HIGHLIGHTS Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 Match 70 - Result, Scorecard

We are back for the chase. The umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of Delhi Capitals. DC have subbed in Kuldeep Yadav for KL Rahul. It will be the duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen to open the innings for KKR. Mitchell Starc to get proceedings underway with the ball.

... The Run Chase ...

204 to win, who blinks first? While KKR’s bowling unit put up a decent fight with Saurabh Dubey picking up two while Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Anukul Roy picking up a wicket apiece, they lacked the lethal, breakthrough edge required to completely stall Delhi's momentum. While it was not an entirely hell-for-leather display, Delhi's calculated aggression in the final overs ensured they maintained a high scoring rate to post a highly challenging target. Even though KKR fought hard to prevent the game from drifting entirely out of their reach, the upcoming chase promises absolute high drama for the spectators. The imminent arrival of dew is expected to significantly ease batting conditions, giving the chasing side a timely boost. Furthermore, a tantalising individual battle between Finn Allen and Mitchell Starc looms large, a marquee contest that could very well dictate which team seizes the ultimate upper hand in the second half.

KKR's best bowler is up for a chat - Saurabh Dubey, on his bowling performance, says that he is happy that the plan worked with the new ball and the old ball as well. Adds that he just executed the plan and got the result. On his bowling approach, he says that with the new ball, he always focuses on swinging it, keeping the line and length intact. With the old ball, he always tries to make use of the bigger size of the ground. On the experience from IPL, he says that you need to have a clear mindset. Taking the learning from the best is very crucial. He adds that he always discusses with Tim Southee and Dj Bravo on how to read the conditions better and how to react in certain match situations.

Middle-overs onslaught defies KKR control - The middle phase of the innings saw Delhi continuously press the accelerator, systematically dismantling KKR's attempts to build sustained pressure. Over the next ten overs, DC capitalised heavily on their strong start by plundering an additional 97 runs while shedding just two wickets, comfortably placing them at 150 for 3 by the end of the 16th over. Alongside Rahul's phenomenal performance, Axar Patel and Sahil Parakh chipped in with vital cameos that kept the scoreboard moving at a rapid rate. Towards the end of the innings, it was a combined effort from the middle-order and finishers of DC that helped them post over 200.

Delhi constructs a formidable platform - Opting to field first, the Kolkata Knight Riders struggled to make early inroads as the Delhi Capitals mounted a calculated, highly productive start to lay the groundwork for their eventual total of 203 for 5. Delhi navigated the initial field restrictions with immense composure, motoring to a secure 53 for 1 during the Powerplay. Opener KL Rahul played a good hand, finding his rhythm quickly to top-score with a quick-fire 60. This sturdy opening platform set a dominant tone for the visitors, allowing them to dictate the tempo of the game right from the outset without succumbing to any early panic.

Saurabh Dubey to Ashutosh Sharma, DROPPED! Should have been taken, a second drop catch by the keeper, Tejasvi Singh and Delhi Capitals finish with 203/5 on the board. A yorker, angled across off. Ashutosh Sharma hangs deep and plays it late, opening the face of the blade as he looks to guide it between the keeper and short third but doesn't get the angle. Tejasvi dives to his right and spills a low chance as the batters manage to pick up a single.

Saurabh Dubey to Tristan Stubbs, Well bowled. Slower one, pitched up around off, the ball grips and moves further away. Tristan Stubbs swings and misses and the batters manage to sneak in a bye.

Tristan Stubbs to walk out next. Just two more balls left.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, OUT! CAUGHT! A reprieve for Saurabh Dubey and KKR as David Miller fails to put away a bad ball. Another juicy full toss, just outside off. Miller looks to power it over mid off, but the bat tilts in his hand and he ends up snatching at it. Miller hits it flat to a straightish mid on, where Finn Allen gobbles it up around his face.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, WIDE! Another one. Miller shuffles to the off side, Dubey attempts a slower one, but spills it well beyond the tramline yet again.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, WIDE! Very full and sprayed well beyond the tramline outside off. 200 comes up for DC now.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, SIX! In the slot, and that's bread and butter for David Miller. Overpitched delivery, wide outside off, Miller hangs back and extends the arms, launching it high and deep over long on for another biggie.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, Much better from Dubey. A wide yorker, Miller looks to reach for it and hit it through the off side but toe-ends it to nowhere. It seems like Miller has chipped his blade a bit and is asking for a bat change.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, SIX! High and handsome. A juicy full toss on off, David Miller hangs back and gets inside the line, swinging it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Kartik Tyagi to Ashutosh Sharma, SIX! A shot and a half from Ashutosh Sharma to end the over, 12 off it. Full and fast, wide outside off. Sharma hangs back, leans to the off side and powers it off the back foot over deep extra cover for a six.

Kartik Tyagi to Ashutosh Sharma, Sharma needs to get bat on ball here. Another fast delivery, on a hard length and outside off. Sharma goes back and away to the off side to hit it through covers, but misses.

