HIGHLIGHTS Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 Match 43 - Result, Scorecard

We are back for the chase! The two openers for Delhi Capitals - Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul make their way out to the middle now. Riyan Parag leads his troops as they spread out and take their respective field positions.  The Royals had the option of bringing in Adam Milne, but they have opted to bring in Tushar Deshpande as the Impact Sub, replacing Shubham Dubey. It will be Jofra Archer starting proceedings with the ball. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Bright start fades away - Delhi Capitals started perfectly, with Mitchell Starc striking early and Kyle Jamieson removing the dangerous youngster, but they just could not build on it and kept leaking runs from both ends. Axar Patel chipped in during the middle overs and was the only one with an economy of under 10. Starc’s double strike in the 17th offered a brief opening, but what followed was pure carnage as Donovan Ferreira, a player they traded away, returned to haunt them with a brutal late blitz that swung the momentum completely. Now chasing a record total to snap their losing streak, the Capitals can take some confidence from SRH’s big chase at this venue, but without Miller, their batters will need to step up big time.

A quick chat - Dhruv Jurel says it is pleasing to see everyone contributing, which is a great sign for the team. Feels confident that the bowling unit can defend this total. Mentions that it’s a long tournament and the key is to assess conditions quickly. Jurel feels that it is a good wicket with the ball coming on well, and they were targeting around 50-60 in the Powerplay. Dhruv also highlights that the team had been waiting for a knock like this from Riyan Parag, and believes it will help them going forward in the season.

Parag and Ferreira shine - Rajasthan Royals were jolted early, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cheaply and suddenly in unfamiliar territory. Skipper Riyan Parag then stepped up in style, leading the recovery alongside Dhruv Jurel with a crucial 102-run stand that reset the innings. He made it look effortless, striking a fluent 90 off 50, though he might feel he left a few out there. Jurel played the perfect supporting role, while Ravindra Jadeja added a handy cameo. The real move, though, was holding Donovan Ferreira back for the Kuldeep Yadav match-up, but he flipped the script. He came in and went berserk, smashing three sixes off Kuldeep and taking on Starc as well, finishing with a blistering 47* off 14 to power the Royals past the 220-run mark.

Royals finish with a flurry - Incredible display of power-hitting from Donovan Ferreira as Rajasthan Royals finish on a high, smashing 63 runs in the last four overs. Delhi Capitals just could not nail their plans at the death yet again, an area that has troubled them all season, and now they have a mountain to climb.

T Natarajan to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! Axar Patel tips it over. To make matters worse, he has also hurt himself. Low full toss, angling away from over the wicket, Donovan gets low and gets his hands through the ball to swing through the line. Axar at long off leaps and sticks out his left hand but the ball hits him on the wrist and it drops beyond the ropes. 18 runs off the final over. RR finish with 225/6.

T Natarajan to Donovan Ferreira, Well bowled! Across off, sneaking just inside the tramline, pace off and on a shortish length, Donovan lets it go. The umpire is happy with the height, and Ferreira opts not to review.

T Natarajan to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! All the way! Natarajan errs while going for the yorker. A low full toss, going across. Ferreira hangs low and takes it on the full before dumping it over long off with a cross-bat. The long off fielder seemed to be in business for a moment, but eventually watched it sail over his head. The cheerleaders beyond the fence were ducking for cover, and one of them just about managed to evade it.

T Natarajan to Donovan Ferreira, FOUR! In the gap! Slower, short ball, outside off. Ferreira gets his hands out in front and rises on his toes. He is early into the pull but manages to drag the shot to the left of deep square leg for a four.

T Natarajan to Jofra Archer, Archer brings Ferreira back on strike. At the base of the off pole, a yorker, Archer jams it out through mid-wicket for a single.

T Natarajan to Shubham Dubey, OUT! CAUGHT! Not the best of balls, but T Natarajan will take it. More importantly, Donovan Ferreira stays away from strike. Natarajan looks for the yorker but it comes out as a thigh-high full toss, outside off. Dubey swings across the line with all his might but is a bit rushed and loses his shape in the process. Slices it high in the air towards cover, where Ashutosh Sharma settles under it and makes no mistake. Also, Jofra Archer comes out to the middle now.

Rajasthan Royals will want Donovan Ferreira back on strike as soon as possible.

T Natarajan to Shubham Dubey, Wide! T Natarajan attempts the wide yorker but this goes beyond the tramline.

T Natarajan will bowl the final over.

Mitchell Starc to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! Absolutely thumped! Starc misses his yorker by a small margin, on off. Ferreira clears the front leg and opens up his front hip. He gets low to get under the ball before dispatching it over wide long off for a six.

