A Dominant Display from Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar
Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a sensational performance that led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a convincing nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The match, held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, saw RCB dominate from start to finish, with the bowlers setting the tone for an emphatic win.
The right-arm pace duo wreaked havoc on Delhi Capitals’ batting lineup, producing a devastating new-ball spell that left the hosts reeling. DC were eventually bundled out for just 75 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli ensured a swift chase, finishing the game with 81 balls to spare. This was a clear demonstration of how effective RCB’s strategy was in both bowling and batting.
A Record-Breaking Performance
Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar combined to take six wickets within the first four overs, showcasing exceptional movement and bounce. Their performance was reminiscent of a Test match rather than an IPL game, as they consistently troubled the batters with their pace and precision. This resulted in DC being bowled out for the lowest score of the season so far.
Hazlewood took four wickets for just 12 runs, while Bhuvneshwar claimed three wickets for five runs. The duo became the first pair of bowlers in IPL history to each take three wickets inside the powerplay in the same game, highlighting the sheer dominance they exerted over the opposition.
A Disastrous Batting Effort for Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals’ batting effort was nothing short of dismal. Abishek Porel managed to score 30 off 33 balls, which was the only bright spot in an otherwise poor innings. No other batter managed to cross 20, and the team lost wickets at regular intervals, falling like ninepins.
According to CricViz, DC became just the second team in IPL history to lose six wickets inside the Power-play in a non-rain curtailed game. The only previous instance was in IPL 2011 when Kochi Tuskers Kerala slumped to 29/6 against Deccan Chargers. Interestingly, both these events occurred on April 27.
The Early Wickets
The mayhem began when Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s probing away-swinging delivery drew an edge off debutant Sahil Parakh, who was dismissed for a two-ball duck. On the very next ball, Bhuvneshwar struck with lethal precision, delivering a sharp, late in-swinging yorker that castled Parakh.
Hazlewood then added to the carnage by taking two wickets in as many deliveries. He trapped KL Rahul with a brutal short ball and had Sameer Rizvi caught behind after an expansive drive. Tristan Stubbs briefly lifted DC’s spirits by hitting Hazlewood’s hat-trick ball for a boundary, but the reprieve was short-lived as Bhuvneshwar continued his relentless assault.
A Historic Low for DC
By the end of the six-over phase, Delhi Capitals’ score of 13/6 became the new record for the lowest powerplay score in IPL history. Abishek Porel and David Miller offered some resistance by plundering boundaries, but their 35-run stand off 31 balls was broken by Rasikh Salam Dar, who dismissed Miller for a crucial catch.
Despite Kyle Jamieson’s six off Romario Shepherd, the innings ended with DC being all out for 75, with Hazlewood sealing the victory by rattling Porel’s middle stump with a pin-perfect yorker.
RCB’s Swift Chase
RCB’s pursuit of a modest target of 76 began with Impact Player Jacob Bethell scoring a boundary off the first ball. Virat Kohli, surrounded by chants of “Kohli, Kohli,” got off the mark with a powerful boundary. Bethell then launched a stunning 104m six over mid-wicket, showcasing his explosive form.
Jamieson responded with a well-timed dismissal of Bethell, but RCB continued to dominate. Devdutt Padikkal played a masterclass, hitting sixes and boundaries to bring up the fifty in just 4.3 overs. Kohli then sealed the victory with a couple of sixes, ensuring a comfortable win for the defending champions.
Final Scorecard
Delhi Capitals 75 all out in 16.3 overs (Abishek Porel 30, David Miller 19; Josh Hazlewood 4-12, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-5) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 77/1 in 6.3 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 34 not out, Virat Kohli 23 not out; Kyle Jamieson 1-42) by nine wickets.
