<p>The final league stage match of IPL 2026 was a rollercoaster ride for cricket fans. In match number 70 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs, ending their own campaign on a high. </p><p>For a while, it looked like KKR was cruising in their chase, but a deadly bowling spell from Kuldeep Yadav and Lungi Ngidi completely turned the game on its head. The match had everything – KL Rahul’s explosive batting, a captain’s knock from Ajinkya Rahane, and a sudden KKR batting collapse that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last over.</p><p><strong>Also Read: IPL 2026: Kuldeep Yadav’s 3-fer helps Delhi Capitals end with a win</strong></p><h2><strong>DC vs KKR Match Result</strong></h2><p>In the 70th match of IPL 2026, played on May 24, 2026, Delhi Capitals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 40 runs.</p><ul> <li>Delhi Capitals: 203/5 (20 overs)</li> <li>Kolkata Knight Riders: 163 all-out (18.4 overs)</li></ul><p>With this victory, Delhi Capitals moved above KKR in the points table. Delhi finished the season in sixth place with 14 points, while Kolkata ended up in seventh place with 13 points.</p><h2><strong>KL Rahul’s blistering knock</strong></h2><p>Delhi Capitals got off to a very aggressive start. The team’s experienced batsman, KL Rahul, played a brilliant innings, scoring 60 runs off just 30 balls. His batting was a perfect mix of class and aggression. Rahul put KKR’s bowlers under pressure right from the powerplay. The middle-order batsmen also chipped in with quick runs, helping the team cross the 200-run mark. On a batting-friendly pitch like Eden Gardens, a score of 203 proved to be a match-winning total.</p><h2><strong>Ajinkya Rahane gave hope, but KKR crumbled</strong></h2><p>Chasing a target of 204, Kolkata Knight Riders started their innings strongly. Captain Ajinkya Rahane played a superb knock of 63 runs from 39 balls, putting his team in a solid position. At one point, KKR’s score was 128/3, and they were very much in the game. But then, the match took a sudden turn. Delhi’s spinner Kuldeep Yadav broke KKR’s back with a flurry of wickets. As soon as Rahane and Rinku Singh got out, the entire batting lineup just fell apart.</p><h2><strong>7 wickets fell for just 35 runs</strong></h2><p>The biggest reason for KKR’s defeat was the complete collapse of their middle order. The team went from a comfortable 128/3 to being all out for 163. Their last seven wickets fell for just 35 runs. Delhi’s bowlers completely dominated the death overs.</p><ul> <li>Kuldeep Yadav: 3 wickets</li> <li>Lungi Ngidi: 3 wickets</li> <li>Mitchell Starc: Crucial wickets</li></ul><p>Kuldeep Yadav, who was brought back into the playing eleven after a while, made a fantastic comeback and changed the course of the match.</p><p><strong>Also Read: IPL 2026: Proud of team’s fighting spirit, says DC skipper Axar Patel</strong></p><h2><strong>Who was the Player of the Match?</strong></h2><p>Delhi Capitals’ star batsman KL Rahul was named Player of the Match for his fiery 60-run innings. Rahul’s batting laid the foundation for Delhi’s big score, which kept KKR under pressure till the end.</p><h2><strong>IPL 2026 Playoffs picture is clear</strong></h2><p>With the league stage now over, the lineup for the playoff matches is also clear.</p><ul> <li>Qualifier 1: RCB vs GT</li> <li>Qualifier 2: SRH vs RR</li></ul><p>Although both Delhi and Kolkata were already out of the playoff race, they fought hard to win their final match.</p><p>Delhi Capitals had an up-and-down season in IPL 2026, but in their last match, they showed they have plenty of match-winners. On the other hand, this was a disappointing loss for KKR, as they lost the match from a winning position. Even Captain Rahane’s fifty couldn’t get them a victory. This match at Eden Gardens proved once again that in T20 cricket, one over can change the entire story of the game.</p><p><strong>Also Read: IPL: Pandya blames powerplay batting, death bowling for MI’s loss</strong></p>