Mitchell Starc to Donovan Ferreira, FOUR! Just wide! From around the wicket, Starc nearly gets the yorker in, on off. Donovan Ferreira gets just enough leverage to get under the ball and opens the bat face to carve it behind point. Kuldeep Yadav sprints to his right and flings himself in that direction, but the ball evades him. It nearly went the distance as the ball bounced just in front of the boundary cushions. The 200 is up for RR.

Mitchell Starc to Shubham Dubey, Leg bye! A bit of tail back in on the yorker from Starc. Shubham gets the front leg out of the way and has a swipe across the line. Gets beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the pads. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls in front of point.

Mitchell Starc to Donovan Ferreira, Nails the yorker, on off, Ferreira digs it out to extra cover and gets to the other end.

Mitchell Starc to Donovan Ferreira, Pushes it across the right-hander at 143.2 kph, on a length. Donovan Ferreira reaches out and throws his hands at the ball. It flirts with the tramline but the decision goes in favour of the bowler.

Mitchell Starc to Donovan Ferreira, Wide! Starc goes short, on middle, but this is too high. Donovan Ferreira lets it pass. Wide given for height.

Mitchell Starc to Shubham Dubey, Full and on middle, Dubey flicks it to deep mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

A massive over for the Royals. Donovan Ferreira has taken down the match-up of Kuldeep Yadav in style.

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! Third biggie of the over. Donovan Ferreira is turning it on for the Royals at the back end of the innings. Kuldeep offers flight, full and on middle. Donovan Ferreira gets down on a knee and nails the slog sweep towards cow corner for a 95-metre hit. 20 runs off Kuldeep's final over.

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, Shorter and a bit of turn, on middle. Donovan rocks back and forces it down the strip. The ball was in the air for a brief moment but dropped short of Kuldeep, who did well to make the stop.

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, SIXI Straighter this time, but the result is the same. Kuldeep gives the ball a bit of air but ends up being a bit too full, on off. Ferreira clears the front leg and collapses his back knee to get under the ball. Pumps it over long off for half a dozen more.

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! That has gone back a long way. Flighted delivery, googly attempted by Kuldeep. Full and wide on off, Donovan Ferreira extends his hands into the lofted hit and sends it way over cover for a biggie.

Kuldeep Yadav to Shubham Dubey, Out comes the googly, spinning back in, on a nagging length, on middle. Shubham angles it wide of backward point and crosses over.

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, Bowled with a flat trajectory, on a good length, on middle and leg. Donovan Ferreira rocks back and taps it to long on for a single.

Will we see Kuldeep Yadav now? Yes, we will. Axar Patel held him back for Donovan Ferreira.

Mitchell Starc to Shubham Dubey, FOUR! Lovely shot! Starc errs in length as he serves a juicy half-volley, on off. Dubey presses onto the front foot and creams the drive all along the ground, wide of extra cover. He picks up a boundary to get going.

Mitchell Starc to Shubham Dubey, Wide! Starc goes searching for the yorker but drifts down leg and it comes out as a low full toss. Dubey fails to help it away.

Mitchell Starc to Shubham Dubey, Delivers it full, outside off, Dubey steers it to backward point with an open bat face.

Double blow from the Aussie speedster as he gets rid of both set batters. Shubham Dubey walks out to bat now.

Mitchell Starc to Riyan Parag, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Mitchell Starc strikes gold for DC. From around the wicket, hits the back of a length, on off and middle. Parag just swings through the line, aiming to back over the bowler's head. The ball holds up a bit in the surface and one hand comes off the bat handle. It is skied towards mid off, where Axar Patel takes a few steps forward and does the rest. End of a fine knock from the RR skipper. Two wickets in the over. RR are now 168/5.

Mitchell Starc to Donovan Ferreira, Full and slanting in at the toes, Ferreira knocks it down to long on for a single.

The next batter in is Donovan Ferreira.

Mitchell Starc to Ravindra Jadeja, OUT! CAUGHT! Mitchell Starc breaks through. Pace off and bowled into the surface by Starc, over off. Jadeja gets on his toes and gets his hands high. He tries to guide it over backward point but does not have any pace to work with. Spoons it to Ashutosh Sharma there on the edge of the ring, who moves to his right and takes the catch at head height.

Mitchell Starc to Ravindra Jadeja, Wide! Low full toss, drifting down leg, Jadeja lets it go past him.