Kartik Tyagi to Ashutosh Sharma, Trying to be a bit too cute here. Good length, hammered into the deck, over middle. Ashutosh Sharma goes for the reverse lap and fails to connect.

Kartik Tyagi to Ashutosh Sharma, No ball! Oh, that's nearly cleaned up Ashutosh. However, Ajinkya Rahane has reviewed the No Ball call here. Coming to the ball, Ashutosh Sharma tries to shuffle past the off stump and Kartik Tyagi follows him with a high full toss, which Sharma sways his head away from. The third umpire checks Ball Tracker again and finds that the waist height is 1.049 meters and the ball is passing at 1.078 meters. No Ball stands and Free Hit to follow.

Kartik Tyagi to Ashutosh Sharma, FOUR! How's Ashutosh Sharma managed to do that? A wide yorker, at brisk pace as well. Sharma reaches out to squeeze it away but the ball gets jammed into the deck off the back side of the bat and it goes over the keeper for a boundary.

Kartik Tyagi to Ashutosh Sharma, A wide yorker, flirting with the tramline, and it is called a wide. Seemed just inside the tramline and KKR do review this one. The third umpire is called into action once again. The replays show that the ball is passing within the revised guideline and the on-field decision is changed.

Kartik Tyagi to David Miller, Was that too high? Brisk pace from Tyagi, and he ends up bowling a waist-height full toss on leg. David Miller awkwardly hits it through mid-wicket for a single. DC do review because it is called a fair delivery. Initial replays suggest it is close to waist height. The graphics then show that Miller's waist height is 1.069 meters, and the ball is passing through at 0.836 meters, so it stays a fair delivery.

Who will bowl the penultimate over? Kartik Tyagi will bowl out.

Saurabh Dubey to Ashutosh Sharma, FOUR! Smartly played. Slower bumper, dug in well short over off. Ashutosh Sharma reaches up over his head and ramps it over the keeper and the ball rolls into the third man fence.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, This is excellent bowling from Dubey. He nails the yorker around the fifth stump line and all Miller can do is dig it out to long on for another single.

Saurabh Dubey to Ashutosh Sharma, A full toss now, knee height and outside off. Ashutosh Sharma just caresses it away to deep point for one more.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, Pace off, on a length and wide outside off. Miller walks past the off stump, looking to swing it leg side, but miscues it through mid on for a run.

Saurabh Dubey to David Miller, Full and wide, hugging the tramline outside off. Miller reaches for it and laces the square drive but finds the fielder at point.

Saurabh Dubey to Ashutosh Sharma, Pitched full and just outside off, slower too. Sharma looks to drive but gets an outside edge towards short third and picks up a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Ashutosh Sharma, Flatter one on the pads, wokred away from inside the crease, through square leg and for a single.

A big, big wicket for KKR. Ashutosh Sharma is the new man at the crease.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, OUT! CAUGHT! A pretty similar dismissal to that of KL Rahul, and Varun Chakaravarthy does get instant revenge on Axar Patel. Varun floats it a bit full and wide outside off, this time Patel looks to fetch and drag it leg side. He gets it off the toe end of the bat and straight to Rinku Singh at long on, who makes no mistake. DC are 166/4 now.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, Nice and full, outside off, hammered away uppishly and wide of deep cover for a couple of handy runs by Axar.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, WIDE! And again. A bit fuller, but this is well outside the line of off stump as well.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, WIDE! A change in line, forced by the big hit and Varun ends up firing this one beyond the tramline outside off.

The ball is lost just behind the sightscreen. The groundsmen are searching for it. Meanwhile, the third umpire has opted to get a new used ball.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, SIX! Fast hands from Axar Patel. Quicker one, on middle, Patel makes a bit of room and hits through the line, forcing the lofted shot straight down the ground. According to the on-air commentators, this is Axar's 100th six in the IPL. Also, it seems like the ball is lost under the sightscreen.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, Fullish length, darted wide of the off stump. Patel fails to reach it and it's just inside the tramline.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, SIX! The new bat seems to be working for Axar Patel. Tossed up on leg stump, Patel goes down on one knee and wallops the slog sweeps in front of square leg for a biggie. Axar just changed his bat between overs.

Kartik Tyagi to Axar Patel, Much fuller, just outside off, Axar Patel drills it along the carpet to long off and gets an easy single.

Kartik Tyagi to David Miller, Full and around off, David Miller slices this to deep point for a single.

Kartik Tyagi to David Miller, On a good length, slanting it away from the left-hander. David Miller looks to spank it over cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Kartik Tyagi to David Miller, SIX! Smashed out of the park. Kartik looks to bowl a short one but this doesn't bounce much and sits well for the Protea finisher. David Miller creates a stable stance to free his arms and pulls this towards the deep mid-wicket region and well over the ropes. That's also Miller's 150th six in the IPL.

Kartik Tyagi to Axar Patel, Full-length delivery, at the stump. Axar Patel punches it to deep mid-wicket and gets a single.

