KL Rahul once again enjoyed a memorable outing at his home venue, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, guiding Delhi Capitals to a dramatic win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
For the Karnataka-born batter, returning to Bengaluru meant revisiting the ground where he evolved from a promising youngster into a regular member of the Indian national team. The occasion turned sweeter as Delhi secured their third win of the season in a last-over thriller.
Rahul Explains Strategy After Early Collapse
Delhi Capitals found themselves in deep trouble early in the chase after slipping to 18/3 in the powerplay, courtesy of a brilliant opening spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Speaking after the match, Rahul, who stepped in as stand-in captain after Axar Patel walked off due to cramps, said the wicket was challenging in the early stages.
“I could see Virat and Phil Salt weren’t happy with the way the ball was coming on. Us losing three wickets in the first six overs didn’t make it easy for us. After losing three quick wickets, the conversation was to continue playing good cricket shots and find boundaries while still putting pressure on the bowlers,” Rahul said.
He added that the team avoided becoming defensive despite the early setbacks.
“We didn’t want to go into our shell because if the run rate keeps climbing, it gets harder towards the end,” he explained.
Faith In Stubbs And Miller Paid Off
Half-centuries from Rahul and Tristan Stubbs steadied Delhi’s innings and brought them back into the contest.
However, the match remained on edge after RCB bowlers tightened the screws in the death overs, leaving Delhi needing 15 runs in the final over.
Rahul said he remained calm, placing full faith in Stubbs and David Miller, both experienced finishers in franchise cricket.
“No, there was full faith in Stubbs and Miller. They do this on a daily basis for South Africa and in franchise cricket,” Rahul said when asked if he felt nervous during the closing moments.
He added that the team anticipated which bowlers might deliver the final overs, allowing them to plan their finishing strategy.
“We knew that the last two overs were going to be a gamble for RCB. We expected either Romario Shepherd or Suyash Sharma, which gave our batters a good chance to hit a couple of sixes,” he noted.
Miller ultimately sealed the victory in style, smashing two sixes and a four to take Delhi home with one ball remaining.
Match Summary: RCB Post 175 Before Delhi Chase It Down
Earlier, RCB posted 175/8 in 20 overs, with Phil Salt leading the scoring with 63 off 38 balls, including boundaries and sixes. Despite his effort, wickets fell regularly around him.
For Delhi Capitals, bowlers including Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each to keep the total within reach.
During the chase, Rahul and Stubbs produced crucial half-centuries, with Stubbs finishing unbeaten on 60 off 47 balls. Miller’s late cameo of 22 not out off 10 deliveries ensured Delhi completed the chase in dramatic fashion.
Delhi Capitals Move Up In Points Table
With the victory, Delhi Capitals climbed to fourth place in the standings with three wins and two losses, taking their tally to six points.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru remained second with four wins from six matches, holding eight points.