IPL 2026: RCB Demolish Delhi Capitals by 9 Wickets as Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Skittle DC for 75 — Lowest Powerplay Score in IPL History
Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered one of the most devastating performances in IPL history as they demolished Delhi Capitals by nine wickets in Match 39 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, 27 April 2026. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced a breathtaking display of fast bowling that dismantled the DC batting lineup, reducing the hosts to a humiliating 75 all out in just 16.3 overs. RCB then chased down the paltry target of 76 in just 6.3 overs, with Virat Kohli sealing the win with characteristic flair.
The result was emphatic and historic. Delhi Capitals registered the lowest-ever powerplay score in IPL history — 13 for 6 after six overs — as Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar wreaked havoc with the new ball. It was a match that was effectively over within the first hour, and one that will be dissected by analysts and fans alike for weeks to come.
Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar’s Devastating New Ball Spell
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, RCB captain Faf du Plessis handed the new ball to his two most experienced seamers, and they repaid his faith with one of the finest bowling partnerships the IPL has ever witnessed. Josh Hazlewood, the tall Australian fast bowler renowned for his Test-match accuracy, set the tone with a devastating first over. He dismissed KL Rahul and debutant Sahil Parakh in successive deliveries, immediately putting DC on the back foot.
At the other end, Bhuvneshwar Kumar — whose career has been revitalised since joining RCB ahead of the 2026 auction — was equally menacing. The veteran Indian pacer opened his account with a superb yorker that cleaned up debutant Sahil Parakh’s stumps, and continued to extract movement off the surface that left the DC batters groping outside off stump. Together, the duo picked up six wickets in the powerplay alone, reducing Delhi to a barely believable 13 for 6 after six overs.
Hazlewood finished with figures of 4 wickets for just 14 runs from his four overs, while Bhuvneshwar claimed 3 for 18. The Australian was later named Player of the Match for his match-defining spell. Speaking after the game, Hazlewood said the pitch offered assistance early on. “There was a bit of moisture under the surface, and we just tried to hit good areas consistently. Once we got a couple early, the pressure built, and it snowballed from there,” he told the host broadcaster.
DC’s Historic Collapse: 13 for 6 in the Powerplay
The Delhi Capitals’ batting collapse was as dramatic as it was comprehensive. Captain KL Rahul, who has been under scrutiny for his strike rate this season, was dismissed in the first over by Hazlewood — caught at second slip attempting to leave a delivery that nipped back. Debutant Sahil Parakh followed next ball, comprehensively bowled, and suddenly DC were 2 for 2 in the first over of the match.
What followed was a procession. Sameer Rizvi, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Axar Patel all fell in quick succession as neither pace nor spin could halt the slide. The only resistance came from Tristan Stubbs, who top-scored with 22 off 28 balls before falling to a superb catch in the deep. By the time the powerplay was done, DC were 13 for 6 — a score that shattered the previous record for the lowest powerplay total in IPL history, which stood at 16 for 6 by Rajasthan Royals against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009.
DC eventually managed to limp to 75 all out in 16.3 overs, avoiding the ignominy of the lowest-ever IPL team total (49 all out by RCB themselves in 2017). But the margin of the defeat left the Delhi faithful shell-shocked. It was a total capitulation that raised serious questions about the franchise’s batting depth and temperament under pressure. The loss was DC’s seventh in ten matches this season, leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Kohli Leads RCB’s Emphatic Chase
Chasing a modest target of 76, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were never going to be troubled. Captain Faf du Plessis was dismissed early for 8, but Virat Kohli — playing at what was effectively a home game given his massive fan following in Delhi — took charge with characteristic authority. The former India captain struck boundaries with ease, racing to an unbeaten 44 off just 26 balls as RCB reached 77 for 1 in only 6.3 overs.
Kohli’s innings was studded with five boundaries and two sixes, and he sealed the victory with a trademark cover drive that sent the travelling RCB fans into raptures. The win was completed before many spectators had even settled into their seats for what they expected to be a competitive contest. For Kohli, who has been in sensational form throughout IPL 2026, the innings further cemented his status as the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorer and one of the greatest T20 batters in history.
Impact on IPL 2026 Playoff Race
The emphatic nine-wicket victory propelled RCB to third position in the IPL 2026 points table with 12 points from ten matches — six wins and four losses. The franchise, which has historically been one of the most inconsistent in the tournament, appears to have found a winning formula under du Plessis’ captaincy this season, with their bowling attack looking more potent than ever.
For Delhi Capitals, the defeat was a crushing blow to their already fading playoff aspirations. With just three wins from ten matches, DC are languishing in ninth place on the table, and a seventh loss in ten games leaves them needing nothing short of a miracle to qualify for the knockout stage. KL Rahul’s captaincy has come under increasing scrutiny, with pundits questioning both his tactical decisions and his own batting approach.
The wider playoff picture sees CSK, GT, and RCB occupying the top three spots, while SRH and MI are locked in a tight battle for the fourth qualifying position. The bottom half of the table — featuring DC, LSG, KKR, PBKS, and RR — faces an increasingly difficult path, with net run rate likely to play a decisive role in separating teams level on points.
KL Rahul Faces Heat After Another DC Collapse
The defeat intensified the spotlight on Delhi Capitals captain KL Rahul, who has now presided over seven losses in ten matches. His personal form has been inconsistent — while he has scored two half-centuries this season, his strike rate of 118 has been criticised as too conservative for a T20 format that increasingly demands aggressive intent from the outset.
Former cricketers and commentators were scathing in their assessment of DC’s performance. Sunil Gavaskar, speaking on the broadcast, described the batting display as “unacceptable at any level of cricket, let alone the IPL.” Ravi Shastri added that the team appeared “shell-shocked from ball one” and questioned whether the franchise’s heavy investment in its batting lineup was delivering adequate returns.
The DC think tank will need to regroup quickly, with crucial matches against Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans coming up in the next week. Whether they can salvage their campaign remains to be seen, but Monday night’s performance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium will be remembered as one of the most one-sided contests in IPL history.
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