Mitchell Starc to Ravindra Jadeja, FOUR! Gets it through! Skidding through at 143.7 kph, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Jadeja plays it late as he glides it to short third. Kyle Jamieson is late to get down to his right there and concedes a boundary. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

Mitchell Starc (2-0-16-1) returns to the attack.

Kyle Jamieson to Ravindra Jadeja, Top work! Low full toss, angling away, Jadeja extends his hands and hits it wide of mid off, but Tristan Stubbs is quick across the turf and dives to his right to prevent the ball from going past him. Single taken. 15 runs off the over.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, A half-volley, on off. Parag cracks the drive to deep cover and crosses over.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Make that a hat-trick of fours. A poor ball by Jamieson, a low full toss, sliding onto the pads. Parag helps it wide of short fine leg to his left and it races away.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Smart batting! Pace off and dug in short, over middle. The off-cutter spins back towards the right-hander, but Parag gets his hands high to play the ramp over the keeper's head for four more.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Helped away! Jamieson dishes out the yorker but strays on the toes. Parag gets inside the line and glances it to the left of the man at short fine leg for a four.

Kyle Jamieson to Ravindra Jadeja, Good stop! Across off, on a good length. Jadeja cuts it late but can't get it through. Mitchell Starc moves to his left at backward point and gets down to make the stop. Just a single.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Gets it away this time! T Natarajan misses the yorker again and bowls a full toss, on off. Riyan Parag shows the full face of the bat and smacks it to the long off fence for a boundary. No chance for Starc this time around.

T Natarajan to Ravindra Jadeja, Short of a length and around off, Ravindra Jadeja pulls it away to deep square leg for one.

T Natarajan to Ravindra Jadeja, SIX! Straight as an arrow! T Natarajan sticks to the fuller length, on middle. Ravindra Jadeja is expecting that length, hits it through the line and with a high elbow, tonks it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, Pitched up and on middle, Riyan Parag uses his wrists and clips it wide of long on for a run.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, WIDE! Tries the bouncer, on middle, but this is too high for the batter, Riyan Parag leaves it alone. Wided.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, Fuller one and on middle, Riyan Parag clips it away wide of long on, where Tristan Stubbs works in tandem with the deep mid-wicket fielder to keep it down to two runs.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, A low full toss, on off, Riyan Parag drills it with a straight bat wide of long off. Mitchell Starc runs to his right and slides to pull the ball back inside. He does well to get rid of the ball before his back foot touches the ropes. Two taken. Starc seems to be experiencing a bit of cramp, but he is staying on.

STRATEGIC BREAK! A decent last couple of overs for the Delhi Capitals, but a challenging task awaits them in the final six. The surface has been a touch on the slower side, and Rajasthan Royals will be eyeing the 200-mark. Ravindra Jadeja has been guilty of chewing up deliveries so far. He will need to shift gears here, or at least keep turning the strike over. RR still have the likes of Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey waiting in the shed. An interesting phase of play awaits us.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Darts this one full and on middle and leg, Riyan Parag whips it away through mid-wicket for one more.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Powered away! Kuldeep Yadav drags his length back a bit, on middle. Riyan Parag backs away a bit and uses all his shoulder strength to blast it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ravindra Jadeja, Short and outside off, Ravindra Jadeja cuts it away wide of point, where Ashutosh Sharma dives to his left to make a fantastic stop. He grabs the ball and throws it at the batter's end, where KL Rahul takes the bails off, but Parag has made his ground.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ravindra Jadeja, Slows it up, full and on off, Ravindra Jadeja taps it to the off side.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ravindra Jadeja, Floated, short and on middle, Ravindra Jadeja stays back and nudges it through mid-wicket and calls for two. He hustles back for the second, but a better throw would have made things interesting here.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Flatter, full and around leg, Riyan Parag swipes at it but he ball goes off his pads towards short fine for a leg bye.

Kuldeep Yadav (2-0-13-0) is back. He has been tidy so far.

T Natarajan to Ravindra Jadeja, Run out chance...missed! Good length and on off, Ravindra Jadeja opens the face of his bat and guides it straight to point, but sets off for the run. He is sent back but gets stranded midway on the pitch. Ashutosh Sharma has a lot of time to take aim, but misses his shy at the batter's end. Jadeja had already given up, but got a life here.

T Natarajan to Ravindra Jadeja, Bangs this into the pitch, outside off, Ravindra Jadeja uses his feet, reaches out and slaps it wide of sweeper cover for a brace.

T Natarajan to Ravindra Jadeja, On a back of a length, on off, that is punched off the back foot but straight to cover.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, Much fuller and on middle and leg, shapes in a touch, Riyan Parag looks to flick it away, but misses and gets hit low on the back pad as the ball rolls to point. The batters cross. Axar Patel has a chat with his bowler and keeper but opts against the review. The umpire gives it as runs, so maybe an inside edge there as well.

