Opting to bat first after losing the toss, DC were powered by a series of valuable contributions throughout the innings, led by a solid start at the top and a late flourish in the death overs

Opening the innings, Abishek Porel laid a sturdy foundation with an impressive knock of 49 runs off just 37 deliveries. Porel, who narrowly missed out on a half-century, played a composed and technically sound innings, anchoring the early phase and rotating strike effectively. His innings was laced with precision and a handful of boundaries that gave Delhi an early platform to build on

KL Rahul, batting at No. 3, played a more measured knock. His 38 runs came off 32 balls, and although he didn’t accelerate at the desired rate, his presence ensured stability through the middle overs. However, just as DC needed a momentum shift, it came courtesy of their skipper Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs

Axar produced a brisk and impactful cameo, hammering 34 off just 14 balls with a flurry of boundaries and a six, injecting urgency into the innings when it was most required. The left-hander’s calculated aggression helped shift gears as the Capitals eyed a strong finish. At the other end, Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten on 34 off 18 deliveries, showcasing his ability to clear the ropes and find gaps at will. His clean hitting and cool temperament under pressure ensured that Delhi crossed the 175-run mark and set a challenging target for the Royals

Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers struggled to contain the Capitals’ batters in the death overs. However, Jofra Archer stood out with a disciplined spell, returning figures of 2 for 32 in his four overs. Despite his efforts, RR’s bowling unit failed to find breakthroughs at crucial junctures and allowed the Capitals to dominate the final stretch of the innings