IPL 2026: KKR vs DC live score: Delhi Capitals end with a consolation victory

First things first

How likely is the KKR to make the playoffs? If KKR defeats DC tonight and RR loses their current game against MI, they will undoubtedly qualify. Given that PBKS defeated LSG yesterday, net run rates would be crucial if KKR wins and RR loses. To surpass PBKS' run pace, KKR must win by a significant margin.

There is one remaining playoff slot

Due to a washout versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS), the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had only one point from their first six IPL 2026 games. Their batting lineup appeared confused, with Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi hitting slower than other teams' top-order; their inexperienced bowlers weren't taking enough wickets, and their INR 25.20 crore-purchased Cameron Green wasn't firing with bat or ball.

In a single over, Mitchell Starc claimed two wickets

KKR did not instantly become a flawless team. However, its key players—Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Kartik Tyagi, and Green—have returned to form. These guys are the foundation of a successful bowling assault. Manish Pandey's game-winning 33-ball 45 against the Mumbai Indians, however, demonstrated the depth of their batting and compensated for their comparatively low strike-rate ceiling.

DC has nothing to lose

Delhi Capitals (DC), bloodied and bruised and already eliminated from the race, stand in KKR's path tonight. However, DC has enough star power to be no pushovers, as RR discovered when they fell short of Mitchell Starc's four-for and fifties from KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel.

In attention

Cameron Green couldn't buy a run at the start of the season. He had trouble timing and was often moved around the middle order without success. He has, however, crossed 30 five times in eight innings since his 79 against the Gujarat Titans to support the KKR lineup. More significantly, he is now essential while the ball is in his possession. In their most recent match against MI, he had his best spell to date, taking out Ryan Rickelton and Naman Dhir in his game-changing 2 for 23.

With DC, Abishek Porel's season has been patchy. To make room for David Miller further down the order, Pathum Nissanka, their first-choice opener alongside Rahul, had to withdraw in recent games. Even though it was only his third game of the season, Porel took full advantage of his substitution. In the powerplay, he faced players like Adam Milne and Jofra Archer and quickly reached a fifty off 29 balls. He will be eager to maintain his strong form after hitting seven fours and one six in his innings.

Trivia and statistics

DC has had difficulty winning power plays this season. They have taken just 13 wickets while bowling at an average of 62.7 and a strike rate of 36, which is the lowest of all ten teams. They also have the lowest batting run-rate in the first six overs this year (8.7).

KKR has also gotten off to a bad start. With a run rate of 8.8 and the lowest balls-per-boundary ratio of 4.5, they are the ninth-slowest batting team in the powerplay, slightly above DC.

Varun was bowling at an economy of 10.7 and a strike rate of 39 in his first six games, which was an all-time IPL low. These numbers have dropped to 8.6 and 24, respectively, in his last six games. He has once again become a deadly menace in the middle overs, perfecting long deliveries and taking six wickets in his last six matches.

The excruciating wait for KKR

In addition to performing an incredible feat on their own, KKR needs MI to defeat RR in the current match. As of right now, things don't seem all that promising for KKR. After ten overs, MI is 90 for 4 while chasing 206. The bright side is that Will Jacks and Suryakumar Yadav both seem good.

The emcee at Eden is providing regular score updates from the Wankhede, according to Sreshth Shah, who is present at the event.

DC brings in Nabi and Kuldeep, while KKR chooses to bowl

The Kolkata Knight Riders chose to bowl against the Delhi Capitals.

Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at Eden Gardens in an attempt to secure the fourth playoff place.

Mumbai Indians (MI) must defeat Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the current match at Wankhede Stadium for KKR to qualify. They will then need to hunt DC down in 12 to 12.4 overs, depending on their ultimate winning score, if they limit it to 180.

KKR proceeded with Tejasvi Dahiya after Angkrish Raghuvanshi was sidelined due to a concussion and a finger injury.

DC also wanted to bowl first, according to Axar Patel. When considering DC's season, he remarked, "I won't say we played badly, but we failed to capitalise on the chances we got."

DC made two adjustments. Kuldeep Yadav replaced T Vijay, and Auqib Nabi replaced Mukesh Kumar.