T Natarajan to Ravindra Jadeja, Full again and on middle, Ravindra Jadeja drives it to long on for a run.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, Fuller and on middle, Riyan Parag drills it to long on for a single.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Uppish but safe! This is slowed down by Axar, on a length, on middle. Parag backs away to go inside out but skews it off the outer half over cover-point for a single.

Axar Patel to Ravindra Jadeja, Dragged back, on leg, Ravindra Jadeja clips it through mid-wicket for one.

The 102-run stand has been broken. Ravindra Jadeja makes his way out to bat.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, OUT! TAKEN! Axar Patel breaks the big partnership. He bowls this quicker and shorter, on middle, angling in. Dhruv Jurel backs away and looks to heave it over mid-wicket, but gets cramped up to free his arms completely. He ends up hitting it from the upper half of the bat much straighter towards long on, where Tristan Stubbs moves to his right, crouches on his knees and takes the catch with a reverse cup.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, SIX! Superb use of the feet! Tossed up, full and on off, Dhruv Jurel skips down the track to get to the pitch of it and pumps it flat and over the long off fence for a biggie. That also brings up the 100-RUN STAND between these two batters.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Short and around leg, Riyan Parag nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Full and on off, Jurel comes forward and plays it to long off for a run.

Axar Patel (3-0-29-0) returns to bowl his final over.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, SIX! How has he got that there? T Natarajan bangs this into the pitch, keeps the line outside off again. Riyan Parag opens up his stance, plays it like a tennis player's forehand smash, dismissing it over the wide long off fence for a biggie.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Put away! T Natarajan gets the slower one wrong and serves a juicy full toss, outside off. Riyan Parag makes the most of it and smashes it over extra cover for a boundary. 100 UP FOR RR.

T Natarajan to Dhruv Jurel, Short of a length and on middle, Dhruv Jurel rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, FIFTY FOR PARAG! His first of the season and this has been a captain's knock. This should give him and his team a lot of confidence going ahead in the season. Pitched up, on off, Riyan Parag drills it to long off for a run. Not much of a celebaration, just a little raise of the bat and a hug from his partner.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, Hits the length hard and around off, takes pace off, Riyan Parag swats it wide of long off for a couple of runs.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, WIDE! Goes fuller but way outside off, Riyan Parag leaves it alone. Called a wide.

T Natarajan to Riyan Parag, Back of a length and around off, Riyan Parag stabs it hard on the ground but straight to extra cover.

Kuldeep Yadav to Dhruv Jurel, Loopy googly, full and on off. Dhruv gets his hands through the line of the ball and drills it to the right of long off. Kyle Jamieson gets around and tidies up. Two runs taken. A tidy over from Kuldeep.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Very full, on middle and leg. Parag can't get under it and hits it along the ground to long on. Just a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Dhruv Jurel, Nearly sneaked through! This skids through, short and flat, on middle. Jurel rocks back for the pull but is rushed. Squeezes out an inside edge towards short fine leg. They cross.

Kuldeep Yadav to Dhruv Jurel, Shorter and on off, Jurel pats it back to Kuldeep.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Dishes out the googly, slower and full, on middle. Riyan drops it beside the strip on the off side and hurries to the other end.

Kuldeep Yadav to Dhruv Jurel, Full and on leg, Jurel clips it to deep mid-wicket and picks up a single.

Strategic Break! Despite losing both the explosive openers cheaply, the Rajasthan Royals have managed to recover nicely here. It is their skipper, Riyan Parag, leading from the front, and he is nearing a half-century, with this already being his best score this season. Dhruv Jurel is playing the anchor, and this partnership is becoming threatening for the visitors. The pitch does not have any demons on it, and anything less than 200, the Capitals will take it. However, they will have to break this stand first and then put pressure on the RR middle order, which has been a bit inconsistent this season.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Bowls it full and quick, on middle. Parag plays a punchy drive but can't get it past the diving Sameer Rizvi at cover.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Slower and fuller, on off, a bit of grip in the surface. Parag checks his drive to cover.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Just a single. Short and on leg, Dhruv nurdles it in front of deep mid-wicket and they take the first run hard. Jurel slips while turning around for the second and the batters eventually settle with one.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, At 97.7 kph, short and on middle, bowled a bit round arm. Riyan punches it to long off for one.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, SIX! Back-to-back sixes! Parag is taking down his counterpart. Darted in, on a good length, on middle. This just sits up to be hit and Parag clobbers it way back over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, SIX! Clean strike! Axar gives it a bit of air, full and outside off. Riyan Parag gets the width to free his arms and presses onto the front foot. He swings through the line and hammers it over long on for a six.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Tossed up, full and on off, Riyan dabs it beside the strip on the off side and takes a quick single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Dhruv Jurel, Quicker through the air, fractionally short, Dhruv comes down the track and punches it to long on for one more.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Drops it short again, on middle  Parag shovels it to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Shorter and turning into the pads. Parag presses back and whips it towards deep mid-wicket. Sameer Rizvi sprints and dives to his left to cut it off. Two runs taken.

