Riyan Parag's 90 and Starc's 3/40 Set Stage as DC Chase 226 to End Losing Streak

Key facts

• Delhi Capitals won by 7 wickets, their largest successful chase in IPL history.
• KL Rahul scored 75 off 40 balls, Pathum Nissanka 62 off 33, sharing a 110-run opening stand.
• Riyan Parag made a 50-ball 90, his first fifty-plus score of IPL 2026, after being penalised for vaping.
• Mitchell Starc, playing his first match of the season for DC, took 3/40 including Parag's wicket.
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed for 4 in the second over, falling to Starc's opening spell.
• Donovan Ferreira smashed 47 not out off 14 balls for RR.
• DC needed 47 off 27 balls when Rahul fell, but Ashutosh Sharma (25) and Tristan Stubbs (18) sealed the win.

A Record Chase in Jaipur

Delhi Capitals ended their three-match losing streak with a seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Friday, chasing down 226 with five balls to spare — their highest successful run chase in the Indian Premier League. The opening pair of KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka set the platform with a 110-run stand in 10.4 overs, after which Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma finished the job with composure.

Rahul and Nissanka Blitz Powerplay

Rahul struck 75 off 40 balls, while Nissanka made 62 off 33, as DC raced to 70 for 0 in the powerplay. Nissanka's fifty came in just 24 balls, and the pair kept the required rate in check. Nissanka eventually fell to Jofra Archer in the 11th over, but by then DC were well ahead of the asking rate. Rahul followed in the 16th over, holing out to long-on off Archer for 75, leaving DC needing 47 off 27 balls.

Starc's Return and Early Wickets

Mitchell Starc, playing his first match of the season for Delhi Capitals after recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries, made an immediate impact. He dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for 6 in his first over and later returned to remove Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for 4 and Riyan Parag for 90. Starc finished with 3/40, justifying his ₹11.75 crore price tag after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders. His new-ball duel with Sooryavanshi, who had scored 400 runs in the season before this match, ended with the teenager edging to slip.

Parag's Resurgence After Controversy

Riyan Parag, penalised for vaping during RR's previous match against Punjab Kings, returned to form with a 50-ball 90 — his first fifty-plus score of IPL 2026. He anchored the innings after openers Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi fell inside the first two overs. Parag added 87 runs with Dhruv Jurel (42) for the third wicket, and later Donovan Ferreira smashed 47 not out off 14 balls to propel RR to 225/6 after they opted to bat.

Ferreira's Late Assault and Starc's Death Bowling

Donovan Ferreira played the role of finisher, hitting fours and sixes at will, including a flurry of yorker-length deliveries. His 14-ball 47 not out lifted RR past 220. Starc, however, came back strongly at the death, conceding only 40 runs in his four overs while taking three wickets. His spell included the key scalp of Parag, who was caught at deep midwicket attempting to accelerate.

DC's Playoff Push Gets Boost

The win lifted Delhi Capitals from seventh on the table, keeping their playoff hopes alive. With eight games remaining, Starc's return provides a significant boost to a bowling attack that had struggled in his absence. For Rajasthan Royals, the loss was a setback after a strong batting performance. Parag's return to form is a positive, but the team's bowling plans — particularly against Nissanka in the powerplay — came under scrutiny.

A Contest of High Stakes and High Scores

The match was the latest in a series of high-scoring encounters in IPL 2026, with both teams showcasing aggressive batting. The contest between Sooryavanshi and Starc, billed as a battle between the league's most lethal young batter and a world-class pacer, lived up to its billing even if it ended quickly. As the tournament enters its business end, the ability to chase down 226 under pressure will give Delhi Capitals immense confidence. For Rajasthan Royals, the focus will be on tightening their bowling and fielding after lapses cost them dearly.

The bottom line

• Delhi Capitals achieved their highest IPL chase, 226, with five balls to spare.
• KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka's 110-run opening stand set the foundation for the win.
• Mitchell Starc, in his first match of the season, took 3/40 and dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi early.
• Riyan Parag scored 90 off 50 balls, his first fifty of IPL 2026, after being penalised for vaping.
• Donovan Ferreira's 47 off 14 balls propelled RR to 225/6.
• DC ended a three-match losing streak and kept their playoff hopes alive.