Chasing a massive target of 204 runs set by Delhi Capitals, KKR's batting lineup collapsed under a disciplined DC spin choke led by Kuldeep Yadav (3/29). By the start of the 18th over, KKR was gasping at 153/6, needing an improbable 51 runs off 18 balls. Rovman Powell was KKR's last recognized explosive batsman, standing at 29 runs off 21 balls. The entire stadium knew that if KKR stood any chance of a miraculous heist, Powell had to face almost every remaining delivery. Delhi Capitals brought back their premier fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, to bowl the crucial 18th over. Starc bowled a fast, full delivery targeting the stumps. Lower-order batsman Anukul Roy tried to clear the boundary but mistimed his shot completely, slicing it high into the night sky toward the long-on region.The ball fell short of the boundary fielder, landing safely. Knowing Powell had to get back on strike, Anukul Roy immediately called for a tight and desperate second run.  

Sameer Rizvi had not featured in Delhi's starting eleven but was brought onto the field specifically as an Impact Player substitute to upgrade their death-overs fielding. Rizvi charged in hard from the long-on boundary, sprinting to cut off the ball. He gathered the ball completely cleanly in one fluid motion, destroying any extra millisecond the batsmen hoped to exploit. Instead of throwing to the wicketkeeper's end, Rizvi accurately diagnosed that Powell was struggling to make it back to the bowler's end. Without setting his feet, he unleashed a fierce, flat throw directly at the stumps. The ball shattered the stumps at the non-striker's end with immaculate precision. Replays showed Powell diving desperately, but he was well short of his crease.

KKR collapses against DC, loses match with 40 runs

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered a devastating 40-run defeat against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at Eden Gardens on May 24, 2026. Chasing a formidable target of 204 runs, KKR’s batting unit collapsed from a relatively stable position, crumbling to 163 all out in 18.4 overs under immense pressure from DC's bowling and fielding. Initially, KKR looked well-positioned to launch a massive chase. Veteran opener Ajinkya Rahane anchored the innings beautifully with a fighting 63 off 39 balls, punishing the pace bowlers and keeping the required run rate within striking distance. He found reliable support from Manish Pandey, who chipped in with a quickfire 25 off 16 deliveries. At 110/2, KKR fans were dreaming of an elegant home victory.

Despite the spinning web, West Indian powerhouse Rovman Powell kept KKR's hopes alive with a blistering 29 off 21 balls, including a towering six off Madhav Tiwari. The defining moment came at the start of the 18th over, bowled by Mitchell Starc. Lower-order batsman Anukul Roy sliced a delivery toward long-on and frantically called for a dangerous second run to return Powell to the striking end. Speedster Lungi Ngidi wrapped up the night by removing Varun Chakravarthy (caught by Axar Patel), finalizing a clinical 40-run victory for Delhi Capitals.