Delhi Capitals held their nerve in a dramatic IPL 2026 encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, edging past Rajasthan Royals in a last-over thriller with Axar Patel playing the decisive role in a tense run chase.

Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted an imposing 193 for 8 after an aggressive display from their top and middle order. The innings began with attacking intent as Yashasvi Jaiswal struck early boundaries before departing quickly. Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then injected momentum with a blistering 46 off just 21 deliveries, putting Delhi’s bowlers under pressure.

Captain Riyan Parag anchored the middle overs with a fluent 51 off 26 balls, combining composure with attacking strokeplay to maintain the scoring rate. Dhruv Jurel also made a crucial contribution, scoring a steady 53 off 40 deliveries to ensure Rajasthan finished strongly despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Delhi Capitals, however, managed to pull things back during the latter stages of the innings. Mitchell Starc was the standout performer with the ball, claiming four important wickets and striking at key moments to halt Rajasthan’s momentum. Lungi Ngidi supported him well with two wickets, while Madhav Tiwari also chipped in with two scalps to restrict the Royals below the 200-run mark.

Chasing 194, Delhi got off to a flying start through Abishek Porel, who smashed 51 off 31 balls with aggressive strokeplay. KL Rahul then steadied the innings with a composed 56 off 42 deliveries, guiding the chase through the middle overs as Rajasthan’s bowlers attempted to claw their way back into the match.

The contest intensified in the final overs as wickets and dot balls increased the pressure on Delhi. Rajasthan’s bowlers delivered disciplined spells to keep the game alive, turning the chase into a nail-biting finish in front of a packed crowd in Delhi.

With the match hanging in the balance, Axar Patel emerged as Delhi’s hero. Remaining calm under immense pressure, Axar rotated the strike smartly, punished loose deliveries, and ensured the required run rate never spiraled out of control. His composed unbeaten knock proved to be the difference as Delhi crossed the finish line in the closing moments of the game.

Despite Rajasthan Royals’ spirited bowling effort and several momentum-shifting breakthroughs, they were unable to deny Delhi Capitals in the final stages. Axar’s calmness and maturity under pressure ultimately guided Delhi to a memorable victory in one of the most thrilling matches of the IPL 2026 season.