Kuldeep Yadav to Dhruv Jurel, Stays full, on off, Dhruv pushes it down the strip. Kuldeep dives to his right but cannot make a clean stop. He parries it away, allowing a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Riyan Parag, Flighted delivery, full and on middle, driven to long on for one.

Spin from both ends as Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack now.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Attacking the front pad, a bit full. Parag wrists it to deep mid-wicket and keeps the strike with a single.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Darted in, on the shorter side, on middle. Jurel goes back in the crease and flicks it away through mid wicket for a single.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Sharp stop! Flat and short, on off, Dhruv cuts it hard but Nitish Rana dives to his right and cuts it off, saving at least a couple of runs.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, FOUR! Nicely adjusted! This keeps coming with the arm at 91.5 kph, on a good length, in line with the off stump. Jurel shimmies down the pitch initially but then holds his charge and adjusts to the shortness of the length. Cuts it between backward point and short third and picks up a boundary. The 50-run stand comes up between this pair.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Slows it down a bit, on a good length, on middle. Parag turns it through mid-wicket for another single.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Skidding through, on a nagging length, on middle. This is punched to long on for one.

Giving a third over on the trot to Kyle Jamieson proved a bit costly for DC. However, they will still be pleased with how things went in the Powerplay, and getting rid of both the openers, they would have taken that all day long.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, Jamieson hurls it on a good length, on middle. Dhruv pats it in front of mid on and hurries to the other end. A good finish to the Powerplay for the home side. 20 runs off the over. After 6 overs, the Royals are 56/2.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, Good placement! Jamieson drags the length back and follows Jurel as he backs away. Dhruv watchfully nudges it with soft hands in front of deep square leg and picks up a brace.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, Sliding onto the pads, pace taken off. Riyan dabs it beside the strip on the leg side and crosses over.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, SIX! Nothing edgy about this one. Good proactive batting from the RR skipper. Seam-up ball, on a good length, angled in at the sticks. Parag moves towards the leg side to open up the off side. Presents a high elbow and goes inside out over cover for half a dozen. The 50 is up for RR.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Off the edge! On a hard length, around the off stump. Parag is slightly tucked up for room but flashes hard at the ball. It flies off an outside edge between the keeper and short third for a four.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, SIX! Hit with real authority! Floated up there by Jamieson as he goes searching for the swing, on middle. Parag puts his head down and has a swing across the line. He holds his shape and with a still head, he clubs it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Change? Nope, Kyle Jamieson (2-0-13-1) to continue.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Full and speared in at the sticks, Parag taps it to long off for a single.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, A much louder appeal for LBW, still turned down! Axar Patel pushes this through quicker, full and on middle, angles it in. Riyan Parag once again switches hands for the switch hit but misses and gets hit on the pads. Axar Patel has a chat with his keeper and takes the review this time. UltraEdge confirms no bat is involved, and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is missing the leg stump. DC lose a review.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Slight shout for LBW, but turned down! Flatter, full and on off, Riyan Parag changes his stance for the reverse sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, Slows it up, full and on middle, Dhruv Jurel looks to push it away but gets an inside edge towards mid on for a run.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Jurel, FOUR! Great shot! Shorter in length and outside off, Dhruv Jurel rocks back, gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for a boundary.

Axar Patel to Riyan Parag, Floated, full and on off, Riyan Parag drives it to long off for a single.

Still some movement in that last over for Jamieson. Will Starc bowl one more in the Powerplay? The answer is no. Axar Patel brings himself on.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, Short of a length and on off, Riyan Parag dabs it down in front of point for a quick one.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, Beaten! Fuller in length and in the channel outside off, gets it to shape away, Riyan Parag goes for the big booming drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, Pitched up and on off, Dhruv Jurel drills it wide of short cover. Pathum Nissanka dives to his left to make a half-stop and the batters get the run.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, FOUR! Excellent timing! Good-length delivery, on middle, drifts into the pads. Dhruv Jurel brings his wrists into play and flicks it with sublime timing through square leg for a boundary.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, Touch slower and fuller, outside off, Riyan Parag throws his bat at it. He slices it uppishly but through the vacant point region for a run.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, On a length and on middle, angling in, Dhruv Jurel clips it through square leg for a single.

