Overall: DC receives the Starc boost
At last, the wait is over. Mitchell Starc is available to play for the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Friday night when they play the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur.Just a few days ago, Starc joined the team while recuperating from a shoulder injury. He has been bowling in the DC nets and would be eager to play even though he hasn't participated in a game in over three months.
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| On a flat deck, Riyan Parag will try to get among the runs |
DC is also in dire need of this boost. They have lost their last three games and were bowled out for 75 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Aside from that, they have had trouble making an impression with the new ball and have only taken seven wickets in the powerplay all season—the same as Kolkata Knight Riders. In contrast, the top team in that phase, RR, took 21. Nine have been taken by Jofra Archer alone. Beyond numbers, it should be an exciting match between Starc and RR's aggressive opening duo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
May 1, 2026, 4:12 PM
After this, RR gets a big break
RR's victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday will give them confidence. They chased down 223 while playing in New Chandigarh, giving the hosts their first loss of the year. RR has now won two of their previous three games. Depending on the outcome of Gujarat Titans vs. RCB, they could potentially lead the points table if they defeat DC.RR will only play one game in the following fifteen days after this.
May 1, 2026, 4:34 PM
Team news: Will Bishnoi be left out once more?
RR might use the same team that defeated PBKS, but Ravi Bishnoi will be left out once more.Rajasthan Royals (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Donovan Ferreira, 6 Shubham Dubey, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Brijesh Sharma, 12 Yash Raj Punja
Kyle Jamieson might have to sit out when Starc enters. Although Lungi Ngidi has begun training, it is unclear if he is currently eligible for selection.
Delhi Capitals (probable): 1 KL Rahul (wk), 2 Sahil Parakh, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Sameer Rizvi, 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 David Miller, 7 Vipraj Nigam, 8 Axar Patel (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Dushmantha Chameera, 12 T Natarajan
May 1, 2026, 4:54 PM
Jofra Archer and Sameer Rizvi are in the spotlight
This season, Jofra Archer has been at the top of his game, particularly during the powerplay. He has taken four wickets in his opening over of the game, three of which came off the opening ball. He has only ever gone wicketless during the powerplay once. DC's hitters will be different from the Archer threat because of what transpired in their last game.Sameer Rizvi began the season with scores of 90 and 70 not out. However, his earnings have since drastically decreased. He has four single-digit dismissals in his last five innings, including two ducks. DC's middle order now has a gap as a result. Before it's too late, the team management would like him to get back on track.
May 1, 2026, 5:31 PM
Trivia and statistics
This season, Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal have contributed 451 runs at a run rate of 12.13 and an average of 50.11. In just 27 T20 innings, Sooryavanshi has blasted 99 sixes.DC's powerplay score in IPL 2026 was 8.20 per over. In that era, only the Lucknow Super Giants (7.93) had been slower.
In his four innings this season, Dhruv Jurel scored 176 runs with a strike rate of 181.44. He has only managed 72 at 110.77 in his last five innings.
DC and PBKS have both taken the fewest wickets this season, with just 36.
May 1, 2026, 5:44 PM
What they stated
"On-the-field performances everyone can see, that he [Archer] has been brilliant. But what you don't see is the off-field effort. If you watch him, he will come to train, he will execute his bowling, he will go and bowl as he would in a match. He contributes in all our meetings, he contributes as a leader to the rest of the group. And then he takes a lot of pride in his batting as well. For a player of that stature, who has won World Cups and done so much for England, to come and be so invested in the Royals group, it's such a good feeling for us, and for everyone out there, internationals and the Indian boys, he has been an inspiration... We are just thrilled that he is with us." RR head coach and director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara on Archer.It's not like losing a game makes you anxious for the next one. Our approach will remain the same. We will attempt to put up a strong total and then defend it if we bat first. It's not nervous to score 250 in one game and 75 in another; that's just the nature of the game. The goal is to control the game and reduce errors, whether we bowl first or bat first. The outcome will be obvious if we play good cricket." DC bowling coach Munaf Patel.
May 1, 2026, 6:10 PM
Is there going to be another high scorer?