Kartik Tyagi to David Miller, Back of a length, around off, David Miller slogs this towards the right of deep square leg for one.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Right then, 5 overs to go and Delhi Capitals would love to get 60 off it and breach the 200-run mark. Axar Patel is set and they have plenty of batting to come, but they will hope that David Miller finds his range soon. On the flip side, KKR have pulled things back a touch after a surge in the opposition's run rate in the middle overs and will be hoping to keep DC down to anything around 180-190 runs. Also, Kartik Tyagi is back on. He's conceded 33 runs in his 2 overs thus far. KKR also make an Impact Sub, bringing on Finn Allen in place of Sunil Narine.

Sunil Narine is substituted by Finn Allen

Varun Chakaravarthy to David Miller, Flatter trajectory, fuller in length around middle. David Miller pushes it to long off and gets an easy single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, Fuller around middle and leg, Axar Patel sweeps this to deep square leg for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to David Miller, On a length, around the leg stump. David Miller makes a bit of room and tries to sweep it, but gets beaten on the inside edge and hits his left thigh, before the ball rolls to short third. Leg bye taken.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, Straight one, around off, Axar Patel smashes this down to long off for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Axar Patel, Chakaravarthy sees the batter making room, therefore he follow the batter, bowling down the leg side. Axar Patel cramps for room and tucks it to short fine leg.

Varun Chakaravarthy to David Miller, Googly around middle and off, David Miller flicks this to the deep mid-wicket fielder for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy (2-0-14-0) returns to the attack.

Cameron Green to Axar Patel, FOUR! Green had a tidy over, but this last delivery spoiled it all. Good-length delivery, outside off. Axar Patel opens his stance and drills it through cover for four more runs.

Cameron Green to David Miller, Short-pitched delivery, around middle and off, David Miller pulls this towards the deep mid-wicket region for a single.

Cameron Green to David Miller, Full-length delivery, just outside off, David Miller punches it from the outer part of his bat to the point fielder.

Cameron Green to Axar Patel, Hard length, on top of off, Axar Patel loses his body shape as he looks to muscle this one. Axar slices this from the outer half of his bat towards sweeper cover for a run.

Cameron Green to David Miller, Pitches it up, does Green, pitching it around the leg stump and angling in. David Miller tucks it to deep square leg and gets a single.

Cameron Green to Axar Patel, LEG BYE! Back of a length, around the pads, Axar Patel looks to tuck this around mid-wicket but misses out and the ball clips his pads and deflects towards short third for a leg bye.

Cameron Green is back into the attack. He went for 14 in his first over.

Anukul Roy to Axar Patel, Fuller, around the pads of the batter. Axar Patel swipes it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Anukul Roy to David Miller, Fired onto the pads, David Miller flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

David Miller is in at number for DC.

Anukul Roy to KL Rahul, OUT! CAUGHT! Roy gets the last laugh as he picks up the wicket of KL Rahul. Flighted, wide of off, KL Rahul goes down on a knee and looks to clear the long on fence. Rahul fails to get right underneath the ball and doesn't get enough power to clear the fence. Rahul hits this towards the right of Rovman Powell at long on. Rovman moves to his right and holds onto a regulation catch. KL Rahul departs after a fine knock.

Anukul Roy to KL Rahul, FOUR! Short of a length, around off, width on offer, KL Rahul rises with the bounce and slaps this through the left of the fielder at extra cover for a boundary.

Anukul Roy to KL Rahul, WIDE! Roy bowls this on the wrong side of the tramline on off. KL Rahul leaves it. Wided.

Anukul Roy to KL Rahul, FOUR! Hammered away! Arm ball from Roy, angling in, toward the middle stump. KL Rahul reads the delivery like a book, as he opens his stance and pulls it hard into the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for four runs.

Anukul Roy to KL Rahul, WIDE! Fuller in length, pitching it around the tramline, outside off and turns it away from the batter. KL Rahul makes a leave and gets the bonus run.

Anukul Roy to Axar Patel, Quicker one, on the pads, Axar Patel flicks this through backward square leg for a single.

Anukul Roy (1-0-10-0) is back on.

Sunil Narine to Axar Patel, Pitches it up, a touch fuller, on off, Axar Patel goes deep into the crease and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a comfortable single.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, Short of a length, around the pads, KL Rahul pulls this flat towards the deep mid-wicket fielder for a single.

Sunil Narine to Axar Patel, Tap and run! Tossed up, fuller, on middle, Axar Patel plays it with soft hands toward cover and takes a quick single.

Sunil Narine to Axar Patel, Fuller around off, Axar Patel drives this towards the right of Sunil for a dot.

Sunil Narine to Axar Patel, Slower through the air from Narine as he sees the batter making room. He bowls it just outside off. Axar Patel extends his arms and slaps it to wide deep point for a couple of runs.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, Sunil comes around the stumps and bowls it short of a length, on middle and leg. KL Rahul gets up on his toes and punches this down to long off for a single.

