In a dramatic IPL encounter at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a bowling masterclass to dismantle Delhi Capitals and seal a commanding nine-wicket victory.
What was expected to be a high-scoring T20 contest instead unfolded like a Test match on a lively green pitch, thanks to the relentless new-ball spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. The duo tore through the Capitals’ top order, leaving the home side in complete disarray inside the PowerPlay.
Bhuvneshwar set the tone early, producing a sharp inswinging yorker to dismiss debutant Sahil Parakh in the very first over. He continued to trouble the batters with disciplined swing bowling, later removing Tristan Stubbs and skipper Axar Patel in a devastating spell.
At the other end, Hazlewood complemented him perfectly with pace and bounce. Off his first two deliveries, he struck twice — sending back K. L. Rahul and Sameer Rizvi. Rahul miscued a pull off a short ball to wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, while Rizvi fell attempting a loose drive outside off stump.
The collapse was nothing short of extraordinary. Delhi Capitals slumped to 8 for 6 in just 3.5 overs, with their top six contributing a mere eight runs collectively. The record for the lowest IPL total — 49 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017 — briefly seemed under threat.
A small recovery came through Abishek Porel and David Miller, whose 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket helped Delhi avoid further embarrassment. However, the resistance was short-lived as Hazlewood returned to wrap up the innings, finishing with exceptional figures of 4 for 12 in 3.3 overs. Delhi Capitals were eventually bowled out for just 75.
Chasing a modest target, RCB wasted no time. The defending champions raced to victory in only 6.3 overs, underlining their dominance on a night that belonged entirely to their pace attack.
The result was even more surprising given that just two days earlier, over 500 runs had been scored on an adjacent pitch at the same venue.
For Delhi Capitals, led by Axar Patel, the heavy defeat raises serious questions and leaves the team searching for answers after one of their most shocking batting collapses in IPL history.