The match will be played on pitch no. 4. In the last three night games played on this particular pitch in the IPL, teams batting first scored 196 for 3, 217 for 2 and 206 for 8. Two of those had unsuccessful outcomes. Thus, anticipate again another high-scoring match.May 1, 2026, 6:31 PM
Once more, Vaibhav
How are you doing? When was the last time you eagerly anticipated a game just to see one player? No fan bases, no partisanship, no PR, no team loyalty, no subtlety—just the unadulterated desire to see a real prodigy play. People are being impacted by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. And tonight's game is the Rajasthan Royals. Fasten your seatbelt.May 1, 2026, 6:57 PM
Is Starc prepared for Jaiswal?
Mitchell Starc must be prepared for his first game of the year because we are seeing pictures of him bowling on the side strip. And what a challenge it is. See how Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has fared in their first exchanges with some of the greatest bowlers of all time by looking up. For the first time ever, we are sitting for Sooryavanshi vs Starc.May 1, 2026, 7:11 PM
To start Sooryavanshi vs Starc in earnest, RR bats first
Perhaps the Rajasthan Royals' decision to bat first in a night game at a field where they didn't even come close to protecting 228 against Sunrisers Hyderabad made headlines at a toss with enough to report. The decision was influenced by the RR captain Riyan Parag's perception that the ground had patchy grass and was dry. Additionally, they may feel more at ease with potential dew if there is a strong wind at the moment of the toss. If Delhi Capitals had won the toss, nothing would have prevented them from pursuing.The highly anticipated duel between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Mitchell Starc, who is now fit and prepared to play his debut IPL encounter, was set up in earnest by RR's call at the toss. From the fair dinkum Hall of Famer, Sooryavanshi smacked Josh Hazlewood for four boundaries off the first four balls he faced, Sunil Narine for one off the second ball, and Jasprit Bumrah for sixes off the first ball.
Dushmantha Chameera was forced to miss the IPL due to Starc's arrival. DC was bowled out for 75 in their most recent game, so it wasn't the only difference. Sahil Parakh, their opener from the previous game, required Pathum Nissanka to return at the top of the order. One of the other four players, David Miller, had to be left out due to the return of an additional foreign player.
Shubham Dubey was awarded with a spot in the starting XI by RR for his reliable effort with Donovon Ferreira during their pursuit of 223 against Punjab Kings. Dasun Shanaka was shifted out, giving them more room to manoeuvre with the Impact Player—who might even be Adam Milne if they decide to use an international fast bowler when they defend.
Additionally, RR directly switched youngster Yash Raj Punja for seasoned legspinner Ravi Bishnoi. Despite having just played two games, Punja's improved economy provided Bishnoi an opportunity to adjust his numbers.
Rajasthan Royals 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag (capt.), 5 Donovan Ferreira, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Brijesh Sharma
RR bench Adam Milne, Dasun Shanaka, Ravi Singh, Yash Raj Punja, Tushar Deshpande
Delhi Capitals 1 KL Rahul (wk), 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Sameer Rizvi, 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Nitish Rana, 6 Axar Patel (capt.), 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 T Natarajan
DC bench Vipraj Nigam, Karun Nair, Abhishek Porel, Auqib Nabi, David Miller
May 1, 2026, 7:36 PM
Jaiswal is hit by Starc in his opening over back
We were all expecting Sooryavanshi vs. Starc, but instead we got to see Starc vs. Jaiswal. Yashasvi Jaiswal pushed him away for a six ball despite the first delivery being respectable. However, he is taken aback by a high full toss two balls later and ends up lobbing for a catch to Starc. RR 6 for 1 in 0.3 overs.May 1, 2026, 7:44 PM
In the opening two overs, Starc and Jamieson destroy the RR openers
Today's match between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Mitch Starc will not take place. We may have to postpone this match until later since there may not be enough room for both of these teams in the playoffs. Kyle Jamieson is to blame. After being off-driven for four off a very full delivery, he bowled Sooryavanshi off a yorker right away. Perhaps it was a plot to get inside the block hole for Sooryavanshi. In 1.5 overs, it is 12 for 2.May 1, 2026, 7:59 PM
Jurel's problems
This IPL, ten players have batted at No. 3 for at least five innings. The only players with lower strike rates than Dhruv Jurel (150.86) are Rishabh Pant and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Jurel's strike rate is lower than that of even the struggling Suryakumar Yadav. Before you argue that this is unjust criticism, keep in mind that Jurel's strike rate is lower during the powerplay than it is outdoors, most likely due to the RR openers' dominance. Only nine of the thirty players who have scored at least fifty runs during the powerplay have been slower than him. It's possible that he was given this responsibility, but if so, it would be counterproductive or an acknowledgement that they didn't assemble a strong enough team.May 1, 2026, 8:03 PM
After the openers fall early, Parag salvages the powerplay
6 4 6 1 2 1In his third over, Riyan Parag is facing Kyle Jamieson. This year, it appears that there has been more temptation than ever to pitch a bowler for three overs during the powerplay. In six overs, RR 56 for 2.