Sunil Narine to bowl out here.

Kartik Tyagi to Axar Patel, FOUR! More runs for DC. Short of a length, outside off, Axar Patel stands tall, gets to the top of the bounce and spanks it between backward point and deep third man for four more runs. 20 runs coming from the over!

Kartik Tyagi to Axar Patel, FOUR! Short and around the ribs of Axar. The DC skipper gets inside the line of the ball and hooks this away towards the left of the fielder at fine leg for a boundary.

Kartik Tyagi to KL Rahul, FIFTY FOR RAHUL! Change of pace from Tyagi, asking the batter to hit at it. Rahul stays sharp and cuts it gently to deep cover-point and gets the single. He raises his bat and soaks in all the applause around the stadium. Also, Delhi Capitals bring up their 100.

Kartik Tyagi to KL Rahul, SIX! MAJESTIC FROM RAHUL. Good length, around off, KL Rahul presses in front and towards the pitch of the ball. Rahul gets on top of the bounce and plays the lofted drive for a biggie over the fence towards deep extra cover region.

Kartik Tyagi to KL Rahul, FOUR! CRACKED! Back of a length, just outside off. KL Rahul rocks back and cuts at it hard toward the right of the backward point fielder. Cameron Green sprints from the deep cover region, to his left and dives, but fails to make the stop.

Kartik Tyagi to Axar Patel, On a length, around off, Axar Patel pushes this from the inner half of his bat towards mid off for a quick single.

Delhi Capitals are 88/2 after the first 10 overs of their innings. Also, Kartik Tyagi is back in, replacing Varun Chakaravarthy in the attack.

Sunil Narine to Axar Patel, Shortish, outside off, Patel frees his arms and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Sunil Narine to Axar Patel, Quicker one, turning back into the batter, on middle and leg. Axar Patel blocks this off his back foot.

Sunil Narine to Axar Patel, Beaten! Another lovely off-break from Narine, just outside off. Axar Patel gets on his front foot to work it across the line, but misses on the outside edge.

Axar Patel walks out to bat next for DC.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, OUT! CAUGHT! Off-break from the spin maestro, and this one grips a bit as well. Short of a length, around off, Sahil Parakh looks to hit this over the fielder at covers but he checks his lofted stroke and ends up chipping this straight into the hands of Ajinkya Rahane at covers. Rahane makes no mistake and takes a dolly to send Sahil back.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, Short of a length, on middle, KL Rahul opens his stance and pulls it down to left of deep square leg for a single.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, SIX! OUT OF THE PARK FROM RAHUL! Sunil Narine comes around the stumps and bowls it full and around off, KL Rahul clears his front foot and smashes this over the fence towards the long on region for a biggie.

Sunil Narine to continue...

Varun Chakaravarthy to KL Rahul, Varun Chakaravarthy drags his length back once again, on off. KL Rahul tucks it from his back foot to wide long on and gets an easy single. 10 runs from the over!

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, Short of a length, around off, Sahil Parakh gets up on his toes, punches this off his back foot towards sweeper cover for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, FOUR! Oh, that's an exceptional shot from Parakh. Full-length delivery, on middle and off. Sahil Parakh brings out his reverse sweep and hits it well over the backward point region for another boundary.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, Googly, going across the batter, Sahil Parakh slashes hard at it but connects only with thin air.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, FOUR! Up and over! Floated and fuller, just outside the off pole. Sahil Parakh prods toward the delivery and lofts it, opening the face of the bat, over the leaping cover fielder. The ball dribbles toward the deep cover fence for four runs.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, Quicker one, into the pitch and wide outside off, Sahil Parakh rocks back and looks to play the square cut but misses out.

STRATEGIC BREAK! A pretty even-stevens first 8 overs of the game, and surprisingly, Sunil Narine has been attacked by the DC batters. KKR will be disappointed that this is now a bit of a dead rubber, but will still like to finish with a win. Saurabh Dubey has been the pick of the bowlers so far, and they will hope that Varun Chakaravarthy comes good as well. Meanwhile, Rahul is really starting to get a move on now and if stays around for a few overs more, he can be lethal.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, Half-hearted appeal for LBW, as Narine knows that the ball has pitched outside leg. A touch fuller around the pads of the batter. KL Rahul looks to sweep it but misses and gets pinged on the front pad, before the ball rolls to backward point.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, Short of a length, around off, Sahil Parakh gets deep inside the crease and cuts this to deep point for a run.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, Short, on middle, KL Rahul clips it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, FOUR! Tossed up, around off, KL Rahul skips down the track again, gets right on top of the bounce and lofts this over the bowler for a boundary in front of the sight screen.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, SIX! BANG! That has been smoked away. Narine tosses it up, fuller, around off. KL Rahul puts on his dancing shoes, skips down the track and launches it over the long on region for half a dozen. There is a fielder stationed in the region, but all he can do is watch the ball flying over him.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, Tossed up, around off, Sahil Parakh stays leg side of the ball and cuts this through covers for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, Fullish and way outside off. Sahil Parakh punches it to deep cover-point and gets an easy single. Decent start from Varun Chakaravarthy, just four from it!

