Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) playoff hopes have taken a significant dent after Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated them at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, May 17, in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
DC chased down a target of 194 with five wickets in hand to keep their own qualification hopes alive. Following the defeat, RR captain Riyan Parag made a blunt admission regarding his team’s poor performances in recent games.
Speaking after the match, Parag admitted that Rajasthan failed in almost every department despite being in a good position during the first innings.
"Pretty much everything. We were in a pretty good space after 14 overs. As far as the bowling was concerned, it didn't really work out. I feel we were very poor. We are a way better team than what we have shown in the last few games," Parag said.
The RR skipper also expressed disappointment over the team’s inability to capitalize on crucial moments during the season and admitted he does not want qualification to depend on other teams’ results.
"This is not how I like to speak to my team, we have had the opportunity and I don't want to depend on other teams," he added.
The defeat further complicated Rajasthan Royals’ chances of making it to the IPL 2026 playoffs as they now need favorable results from multiple teams to stay alive in the race.
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KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel power DC to crucial win over RR
After Delhi Capitals won the toss and opted to bowl first, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive total of 193 runs on the board.
Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again provided a fiery start with 46 runs off just 21 deliveries, while Dhruv Jurel anchored the innings with a composed 53 off 40 balls. Captain Riyan Parag also played an explosive knock of 51 runs off 26 deliveries to help RR reach a strong total.
However, DC openers KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel made the chase look one-sided with a stunning 105-run partnership in just 10.1 overs.
Rahul smashed 56 off 42 balls while Porel kept the momentum going aggressively at the top. After the openers departed, captain Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 34 off 18 deliveries, while Ashutosh Sharma’s quickfire 18 off five balls helped DC finish the chase comfortably.
The victory keeps Delhi Capitals hanging by a thread in the IPL 2026 playoff race, while Rajasthan Royals now find themselves in a difficult situation heading into the final phase of the tournament.