Mitchell Starc to Riyan Parag, FOUR! Connects this time! Just back of a length and around middle, it sits up nicely for the batter. Riyan Parag gets on top of the bounce and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Mitchell Starc to Riyan Parag, Well bowled! The trademark in-swinging yorker from Mitchell Starc, on middle, Riyan Parag just about gets his bat down in time to dig it out.

Mitchell Starc to Riyan Parag, Swing and a miss! Mitchell Starc bangs this into the pitch at 137.5 kph, on off, takes off again. Riyan Parag tries to pull it away but fails to connect.

Mitchell Starc to Riyan Parag, Short of a length and outside off, angling away with extra bounce, Riyan Parag slashes at it but misses.

Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, Pitched up and on off, Dhruv Jurel drills it through point for a single.

Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, FOUR! Fine shot! Mitchell Starc lands this on a good length and around off. Dhruv Jurel strides out a bit, uses the width and cracks the drive through covers for a boundary.

Kyle Jamieson to Riyan Parag, Back of a length and around off, Riyan Parag leaves it alone.

Both RR openers are back in the hut inside the first two overs. A rare occurrence this season, and DC are off to the perfect start. In walks the Rajasthan skipper, Riyan Parag.

Kyle Jamieson to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Kyle Jamieson with an instant response, and the crowd has gone absolutely silent here in Jaipur. The Kiwi this time gets the yorker right, on off, tailing in a bit as well. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stays back and tries to dig it out, but gets a bit late to get his bat down. The ball goes off the toe-end onto the back pad before kissing the stumps behind. Jamieson is pumped up here and gives a bit of a send-off to the youngster.

Kyle Jamieson to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, FOUR! Take that, says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi! Kyle Jamieson searches for the yokrer, but ends up serving a half-volley, on off. Sooryavanshi stays deep inside his crease and thumps it down the ground to the long off fence for a boundary.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, On a length and on off, Dhruv Jurel opens the bat face and guides it towards point for a single.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, Play and a miss! Kyle Jamieson sees the batter advance and hits the length hard, on off, shaping it away. Dhruv Jurel gets a bit squared up trying to play at it as the ball zips past the outside edge.

Kyle Jamieson to Dhruv Jurel, Kyle Jamieson begins with a fuller delivery, on off, Dhruv Jurel drills it straight to short cover.

The tall Kyle Jamieson will steam in from the other end.

Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, Fuller one and on off, Dhruv Jurel drives it to mid off for a single. End of an eventful first over, a wicket and 7 runs off it!

Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, BEAUTY! Good-length delivery, around off, angling away with extra bounce. Dhruv Jurel has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Mitchell Starc to Dhruv Jurel, Pitched up and on middle, shaping in, Dhruv Jurel knocks it to mid on.

Mitchell Starc is on the board in a rather unusual fashion. Dhruv Jurel walks in at number 3.

Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! There's the response from the Aussie. Not a wicket-taking delivery, but Mitchell Starc opens his account for the season. He bowls a high full toss at 143.3 kph, around the midriff of the batter. Yashasvi Jaiswal gets surprised by it and just swings at it. It spoons up off the higher part of the bat, and Starc runs to his left to take a dolly. Jaiswal is not going anywhere as the third umpire is checking for a No Ball above waist height. However, the Ball Tracking shows that it is well below the waist of Yashasvi, and he will have to walk back to the hut.

Mitchell Starc has his first wicket, or has he? Yashasvi Jaiswal is going nowhere. The third umpire has been summoned to check the height of the full toss. It seems to be below the waist on the side-on replay. The Ball Tracking confirms that it is a fair delivery with the ball being below the waist. OUT flashes on the big screen.

Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hard length and outside off, shaping away a bit. Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to cut it away but toe-ends it towards short third.

Mitchell Starc to Yashasvi Jaiswal, SIX! Now, that's some welcome for Mitchell Starc this season! He lands this back of a length and around middle, not short enough to trouble the batter. Yashasvi Jaiswal picks up the length in a trice, swivels and pulls it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

We are all set for the action to get underway in Jaipur. Axar Patel has gathered his men in a huddle near the ropes, with the captain spurring his team on with a few final words before they take the field. Out walk the formidable RR opening pair of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Playing his first game of the season, Mitchell Starc will kick off proceedings with the new ball for DC. Jaiswal to take strike. A slip in place. Let's go...

