demolition for DC that will be hard to forget. “Even I don’t know what happened,” Axar Patel admitted after the match, summing up the shock in the home camp.
