In the second encounter between the Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium will host a thrilling match on Sunday, May 17. This will be the 62nd match of the tournament.
The Delhi Capitals technically remain in contention for a spot in the playoffs, but securing a place in the top four by the end of the tournament's league stage will require nothing short of a miracle. Led by Axar Patel, the team currently has just two league matches remaining; a defeat in either of these matches would signal their elimination from the tournament—regardless of how strong their start to the season may have been.The Rajasthan Royals began their campaign by defeating cricketing giants such as the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. Following a spectacular start—during which they frequently occupied the top spot on the points table—the team, led by Riyan Parag, now appears to have lost its way somewhat, having failed to secure victories in crucial matches. With three league-stage matches still to play, RR has a golden opportunity to seal their spot in the playoffs today by defeating DC. In Parag's absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to captain the team.
DC vs RR Head-to-Head Statistics
- Total Matches Played: 32
- Delhi Capitals Won: 16
- Rajasthan Royals Won: 15
- Matches Tied (Super Over): 1 (Won by DC in 2025)
- At Arun Jaitley Stadium:DC dominates the home stretch with 7 wins compared to RR's 3 wins
DC vs RR: Predicted Playing 11
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (wk), Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (capt), Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc
Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Yashasvi Jaiswal (capt), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande
Impact Player: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
DC vs RR Player Stats
Delhi Capitals (DC)
- KL Rahul: 477 runs in 12 matches. During the previous chase against RR this season, he anchored the team by playing a solid innings of 75 runs off 40 balls.
- Pathum Nissanka: 278 runs in 10 matches. In the previous encounter against RR, he played a brisk innings of 62 runs off 33 balls.
- Tristan Stubbs: 271 runs in 12 matches; he has played a pivotal role as a finisher in the middle order.
- Axar Patel: 10 wickets in 12 matches. His contribution with the bat has also been significant; recently, he bailed DC out of a difficult situation by playing a crucial innings of 56 runs.
- Mitchell Starc: In his previous match against the Royals, he claimed 3 wickets for 40 runs.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi: This 15-year-old batting sensation has taken the tournament by storm, scoring over 440 runs at a staggering strike rate of over 235.
- Riyan Parag: Played a blistering innings of 90 runs off just 50 balls against DC earlier this month, thereby bolstering the Royals' middle order.
- Jofra Archer: The spearhead of the pace attack, who has claimed 13 wickets in 10 matches.
- Ravi Bishnoi: Has taken 10 wickets in 8 matches, although his economy rate has been slightly on the higher side.
DC vs RR Pitch Report
Most of the matches played at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium during this year's league have witnessed thrilling, low-scoring encounters. The pitches here have proven to be among the most challenging for batsmen, while bowlers have thoroughly enjoyed plying their trade at this venue. Historically renowned for its spin-friendly tracks, the Kotla pitch is now expected to offer good bounce and carry to fast bowlers as well, thereby ensuring that the upcoming match becomes an evenly contested battle between bat and ball.
DC vs RR: Probable Best Performers
KL Rahul
In the current season of this league, KL Rahul has once again appeared in his signature, sublime form, displaying tremendous consistency over the past few years. Having amassed 477 runs in 12 matches so far, Rahul has proven that his form remains just as formidable in 2026. Earlier in the tournament, he also broke the record for the highest individual score by an Indian player in the league—an achievement that underscores just how dangerous this Mangalore-born cricketer can be on his day.
Jofra Archer
Fast bowler Jofra Archer has proven to be the most reliable weapon for the Rajasthan team this season. His bowling has displayed tremendous precision, and he has consistently succeeded in stemming the flow of runs. Archer has also claimed a significant number of wickets this season (15 wickets in 11 matches). Furthermore, his economy rate stands at 9.12, which can be considered quite economical—especially given the high-scoring, thrilling encounters we have witnessed this season. Tonight, he has the potential to completely dismantle the Delhi batting lineup.
Also Read: List of centuries scored by Virat Kohli while chasing in the IPL