The captain of the Delhi Capitals - Axar Patel says that they would have bowled first anyway, as in the last game at this venue, SRH chased something around 230. Mentions that they just have to keep a positive attitude and try to turn things around. Axar informs that there are a few changes in the side. Mitchell Starc is playing so Dushmantha Chameera misses out. Sahil Parakh is out with a neck spasm, and Pathum Nissanka comes in, with David Miller also sitting out this match.

The captain of the Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag believes it is not the usual Jaipur wicket, noting a bit of dryness and patchiness on the surface. He expects it to slow down as the game progresses. Parag says the middle and lower-order finishing the previous game was pleasing to see. Highlights that chasing down 223 was a collective effort, with everyone stepping up at different stages. Riyan admits they are still not playing complete cricket, but hopes the team can put it all together going forward. Informs that Ravi Bishnoi comes back in and Dasun Shanaka sits out, with Shubham Dubey being included in the starting XI.

Impact sub options for DC - Vipraj Nigam, Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, Auqib Nabi, David Miller.

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI) - KL Rahul (WK), Pathum Nissanka (In for David Miller), Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma (In for Sahil Parakh), Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc (In for Dushmantha Chameera), Kuldeep Yadav and T Natarajan.

Impact sub options for RR - Adam Milne, Dasun Shanaka, Ravi Singh, Yash Punja and Tushar Deshpande.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey (In for Dasun Shanaka), Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi (In for Yash Punja), Nandre Burger and Brijesh Sharma.

Riyan Parag gives the coin a flip and it lands in his favour. Rajasthan Royals elect to BAT first.

TOSS - It's time for the coin flip in the Pink City! Both the captains are out in the middle now.

Let's hear from the other camp now - RR's Nandre Burger says he is feeling pretty good and is focusing on keeping things simple, hoping to get the job done tonight. Shares that it has been a joy to watch Jofra Archer go about his work. Burger believes that bowling to Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi in the nets provides a strong challenge, which in itself is a good way to improve and test his skills. Acknowledges the importance of the game, with the team keen to stay in the top four. Nandre also points out that with a long break coming up, it is important to switch off, get their minds off cricket for a bit, and then come back refreshed and regroup.

A Kiwi is up for a chat - DC's Kyle Jamieson says that it is an important game for them. Adds that they have had a couple of good days of training, Starcy is back as well, and hopefully their fortunes will change. Says that Starc has been back for a few days, and he is hitting the nets well, and they need him. Kyle mentions that you have to take the challenges head-on, but it is also important to stick to your plans, though those haven't worked for him so far this season. Says that you do discuss the opposition and come up with some game plans, but in the end, it is all about the execution. Jamieson shares that there is not much for the bowlers this season, you just have to play a bit of cat and mouse with the batters, hit the hard lengths and hope for the best. Ends by saying that it is a must-win game for them, but that also makes their roles clearer, and they can play with a bit more freedom.

PITCH REPORT - Danny Morrison mentions it has been very warm in Jaipur, with an odd shower late in the day, but there is hardly any cloud in the sky at the moment. Shares that there is a noticeable discrepancy in the square boundaries, with one side at 69 metres and the other shorter at 63, while it is 76 metres straight down the ground. Simon Katich adds that the surface is hard, almost like concrete. Tells that there is a little bit of grass, but overall it looks like an absolute batting paradise, which could mean a tough outing for the bowlers. Further says that the outfield is in superb shape and batters will get value for their shots.  Katich says that historically, RR have enjoyed success here, winning around 60 per cent of their games in Jaipur, but since 2025, that record has dipped significantly, with just one win in their last six matches. Ends by saying that he is looking forward to watching the battle between Sooryavanshi and Starc.

The numbers game - Head-to-head? Dead level - 15 wins each from 30 meetings, which tells you how finely poised this rivalry is. At this very ground, though, the numbers flip. Batting first, teams have won 30 per cent (last 10 games) of the time here, but the average winning score is 205, which tells you defendable totals are an illusion. Add to that a last-five-encounters ledger featuring a Super Over, a 12-run thriller, and a 20-run heist. One stat seals it -Sooryavanshi scores nearly 80 per cent of his runs in the powerplay, while Archer has the joint-most Powerplay wickets (9) this season. Something has to give, and it might happen in the first six overs. Toss and team news in a bit.