Varun Chakaravarthy to KL Rahul, Seam up, straight one, short and wide of off. KL Rahul cuts this off his back foot towards deep point for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, A touch fuller, outside off. Sahil Parakh opens his stance and slaps it to deep cover to get a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sahil Parakh, Varun comes around the stumps and Sahil Parakh rocks back and cuts this towards the backward point fielder.

Varun Chakaravarthy to KL Rahul, Short, on middle, KL Rahul tucks it to the leg side and gets a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to KL Rahul, Varun starts with a googly, into the batter. KL Rahul rocks back and blocks this out.

End of the Powerplay! Delhi Capitals have done pretty well, especially with the help of Abishek Porel's sturdy start. Saurabh Dubey is the only bowler who has put enough pressure on the opposition batters.Also, Varun Chakaravarthy comes into the attack now. It seems like he is playing with a hairline fracture on one of his toes.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, FOUR! Enough power on it to clear the infield. Length ball on leg, Parakh backs away and shanks it over mid on for a boundary to end the Powerplay. 50 up for DC as well.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, Dragged short on off, punched off the back foot, but straight to cover.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, DROPPED! By Rinku Singh's standards, that is a simple catch. Floated up on the stumps, Sahil Parakh plays the reverse sweep and nails it, but he hits it a few inches above the ground. Rinku just moves low to his right and gets both hands on it, but the ball pops out.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, SIX! That's a hefty blow from Sahil Parakh. Flighted up, too full, on middle and leg, Parakh clears the front leg and hammers it straight down the ground for a biggie.

Sunil Narine to Sahil Parakh, Nagging length, angling across off, Parakh makes room to cut but jars at it and gets an outside edge towards short third.

Sunil Narine to KL Rahul, Nicely flighted, fuller and on off. Rahul leans on, covers the line well and clips it down to long on for a single.

Excellent second over from Saurabh Dubey, a wicket and just three runs from it. Sunil Narine joins the attack now.

Saurabh Dubey to KL Rahul, Back of a length, angled well across off, tapped away to the right of deep backward point for a single.

Saurabh Dubey to KL Rahul, Just short! Slower one, full and around off. KL Rahul is early into the drive and ends up dragging it across to mid on, where the ball lands in front of Sunil Narine.

Saurabh Dubey to Sahil Parakh, Back of a length and outside off, steered behind point for a single by Sahil Parakh.

First breakthrough for Kolkata Knight Riders. Sahil Parakh walks out next, replacing Abishek Porel.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! No mistake this time, from Tejasvi Singh and Abishek Porel has to walk back. Lovely piece of bowling from Saurabh Dubey, as he serves it a touch fuller and just outside off, making the ball shape away as well. Porel is drawn into the drive but ends up nicking it behind. Tejasvi lunges forward and pouches it nicely with both hands. The 40-run opening stand comes to an end.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, Good carry again. At just 130.5 kph, bowled into the pitch and outside off. Porel hops up to slash it over point but is beaten by the extra bounce.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, WIDE! Pitched up, wide outside off, landing it beyond the tramline outside off. Porel reaches for it and then decides to leave it alone.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, Hard length, in and around off, angling in, Porel pushes it down the pitch.

Change of ends for Saurabh Dubey.

Kartik Tyagi to Abishek Porel, Sharp fielding in the deep. Shortish length on leg, hoicked off the hips, to the right of fine leg. Anukul Roy sprints across and cuts it off, keeping it down to a single.

Kartik Tyagi to KL Rahul, On a good length, outside off, zips off the deck. Rahul steers it through backward point fo a run.

Alright then, we have the news that Rajasthan Royals have won the match in Wankhede against the Mumbai Indians by 30 runs. That means even if Kolkata wins here, it won't matter as the last spot of the playoff has been sealed by Rajasthan Royals.

Kartik Tyagi to Abishek Porel, A rare sight at Eden Gardens, as the batters run three. Full-pitched delivery outside off, driven between mid off and covers, not sweetly timed and it is cut off.

Kartik Tyagi to Abishek Porel, EDGED AND DROPPED! That should have been taken by Tejasvi Singh. Hard length, darted across off, Abishek Porel throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies to the left of the keeper, who spills it.

Kartik Tyagi to Abishek Porel, FOUR! Top shot! Just full of a good length, in and around off, Porel plays a lovely high-elbow off drive and nails it well to the left of mid off for another boundary.

Kartik Tyagi to Abishek Porel, EDGED AND FOUR! Express pace from Tyagi, around 148 kph and just angled across the left-hander. Abishek Porel is drawn into the drive but the ball flies off the outside edge and wide of fly slip, into the third man fence.

Green has an expensive start. Now comes Kartik Tyagi, replacing Saurabh Dubey.

