KL Rahul’s blistering knock of 56 off 42 balls helped Delhi Capitals to chase 193 against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 17. With this win after five consecutive losses, DC’s hope for IPL 2026 playoff qualifications stay alive. DC’s powerplay plan didn’t go in vain as they registered the highest powerplay score in IPL 2026 of 72/0, and the credit goes to both the openers, Abhishek Porel and KL Rahul. Starting the game on 477 runs, Rahul could have been dismissed before it started if Yash Raj Punja had taken the catch off Jofra Archer in the first over itself. With a lifeline given, KL Rahul didn’t stop his willow until he was dismissed for 56 off 42 balls to take his tally to 533 runs and enter fourth position in the Orange Cap list in IPL 2026.
After the win, KL Rahul opened up about his cricket journey and role in DC as a batter. He said that this season is special for him not only because of the 500 runs he scored back on track but also the fact that he could prove to the cynics about his gameplay, strike rate and keeping up with the modern T20 game.
“It’s been a journey. I still don’t think I’ve cracked it. Sports are all about trial and error, experimenting, and being open to uncomfortable situations. I’ve always tried to adapt to the demands of the game and do what the team asks of me,” the DC batter said.
“This season, the coach and captain had a very clear message before the tournament — they wanted me to play at a certain strike rate, dominate the power play, and dominate the bowling. So I tried to mould my game around that and do it for the team,” he added
🚨 KL RAHUL ON HIS STRIKE RATE IN IPL AND T20I AFTER WIN AGAINST RR 🚨 KL Rahul said 🗣️, "It has been a journey. I don't think I still have cracked it completely. This game and playing sport is all about trail and error and being open to experimenting, being to do uncomfortable… pic.twitter.com/Jw9bPM2z1m
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) May 17, 2026
DC Qualification scenario IPL 2026
Delhi Capitals (DC) currently are positioned with 12 points from 13 matches and hold a low Net Run Rate (NRR) of -0.871, making their playoff chances tough but mathematically alive. With one league game remaining, their maximum possible finish is 14 points. This will also depend on the wins by other teams and lots of permutations and combinations.
DC must win their last league fixture by a huge margin to give their NRR a massive boost. They require both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals to secure no more than one win each across their remaining matches, ensuring they do not cross the 14-point threshold. PBKS also need to lose their last game against LSG to remain with 13 points.
DC’s last match will be against the Kolkata Knight Riders on May 24 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where it is a must-win game for both teams.