This season, only one game has taken place on this pitch: KKR's second game, which ended in a 65-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The square's dimensions are 61 and 68 metres. The straight line is 74 metres long.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 2 Cameron Green, 3 Rovman Powell, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Tejasvi Dahiya (wk), 7 Sunil Narine, 8 Anukul Roy, 9 Kartik Tyagi, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Saurabh Dubey

Impact Player bench: Finn Allen, Sarthak Ranjan, Vaibhav Arora, Ramandeep Singh, Rahul Tripathi

Delhi Capitals: 1 Abishek Porel, 2 KL Rahul (wk), 3 Sahil Parakh, 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 David Miller, 6 Ashutosh Sharma, 7 Axar Patel (capt), 8 Auqib Nabi, 9 Madhav Tiwari, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Impact Player bench: Kuldeep Yadav, T Vijay, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Nitish Rana

A left-handed hitter and a left-arm spinner

0 0 4 4 1 1

Despite DC's left-handed hitter Abishek Porel opening the innings, KKR opens the bowling with left-arm spinner Anukul Roy. Roy begins by circling the wicket. Porel tries to pull, but he only gets an inside edge onto the pads because it's not that short. However, he rocks back and drags Roy through square leg for four following another dot. For the next delivery, Roy goes wider and fuller, but he is driven past mid-off for four.

Rahul clutches a single to mid-off against the final ball.

DC 10/0 after one

RR secures a fourth postseason berth

The Rajasthan Royals secured the fourth and final playoff position at Wankhede Stadium by defeating the Mumbai Indians. Punjab Kings and KKR have both been eliminated as a result. It's a dead rubber now.

DC 26/0 following the three

Porel is dropped by Dahiya for eighteen

Porel hits two fours against Kartik Tyagi to begin the fourth over. The following one is a classic straight drive, while the first one comes via a thick outside edge that sails past the short third for four. Then Tyagi goes wide and full. After chasing it, Porel gains a strong outside edge to Dahiya's left. Dahiya receives a regulation chance at chest height with both hands, but ultimately drops it.

DC 39/0 following the four

Porel drop is inexpensive

Saurabh Dubey makes sure KKR doesn't have to pay a lot for the Porel drop. In the channel, he bowls one full. Porel advances and attempts to drive, but only receives a slight outside edge. Dahiya jumps forward to seize it with both hands, even though it was dying on him.

Coming in at number three, Sahil Parakh scores a single off the opening ball.

Later in the over, when Rahul played early to a slower ball, Dubey almost got him, but the error missed Narine at mid-on. After two overs, Dubey is 1 for 5.

DC 42/1 following the five

Now Rinku drops one

Narine is hit down the ground for a six by Sahil Parakh. He goes backwards on the next delivery, but he hits it directly at cover-point in Rinku Singh's direction. Rinku lowers himself and tries to grab it with both hands when it's about shin height. However, it bursts out in some way. Most of the time, Rinku is a safe fielder, but this time, he grasses one. Parakh pulls it over mid-on for four after Narine ends the over with a short ball.

However, Varun Chakravarthy gives up just four goals.

DC 57/1 following the seven

Rahul strikes the vehicle

1 6 4 1 1 0

Rahul now chooses to pursue Narine. He clears Green at long-on after skipping down the track. When the TATA Sierra car is parked there, the ball bounces off its hood. I believe the agreement is that TATA will donate INR 5 lakh for the purchase of cricket gear to help grassroots cricket throughout the nation if the ball strikes the automobile.

On the next delivery, Rahul chips it over the bowler's head for four by using his feet once more.

DC 70/1 following the eight

Rahul receives fifty, and Narine receives Parakh

Tonight, Narine has been unusually pricey. Rahul knocks another six over long-on with the first ball of his third over, which is the tenth of the innings. However, Narine recovers and sends Parakh back. It is a slower-moving off-break. Parakh had to examine his shot because he was early. Rahane made no mistakes as a leading edge lobbed towards more cover.

However, Rahul persists, hitting Tyagi for a four and a six off consecutive balls to reach his fifty off twenty-five deliveries.

DC 108/2 following 11

Rahul is 60 years old

Rahul had an arrogant expression. He attempts to collect one from way outside off after hitting two fours off Roy's last two deliveries. He drops to his knees and tries to slog it. However, it moves more slowly through the air. Rahul ultimately pulls it in the direction of long-on. Powell dashes in and comfortably pouches it.

Rahul takes just 30 balls to fall for 60.

Axar Patel is joined in the centre by David Miller.

DC 127/3 following 13

Allen joins Narine as an Impact Player

KKR made a rather intriguing choice. It was anticipated that Finn Allen would be brought in as an impact player, but Narine is leaving. Does Narine have a nagging of any kind? Otherwise, considering how proficient he is with the bat, this is absurd. In addition, Varun's left foot has a tiny fracture.

For his first six, however, Miller had hauled Tyagi over square leg.

DC 150/3 following 16

After two sixes, Varun receives Axar

Before the seventeenth over, there is a brief pause while Miller and Axar switch bats. That seemed to have worked, as Axar smacked Varun for a six off the opening ball. Two balls later, he does it again, but Varun gets his man in the same over. Axar attempts a hat-trick but is hit by a long-on.

Ashutosh enters the game at number six and uses the last ball of the eighteenth over to ram Dubey for a four.