Cameron Green to KL Rahul, Pitched full and straight, angled in. Rahul clips it to the right of the fielder at mid-wicket and picks up a couple of runs in the deep. DC are 26/0 after 3.

Cameron Green to KL Rahul, FOUR! That's sheer class from Rahul. Good-length delivery, around the top of off. Rahul hits through the line, nailing it over mid off for a boundary, and he holds the pose as well.

Cameron Green to KL Rahul, SIX! Picked up and dumped into the stands. Full and outside off, KL Rahul lunges across to get inside the line and hoicks it away handsomely over deep square leg for the first six of the contest.

Cameron Green to KL Rahul, Good length over off, just slants in a touch. Rahul hangs back and defends it to cover-point.

Cameron Green to Abishek Porel, Green comes around the wicket to the left-hander, serves it full and angles it into the stumps. Porel drives it to mid on for a quick single.

Cameron Green to KL Rahul, Ooh, a bit of extra bounce straightaway for Green. Green bashes the hard length over middle, Rahul gets taken aback by the extra bounce and fends it off the gloves on the leg side, collecting a single.

A pretty good start from Saurabh Dubey. Cameron Green comes into the attack now and replaces the spinner, Anukul Roy.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, Porel simply can't get away, just 2 runs off Saurabh Dubey's first over. Back of a length again, just outside off, Porel miscues the cut off the under edge and it goes to point.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, Dubey is bowling in some good areas right now. Just back of a length, tight line around off, Porel rocks back and pats it down in front of point.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, WIDE! Hard-length delivery, wide outside off, goes further away. Porel reaches for it and looks to cut, but misses.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, Swing and a miss! Pitched a bit further up and outside off, the ball swings away as well. Abishek Porel comes down the track to go over covers but is well beaten.

Saurabh Dubey to Abishek Porel, On a good length again, in the corridor of uncertainty. Porel hangs back to square drive but gets an inside edge back onto the deck.

Saurabh Dubey to KL Rahul, Drop and run! Good length, around the top of off, Rahul hops back and nudges it with soft hands into the off side, picking up a quick single.

Saurabh Dubey to KL Rahul, Hit on the up but straight to the fielder. Hung outside off, full and enough room to free the arms. Rahul reaches out and drives it to the cover fielder.

Pace from the other end? Saurabh Dubey it is, with one slip in place.

Anukul Roy to KL Rahul, Nicely bowled, but that's good running as well. Flighted, full and drifted into leg. KL Rahul makes room to cover drive but gets it off the inside half of the bat to mid on, pinching a quick single as well. 10 off the first over.

Anukul Roy to Abishek Porel, Bowled flatter and on off, punched away off the back foot and wide to the right of Cameron Green at mid off for a run.

Anukul Roy to Abishek Porel, FOUR! Uppish but in the gap. Flighted one outside off, Abishek Porel leans on and strokes it between mid off and extra cover for another boundary.

Anukul Roy to Abishek Porel, FOUR! This time, Porel puts it away and DC are up and running. Another short ball around leg, Porel goes deep in the crease and hacks it past square leg for a boundary.

Anukul Roy to Abishek Porel, Quick and short again, darted across off, Porel rocks back and jams it firmly to cover.

Anukul Roy to Abishek Porel, Swing and a miss! Dragged short to begin with, around leg. Abishek Porel swivels back to pull but misses and gets hit on the pads.

All set to get underway for this final group stage match here in Eden Gardens. Aaron Finch rings the bell, and with that, the two umpires stride toward the center of the park. The players of Knight Riders are taking their respective fielding positions. KL Rahul and Abishek Porel will be the openers for the Delhi Capitals. Anukul Roy will start the proceedings with the new ball. Porel to take the strike. Away we go...

What's happening in Wankhede?The penultimate league game of the 2026 IPL season is turning into a real humdinger. Mumbai Indians have bounced back and are currently 147/5 after 15 overs, needing 59 more off 30 balls, and if they do get there, Rajasthan Royals will be out of the tournament. Also, then KKR will have a chance to leapfrog Punjab Kings, who currently sit in P4, but KKR will have to chase down the target, even if it is in excess of 200 runs, in about 12-13 overs. We will bring you the latest equations as we go on.

Impact Player options for DC - Tripurana Vijay, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Nitish Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI) - Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (WK), Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma (In for Tripurana Vijay), Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Nabi (In for Mukesh Kumar), Lungi Ngidi, and Mitchell Starc.

Impact Player options for KKR -  Sarthak Ranjan, Vaibhav Arora, Finn Allen, Ramandeep Singh, and Rahul Tripathi.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Tejasvi Singh (WK) (In for Angkrish Raghuvanshi), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Saurabh Dubey.

The skipper of DC - Axar Patel says he was looking to bowl first as they have been a good chasing side, and the deck is also looking good to chase. Axar mentions that they have not played bad cricket, but they've been unlucky and they have just lost key moments throughout the league stage, and they'll need to look into it and learn before they move on. Axar adds that the small moments where they weren't at their best and the lack of execution of their plans is why they are already knocked out, but they'll learn. Axar informs that they have a couple of changes with Auqib Nabi and Kuldeep Yadav coming back in for Mukesh Kumar and Tripurana Vijay.