Delhi's pride on the line - Delhi Capitals, to put it bluntly, are in crisis. Their last outing was a massacre - bundled out for 75 by RCB, losing by nine wickets inside seven overs, making it three losses on the trot. KL Rahul has been a lone warrior with 358 runs, but the top order around him has collapsed, leaving a lot to do for the Proteas pair of Tristan Stubbs and David Miller, who have bailed them out on a few occasions. But here comes the cavalry. Mitchell Starc is available for selection from this game, and his return could be the psychological reboot Delhi desperately needs. The Rahul vs Archer subplot remains box office - Rahul has 90 runs off Archer in IPL history, the most by any batter, while Archer has picked up a wicket on the first ball three times this season, but the bigger question is, can anyone else in blue step up before Starc walks in?

Royals' opening overdrive - Rajasthan Royals arrive riding a much-needed adrenaline shot. They got back to winning ways by chasing down a monstrous 223 against the Punjab Kings, and the architects were their explosive openers. Yashasvi Jaiswal and the record-smashing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are turning Powerplays into batting practice, averaging 50.1 as a pair this. Sooryavanshi now owns the best strike rate in IPL history (min. 500 runs) and leads the tournament in sixes. Donovan Ferreira showed why he is one of the most lethal finishers in the format with a match-winning fifty. But the Royals' bowling remains a question mark, and at a venue where the average first-innings score is a daunting 199, their attack will need more than just Jofra Archer's fiery new-ball magic.

The Pink City lights up - Welcome, cricket fans, to the beating heart of the Pink City! It's Match 43 of IPL 2026, and the Sawai Mansingh Stadium is set to witness a cracker between the Rajasthan Royals and the Delhi Capitals. With both teams on different paths, this isn't just a contest, it's a statement waiting to be made. The floodlights are on, the pitch is pristine, and Jaipur is ready for a high-octane showdown.

... MATCH DAY ...

Momentum vs Desperation - As the IPL 2026 caravan keeps moving, we arrive back in Jaipur, where the Rajasthan Royals will be taking on the Delhi Capitals in Match number 43 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The two sides head into this clash with different aspirations - the Royals are coming off 2 wins in the last three games, including a big one against the then-unbeaten Punjab Kings, and the Capitals come into this clash on the back of three successive defeats, desperate to re-ignite their campaign. Royals' strength upfront - The Royals’ success this season has largely stemmed from their explosive top order and improved depth. Young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been a revelation, piling up over 400 runs and even smashing a rapid century earlier in the tournament. Alongside him, Yashasvi Jaiswal has provided stability, while the middle order, featuring Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag, has started to click at the right time. Although Parag’s form has been inconsistent, signs of recovery in the last match are encouraging. With the ball, Jofra Archer has been the spearhead, consistently delivering breakthroughs and controlling key phases. The presence of all-round options like Ravindra Jadeja adds balance, making RR one of the most complete sides this season. Searching for a way back - Delhi Capitals’ season has been defined by extremes. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance, like posting a massive 260+ total, but have also collapsed dramatically, highlighting their inconsistency. KL Rahul remains their most reliable batter, capable of anchoring or accelerating depending on the situation. Support from players like Tristan Stubbs and David Miller provides finishing firepower, but the middle order has struggled to maintain consistency. On the bowling front, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel form a strong spin duo, while the potential inclusion of Mitchell Starc could significantly boost their pace attack. However, DC’s biggest challenge remains execution - both with bat and ball, and that too across all phases of the game. What to expect from the pitch? The Jaipur surface has evolved into a high-scoring venue in IPL 2026. The first match at this ground saw a 220+ target chased down comfortably, indicating that bowlers will need precision rather than relying on assistance from the pitch. Teams winning the toss are likely to prefer chasing, as dew and pitch conditions tend to favour batters later in the game. However, it is a big ground, which does give the bowlers a bit of breathing room when compared to other venues on the circuit. Whom does history favour? Historically, this rivalry is perfectly balanced. Both teams have won 15 matches each out of 30 encounters, reflecting how closely matched they’ve been over the years. Interestingly, recent meetings slightly favour Delhi, who have won three of the last five clashes. Their latest encounter was in the previous season, a topsy-turvy battle that went into a Super Over shootout, with DC emerging as the eventual winners. Form (Last 5 completed matches, recent first) - RR - WLWLL | DC - LLLWL. Predictions? Rajasthan Royals enter this contest as clear favourites due to their consistency, balanced squad, and home advantage. Their ability to adapt to conditions and deliver across departments gives them a strong edge. Delhi Capitals, however, remain dangerous on their day. If their key players fire collectively and their bowling unit clicks, especially with potential reinforcements, they are capable of pulling off an upset. Who do you think will come out on top?