Delhi Capitals conclude IPL regular season with victory over Kolkata Knight Riders
A 40-run win at Eden Gardens sees Delhi Capitals finish sixth, while Kolkata Knight Riders are eliminated from contention following earlier results involving Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.
The Indian Premier League regular season has concluded following Delhi Capitals’ 40-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. The result secured sixth place in the final standings for Delhi, while simultaneously eliminating Kolkata Knight Riders from playoff contention. The outcome was determined by the match result combined with Rajasthan Royals’ earlier victory over Mumbai Indians, which mathematically removed Kolkata Knight Riders from the top four.
Batting first, Delhi Capitals posted a total of 203-5. Opener KL Rahul provided the foundational innings, scoring 60 runs from 30 balls. This performance allowed the Capitals to surpass the 200-run mark, setting a target that ultimately proved insurmountable for the home side.
In reply, Kolkata Knight Riders initially showed promise with Ajinkya Rahane scoring 63 runs. However, the team’s collapse began shortly after his dismissal, marked by two distinct periods where they lost three wickets for a single run. The first phase saw them slip from 128-3 to 129-6, with Delhi bowler Kuldeep Yadav claiming three wickets for 29 runs, including the wickets of the captain and Rinku Singh from consecutive deliveries.
Delhi’s bowling attack maintained pressure throughout the chase. Lungi Ngidi finished with figures of 3-27, claiming the final four wickets for just nine runs. The home side was bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs, with additional contributions from Mitchell Starc, who dismissed Anukul Roy.
The conclusion of the regular season sets the stage for the play-offs, which are scheduled to begin on 26 May. The opening match will feature Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans, as the top four teams in the standings move forward to the knockout stages of the tournament.