The captain of KKR - Ajinkya Rahane opts to bowl first and mentions that the main reason for that is that it is a chasing ground and they will also be aware of the equation they need to qualify depending on the other game that is going on, but they are feeling positive. He also says that they will play their game no matter what the circumstances are. On the team's performance, he says that he is really happy with the unit as they have made an exceptional comeback. Ends up saying that they will go with the same playing XI.

TOSS - It's toss time in Kolkata. Ajinkya Rahane and Axar Patel are out in the middle, and it will be Rahane to spin it. Axar calls it incorrectly, and Kolkata Knight Riders will BOWL first.

Let's now hear from DC's speedster - Mitchell Starc, on being a part of a champion squad of KKR a couple of years ago, says that he loved his time wearing purple, but he is all set to become a party spoiler tonight. On being asked about his performance, he says that he hasn't been the best in T20 cricket and also adds that he will take a break from this format of cricket. He reckons that he has been working on his rhythm lately. There are some positives to take from his recent performances, but he reckons there's a lot of work that needs to be done. On being asked whether they will be experimenting in today's match as they have nothing to lose, Starc laughs and says that he won't be experimenting personally, but also says that he will play some serious cricket tonight. They have won two in a row and the team wants to finish the season on a good note.

Let's now hear from KKR's Rovman Powell - Powell acknowledges that the Kolkata Knight Riders squad had been closely tracking recent tournament matches, including the fixture between Lucknow and Punjab, to strategize for their critical upcoming clash against Delhi. Reflecting on their journey, Powell admits that the team did not initially expect to have a qualification chance by their final league game. Rovman further informs that the players made a mid-season commitment to deliver high-quality cricket, playing for personal pride and their supportive fan base, regardless of the tournament standings.

PITCH REPORT - Former Aussie batter, Aaron Finch, is pitchside. He starts by saying that it is a huge game and mentions that they are just off center in terms of the pitch. Adds that the square boundaries are 61 meters and 68 meters on either side, with the straight hit being 74 meters. Finch's fellow Aussie and former Australian skipper, Michael Clarke, joins him and says that the wicket will be fairly consistent. Adds that there are a few dry areas, but those are near where the batters will stand, so it might be too full for the bowlers to exploit them, and it might be a long night for the bowlers once again.

Will we see a frantic finale? Two games on the last day of league action, and for now, three teams still remain in with a chance for that last playoff berth. Rajasthan are in pole position right now, as they have MI reeling at 67/4 after 8 overs in a chase of 205. No matter what the result at the Wankhede Stadium, we can expect a very high-octane contest at the Eden Gardens. Stay tuned for the toss and team news.

Blowing hot and cold all season - Delhi Capitals have probably been the most inconsistent side in the last couple of seasons, and after always threatening to be in contention for a playoff berth, they just seem to lose too many games at the wrong time. They have a chance to finish their season on a high, and if they win, they can leapfrog KKR and finish 6th on the points table. DC are also coming off a couple of wins, which will give them enough confidence to try and play spoilsport of KKR.

A run to remember - After 5 losses and a washout in their first 6 games, KKR have somehow managed to win 6 of their next 7 games, and have emerged as a true contender for a playoff spot. Their batting seems to have found a purple patch, but the form of skipper Ajinkya Rahane will still be a worry. The spinners have shown their worth, and they will be praying that do get a shot to stay in the competition, but for that, their bitter rivals, Mumbai Indians will have to do them a big favour by beating Rajasthan Royals.

Final day madness - Hello, and a warm welcome to one and all. The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata is all set to host the final league stage match of the 2026 season, and it will be hosts Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Delhi Capitals, in what could be a decisive battle for that final playoff spot. However, in the first game of the day, Rajasthan Royals are bossing Mumbai Indians, and if the Royals win that game, then KKR's journey will come to an end. The Capitals, meanwhile, will be playing for pride and a chance to end on a high.

... MATCH DAY ...