May 1, 2026, 8:19 PM
Kuldeep 2-0-13-0
The Delhi Capitals have regained some control right out of the powerplay. Axar Patel recovered from being struck for two sixes off the first two deliveries of the ninth over to yield just 14 off, while Kuldeep Yadav has not even given up a run per ball. RR appears to be playing within themselves as they are 91 for 2 in 10 overs.May 1, 2026, 8:25 PM
RR is strengthened by Parag's first fifty of the 2026 IPL
I have little doubt that Riyan Parag would have preferred to reach his first fifty of 2026 with greater vigour. More crucially, faster. However, when you take into account Dhruv Jurel being Dhruv Jurel and the openers falling in the first two overs, 32 balls is not a bad effort. Additionally, it seems that Parag doesn't think 240 is necessary in this situation. He hits a four and a six off T Natarajan's opening over to celebrate reaching fifty. The six, which is simply a smash over wide long-off off a slower bouncer, is amazing. RR 106 for 2 in 11 overs, Parag 60 off 34.May 1, 2026, 8:28 PM
Jurel is six and out
Despite any criticism regarding his intentions, Dhruv Jurel is an excellent batter in general. When he gives Axar Patel the charge and off-drives him for a six, the warning flags are evident. But Jurel is unable to force it past long-on as Axar pulls the length back on the subsequent ball. Ravindra Jadeja receives an unexpected promotion against spin after he is caught well inside the boundary for 42 off 30. RR 114 for 3 in 11.4.May 1, 2026, 8:31 PM
Was Jadeja elevated to guard Ferreira?
Given that everyone knows Ravindra Jadeja won't attack spin, I am surprised by his elevation. However, Kuldeep Yadav has hit Donovon Ferreira twice in nine deliveries, as Shiva Jayaraman quickly points out. He expresses his disagreement with it more quickly. I'll quickly concur with Shiva.RR is obviously not aiming high in this situation. It appears that's how they interpreted the conditions. In order to give Ferreira a clear coast when the moment comes for him to hit, they are prepared to enter a pinch anchor.
May 1, 2026, 8:52 PM
Parag into the 1990s
1 4 4 4 1 1Riyan Parag has become entangled with Kyle Jamieson. He is now 4-0-46-1 after his final overs, Nos. 6 and 16, have been travelled. Parag has scored 32 off of Jamieson's 12. In 16 overs, he is 90 off 49 and RR 166 for 3.
Additionally, RR may have benefited from Jadeja's elevation. In that match, DC appeared to be attempting to outmanoeuvre RR, keeping Kuldeep at bay before having to bowl him in the final moments.
May 1, 2026, 9:01 PM
When RR dies, Starc returns to harm him
Mitch Starc returns to show off his class just when it appeared that RR could have won the tactical struggle in the centre. You can't duplicate that height and speed, it turns out. Starc will extract any misbehaviour that may be present. He gets Riyan Parag with a fast-paced, hard-length ball after getting Ravindra Jadeja with a slower short ball. Parag's observation of the pitch may be an appropriate response, but it's also plausible that a bowler's velocity and height are altered by the harsh lengths that even contemporary hitters are accustomed to using.With three overs remaining, he is out for 90 off 50. RR 173 for 5. I anticipate bowling from Kuldeep, Starc, and Natarajan. in that sequence.