DC 175/4 following 18

DC post 203 for five

DC reaches 203 for 5, their biggest total ever at Eden Gardens, thanks to 28 runs from Ashutosh and Miller in the final two overs. Before Miller significantly ruins Dubey's stats in the 20th with two sixes, Ashutosh scores a four and a six off Tyagi in the 19th. Dahiya drops Ashutosh off the last ball to deny him a third wicket, but Dubey does dismiss Miller, who was caught at mid-off off a full delivery.

Rahul is replaced by Kuldeep

The teamsheet listed KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper; Impact Player Kuldeep Yadav has taken his place. Porel will now keep wicket.

Allen's boundary was off target

Rahane singles to put Allen on strike after two dots. Starc is flat-batted past mid-off for four by Allen, who doesn't require a sighter.

Next up, Starc attempted a full yorker and nearly eliminated Allen with it. It barely missed the off stump while swinging in.

KKR 5/0 following one

Rahane's problems with power play

124.16 Ajinkya Rahane's IPL 2026 strike rate during the powerplay

Starc vs Allen

6 4 0 1 0 4

Starc is facing Allen. When Starc is full, he steers him past first slip for a four after first lofting him over his head for a six.

Rahane attempts to go big on the final ball as well. He flies over the short third with a thick outside edge that nearly carries the entire distance. Starc was fifteen from that.

KKR 26/0 following the three

Ngidi obtains Allen

Nabi lacks the speed to cause problems for batters. And Rahane dismantles him with minimal assistance from the pitch. After launching him over long-on, the batter drags him over deep midwicket for two consecutive sixes. Allen also hit him for a four earlier in the over.

Ngidi takes Starc's place in the attack and uses his second ball to score. Allen gets a massive inside edge on his stumps when he tries to strike him through the leg side.

Manish Pandey is ranked third.

KKR 43/1 following 4.2

Rahane and Pandey put KKR back on track

6 1 0 6 6 2

In the seventh over, Pandey hits Axar for a straight six after gliding down the ground. Then Rahane takes over and hits two consecutive sixes. KKR is back on track after scoring 21 runs in that over.

KKR 85/1 following eight

With rain in the air, Ngidi retaliates

Despite the rain, Starc manages to make a fantastic catch. Pandey drags it towards long-on despite his best efforts to go big against Ngidi. Starc leapt over to grab it with both hands as it went low to his right.

KKR 87/2 following 8.3

Green is captured by Kuldeep, and Rahane raises fifty

This season has been forgettable for Kuldeep Yadav. In this instance, however, he strikes in the first over. Miller makes a straightforward catch after Green miscues his attempt to go aerial against him towards long-off.

However, Kuldeep appears to have injured his right ankle after bowling the subsequent delivery. After a little assistance from the physiotherapist, Kuldeep can stand again.

Rahane hasn't had a particularly good season, much like Kuldeep. Here, however, he hits a fifty off thirty-one balls. He had 67 at the beginning of the season, but it wasn't until tonight that he reached 50 once more.

KKR 103/3 following 11

Kuldeep wins both of them

Kuldeep is ensuring that his campaign comes to a successful conclusion. Miller made his second catch of the evening after Rahane miscued one to long off. Only one ball is lasted by Rinku Singh. Rinku takes up the challenge after Kuldeep lets it breathe. Stubbs lunges forward to take the catch when he hits it towards long-off despite his attempt to go over extra.

After 37 days, Rinku gets fired for the first time; he was last fired on April 17. He scored 216 runs in five innings throughout the course of seven games during this time.

The hat-trick ball is facing Dahiya. Kuldeep slips in a googly after circling the wicket. Dahiya is clueless. He advances and gains an outside advantage, but Porel misses the opportunity. Kuldeep doesn't try to hide his anger.

KKR 129/5 following 14

Dahiya succumbs to Axar

When Dahiya tries to draw, he chops Axar onto his stumps instead of taking advantage of the opportunity. Keep in mind that Narine has been substituted out tonight. Rovman Powell is joined in the centre by Anukul Roy.

KKR requires 71 in five overs.

KKR continues to crumble

For KKR, it's over after three wickets in a single over. Because of Rizvi's genius, Rovman Powell is eliminated. Rizvi's hard hit at the non-striker left him well short of his crease, but it was always going to be a dangerous second run.

Roy is then miscued by Starc. Starc gets under it to make the catch because it doesn't go anywhere. He catches Tyagi at mid-off two balls late.

KKR 159/9 following 18

That's all

Ngidi bowls a full outside off, slower bowl. Varun chases after it, but all he can do is sky it in the direction of covers, where Axar makes another catch. That's all. everywhere. With a consolation victory of 40 runs, DC is now sixth on the points table. KKR comes in seventh.