Delhi Capitals started their IPL 2026 campaign with a 40-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders in a dead rubber clash. KL Rahul And Kuldeep Yadav Star on Sunday With the defeat of Rajasthan Royals Mumbai Indians In the first day to seal the final playoff berth, both KKR and Punjab Kings were eliminated before the match officially started. Delhi Capitals were already knocked out after PBKS’ win over Lucknow Supergiants on Saturday, leaving only pride and the final standings to play for at the Eden Gardens. Batted first after the KKR captain. Ajinkya Rahane Opting to bowl, Delhi Capitals scored 203 for 5, led by Rahul’s explosive half-century. The DC opener looked in complete control from the start, attacking both pace and spin with ease. Rahul hit five fours and four sixes in his 30-ball 60, registering his sixth half-century of the season. He aimed specifically Sunil NarayanRepeatedly dancing down the track to clear the ropes. In one over, Rahul hit another boundary over the spinner’s head before hitting Narine for a massive six over long-on. Rahul then shifted gears against Karthik Tyagi, hitting a boundary and a straight six in his 20-run over to bring up a 25-ball half-century. Delhi looked set for a total of 220-plus at this stage. However, KKR managed to regain some control through Anukul Roy, who dismissed Rahul against the run-off play. Sahil Parikh also scored 24 before Axar Patel added 39, while Varun Chakraborty returned with 1 for 35 despite continuing to play with a hairline fracture in his left foot. KKR’s chase started positively, with Rahane leading the charge in what could possibly be his final appearance for the franchise. The veteran batsman produced one of his best innings of the season, scoring 63 off just 39 balls with four fours and four sixes. Rahane attacked aggressively, hitting back-to-back sixes off Aqib Nabi before repeating the same against Axar Patel to score a blistering 31-ball fifty. But when KKR seemed to build momentum, Kuldeep Yadav turned the game around. Returning to the playing XI after being dropped and going wicketless in his last three matches, the left-arm wrist-spinner tormented his former team with a brilliant spell of 3 for 29 runs. Kuldeep dismissed Cameron Green cheaply before delivering the decisive moment of the match. Sensing Rahane moving forward, he lobs a tossed delivery outside the leg stump that sinks quickly. Rahane tries to straighten it but only manages to get it to David Miller. On the very next ball, Kuldeep dismissed Ranko Singh for a wicket to put KKR in complete trouble. He nearly completed a hat-trick as he headed Tejaswi Dahiya’s next delivery, but Abhishek Poral left the chance behind the stumps. From there, KKR fell quickly and were bundled out for 163 in 18.4 overs, their seventh defeat of the season. Mitchell Starc Also impressed against his former franchise with figures of 2 for 26, while Lungi Ngidi finished with 3 for 27. The result helped Delhi Capitals finish sixth on the points table with seven wins and seven losses, moving above KKR, who finished seventh after another disappointing campaign under Rahane.
