Starc Strikes, Rahul–Porel Fire As Delhi Keep Playoff Dreams Alive

Mitchell Starc delivered a match-defining four-wicket haul as Delhi Capitals secured a crucial five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, keeping their IPL playoff hopes alive in a tightly contested encounter.

Chasing a stiff target of 194 , Delhi Capitals recovered from early pressure through a superb opening partnership between KL Rahul (56 off 42 balls) and Abishek Porel (51 off 31 balls) . The duo put together a 105-run stand in just 10.1 overs , effectively setting the tone for the chase. Porel played an attacking role from the outset, smashing seven fours and a six , while Rahul anchored the innings with composure and timing before being dismissed by Dasun Shanaka.

After the strong start, Delhi maintained control of the chase despite brief resistance from Rajasthan’s bowlers. Skipper Axar Patel played a finishing knock of 34 not out off 18 balls , striking two fours and two sixes to ensure the momentum stayed with the home side. Even though Jofra Archer and Brijesh Sharma picked up late wickets, Delhi remained ahead in the contest. The chase was eventually completed in 19.2 overs at 193/5 , with Ashutosh Sharma adding a quick unbeaten 18 off five balls to seal the win.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive 193/8 after a strong start that saw them reach 160/2 in 14 overs , before suffering a dramatic collapse. In the final overs, they managed only 33 runs while losing six wickets, as Delhi’s bowlers turned the match around.

Rajasthan’s innings began with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 12 before falling early. However, young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi impressed with a fearless 46 , combining elegance and aggression. He was involved in a 70-run partnership with Dhruv Jurel (53) , which lifted Rajasthan to a strong position in the powerplay at 75/1 . Suryavanshi looked in control until he was dismissed by Madhav Tiwari while attempting an aggressive shot.

At the other end, Jurel continued to anchor the innings effectively, while skipper Riyan Parag struck a fluent 51 , taking the attack to Delhi bowlers with powerful boundaries and sixes. Parag’s innings included a strong assault on Mukesh Kumar, helping Rajasthan maintain a high scoring rate and push towards a big total.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Mitchell Starc produced a devastating spell , removing Parag to trigger a collapse. He followed it up by dismissing Donovan Ferreira for a golden duck and trapping Ravi Singh leg-before-wicket in quick succession. Rajasthan suddenly slipped from a commanding position to 161/6 , losing four wickets in just 15 deliveries.

Starc returned later to remove impact substitute Dasun Shanaka for 10, finishing with figures of 4/40 , his best performance of the season and a timely intervention in a must-win game for Delhi Capitals.

With this victory, Delhi Capitals climbed to seventh position with 12 points , keeping themselves firmly in contention for a playoff berth . Their qualification scenario now depends on the final league match against Kolkata Knight Riders , along with favourable results elsewhere in the tournament.