Eden awaits - The IPL 2026 league stage comes to an end at the iconic Eden Gardens, and fittingly, the playoff race could go right down to the final game. Kolkata Knight Riders host Delhi Capitals in Match 70, with qualification scenarios hanging over almost every ball that could be bowled. But before this clash even begins, all eyes will briefly shift to the afternoon game between the Rajasthan Royals and the Mumbai Indians. If Rajasthan win, the fourth playoff spot is theirs. If they lose, the door opens for KKR, though even then, it depends on Punjab Kings slipping up as well. Should Punjab win, Kolkata would not only need victory, but potentially a big one to overturn the NRR gap. Delhi Capitals still mathematically remain alive too, but only if both RR and PBKS lose, and even then, they would need a massive win themselves. In short, chaos, calculators and pressure. The perfect ingredients for a final league game at Eden Gardens. KKR's stunning turnaround - Few teams have scripted a comeback quite like Kolkata Knight Riders this season. After failing to win any of their first six games, they have bounced back remarkably, winning six of their next seven to drag themselves right back into playoff contention. Ajinkya Rahane may not have piled up the runs himself, but his calm leadership and backing of players through tough phases have transformed the mood around the side. Even if they fall short, KKR can take immense pride in the way they have responded after a disastrous first half of the season and multiple injury setbacks that prevented them from fielding their ideal XI. Spin twins and pace firepower - The biggest reason behind Kolkata's resurgence has undoubtedly been their bowling attack. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have once again become the dreaded 'spin twins', suffocating oppositions through the middle overs. Together, they have claimed 25 wickets while operating at outstanding economy rates of 6.40 and 8.78, respectively, with Anukul Roy also playing a valuable supporting role. A lot of credit goes to Varun, who has continued playing despite a toe fracture, pushing through pain for the franchise in this crucial stretch. Then there is Kartik Tyagi, who has been nothing short of sensational. Consistently clocking speeds around 150 kph, attacking batters with hostile bouncers and raw pace, he already has 18 wickets this season. Vaibhav Arora did pick up wickets but often leaked runs, and the addition of Saurabh Dubey has brought much-needed balance, especially with his ability to operate both with the new ball and at the death. Batting clicking at the right time - KKR's opening combination has remained slightly unsettled, but Finn Allen's explosiveness has given them a huge edge. The New Zealander is striking at a jaw-dropping 219.33 and had smashed an unbeaten century against Delhi earlier this season. There has, however, been a setback. Their leading run-scorer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, has been ruled out after suffering an injury in the last game. But Manish Pandey stepped into the number three role brilliantly, rolling back the years with a match-winning knock. Rinku Singh rediscovering his touch has perhaps been the biggest boost of all. He averages 73.75 this season and remarkably has not been dismissed even once in his last five innings. Cameron Green, too, has finally started repaying the faith shown in him, scoring 320 runs in 13 games while also contributing with important wickets. Rovman Powell's finishing power and athleticism in the field have quietly added value, while if KKR do make the playoffs, youngster Tejasvi Singh is expected to take over wicketkeeping duties and add even more firepower. Delhi's season of ‘What Ifs’ - Delhi Capitals' season has been one filled with frustration and missed moments. They started brightly with consecutive wins, but after that costly miscalculation involving David Miller against the Gujarat Titans, momentum slowly slipped away and never truly returned. KL Rahul has been the standout performer with 533 runs, but Delhi never managed to settle on a consistent opening combination alongside him. Pathum Nissanka showed glimpses with a couple of good knocks, while Abishek Porel grabbed his chance with a half-century in the previous game, but constant chopping and changing prevented stability. Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi faded after promising starts, while Miller repeatedly found himself benched despite winning games, which raised several eyebrows. Nitish Rana has blown hot and cold too, and with only Ashutosh Sharma striking above 180 consistently, Delhi perhaps lacked the firepower modern T20 cricket demands. Pace boost arrives late - One of Delhi's biggest setbacks early in the season was Mitchell Starc’s absence. Since returning, though, the Australian has reminded everyone of his quality, taking 9 wickets in just 5 games, including a devastating four-wicket haul against the Rajasthan Royals. Axar Patel hasn't enjoyed the best campaign with the bat apart from his match-winning knock in the previous game, but he has still contributed 10 wickets alongside Lungi Ngidi. Kuldeep Yadav, however, has endured a difficult season, while both T Natarajan and Mukesh Kumar have struggled for consistency. A positive for the Capitals has been Madhav Tiwari, whose all-round contributions in recent games have given them some much-needed energy and balance. And with former KKR stars Starc, Kuldeep and Nitish Rana in their ranks, Delhi would love nothing more than spoiling the party at Eden Gardens if the opportunity arises. Conditions on offer - Eden Gardens has largely remained a strong batting venue this season, where even scores beyond 200 haven't always felt safe enough. The last game here did produce a slightly tricky surface, offering assistance to the bowlers at times, but with the shorter boundaries and fast outfield, another high-scoring contest could still be on the cards. There was also a bit of weather around in the previous game, though thankfully, we still got a full match in, and both teams will be hoping the rain stays away long enough once again for the season finale to play out uninterrupted. Team form (Last 5 completed matches, most recent first) - KKR - WWLWW | DC - WWLLW. One final twist? Historically, KKR hold the advantage with a 20-15 head-to-head lead, including a dominant victory earlier this season. But finals days at Eden Gardens are rarely straightforward. If qualification scenarios are still alive by the toss, expect an electric atmosphere with every run and wicket potentially shifting the playoff picture. And if results elsewhere knock both sides out before the game begins, then perhaps the pressure disappears, and freedom takes over, which could make things even more entertaining. One final league game. One iconic venue. And maybe one last twist before the playoffs begin.