May 1, 2026, 9:07 PM
The mismatched match-up is won by RR
1 1 6 6 0 6Donovon Ferreira had been dismissed twice in nine balls by Kuldeep Yadav prior to this game, but given the tiny sample size, they really didn't need to alter their batting order. particularly when the other player only takes singles off spin. But it turned out that DC kept Kuldeep back for Ferreira because they wanted to appear funkier. Ferreira, who was playing well, fixed that match-up with three sixes during the last overs.
Nevertheless, Kuldeep's three half-volleys cannot be justified. Was it Kuldeep searching, Ferreira's reach, or just poor performance under duress? In any case, RR has amassed 193 for 5 in 18 overs.
May 1, 2026, 9:20 PM
Ferreira, the Yorkers' finisher
In this 14-ball attack, Donovon Ferreira has hit six sixes, some of which are nearly perfect yorkers for numerous other batters. But breaking your leg to get under the ball and going deep into the crease is only half the fight. It's really amazing how much power he has added to these shots from the very beginning. This RR innings was going nowhere until he hit 47 off 14. RR failed to defend 228 against SRH in the previous game, but given that they batted first and anticipated slow conditions to worsen, they appear more confident here. Soon, we will learn everything.May 1, 2026, 9:21 PM
DC must set a new record
This will be the Delhi Capitals' most successful chase in the IPL if they win here.May 1, 2026, 9:25 PM
The grand finale
RR amassed 78 runs in the final five overs, which is the second-highest total for any team this season. Additionally, it is the second-highest for RR since the launch of the Impact Player.May 1, 2026, 9:40 PM
Archer's first over was 0 for 11
In all ten of RR's games this year, Jofra Archer has bowled the opening over. After going 0 for 15 against Gujarat Titans almost a month ago, this first over—no wicket, 11 runs—is his second-worst. Six other times, he has taken a wicket in his first over, five of which he selected and one of which was a run-out. Then, on three instances, he has gone for less than ten runs without taking a wicket in the first over.May 1, 2026, 9:57 PM
The best way to start against RR?
DC has scored 49 runs in the first four overs. This season, there have been two bigger scores against RR thus far, but they have never been achieved without losing a wicket. Thus, 57 for 1, 55 for 2, and this 49 for 0 are the three best starts against them.May 1, 2026, 10:05 PM
DC is now 70 for 0 in powerplay thanks to Nissanka's fifty
Thirty Pathum Nissanka has scored five pulls and four flicks out of his fifty. Nissanka's diminutive stature causes the bowlers to become uneasy and fail to bowl full enough for him, which is mostly to blame.May 1, 2026, 10:07 PM
Delhi's finest powerplay
This year, DC has scored more than 70 points in the powerplay zero times. Not even in their 264 matchup with PBKS.May 1, 2026, 10:20 PM
Rahul defeats Bishnoi
26 In just nine balls, KL Rahul has removed RR's top spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, for the most runs. Before today, he had 12 off 8 from Bishnoi. In nine overs, it is 108 for 0.
May 1, 2026, 10:23 PM
DC hopes to pursue 226 after Nissanka falls
After stealing 52 off 26 with the field up, Pathum Nissanka scored 10 runs outside of the powerplay. Fortunately, Nissanka understood this and attempted to create a boundary, but was defeated by Ravindra Jadeja's reverse sweep. In 9.3 overs, it is 110 for 1.May 1, 2026, 10:30 PM
Rahul 50 continues to pursue DC
It took KL Rahul 27 balls to get his fifty. Despite the spreading out of the field, he has been outstanding outside of the powerplay, scoring 32 off 14. DC is 120 out of 11. The asking price is about two per ball.May 1, 2026, 10:44 PM
Rahul finds it easier thanks to Rana
Nitish Rana has performed admirably at No. 3, a position that was starting to cause issues for the Delhi Capitals, considering that he was only brought into this IPL as a backup due of his par-time offspin against SRH. Here, he has ensured that Pathum Nissanka's wicket prevents RR from looking in through either the absence of boundaries or additional wickets. After reaching six off six, he dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for two sixes in a single over. The asking rate has never hit 12, he is 33 off 16, and DC needs 60 in the last ten.May 1, 2026, 11:02 PM
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