In the final league match of the Indian Premier League2026 on May 24 at Eden Gardens, Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs. KKR won the toss and elected to bowl first, with both teams already out of contention for the playoffs.

Batting first, DC posted a competitive total of 203/5 in 20 overs. KL Rahul led the innings with a brisk 60 off 30 balls, while the remaining batters made valuable contributions throughout the innings. For KKR, Saurabh Dubey was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 2/28.

In reply, KKR managed 163 runs in their chase.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane fought hard with 63 off 39 deliveries, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide enough support. DC’s bowling attack was led by Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed 3/29. Lungi Ngidi picked up 3/27, while Mitchell Starc took 2/26 in his three overs.

With the victory, Delhi Capitals finished sixth in the points table with 14 points, while Kolkata Knight Riders ended their campaign in seventh place with 13 points.

Here are the top highlights from Match 70: KL Rahul showed another ‘Klassic’ knock

KL Rahul once again delivered a classy innings for Delhi Capitals in a challenging batting situation against Kolkata Knight Riders.

At a time when the other DC batters struggled to score freely against the KKR bowlers, Rahul batted with remarkable ease and composure. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 60 runs off just 30 deliveries, maintaining a superb strike rate of 200. Rahul also stitched together three important partnerships with the top-order batters, ensuring that Delhi Capitals maintained momentum despite wickets falling at regular intervals.

KKR captain jinxing the bowlers

Although Kolkata Knight Riders kept losing wickets at regular intervals during the chase, captain Ajinkya Rahane stood firm and kept the scoreboard moving with a classy counterattack. The experienced batter played a fighting knock of 63 runs off 39 balls, striking at an impressive rate of 161.54. His innings featured four boundaries and four sixes, as he took on the Delhi Capitals bowlers with confidence and elegance. Rahane showed no hesitation in playing his shots despite wickets falling around him.

DC bowlers collectively packed up the hosts

The bowlers of Delhi Capitals delivered a disciplined and collective performance to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders during the chase. They kept tightening the grip on the KKR batters and never allowed them to settle at the crease, striking at crucial moments throughout the innings. Lungi Ngidi and Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, picking up three wickets each and putting KKR under constant pressure.

Experienced pacer Mitchell Starc also played an important role, claiming two wickets with his fiery spell. The rest of the bowling unit contributed effectively as DC combined brilliantly as a team to sign off their campaign with an impressive 40-run victory.