As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, all eyes will be on a blockbuster clash between two of India’s premier batters: Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.
During his last visit to the venue, Kohli turned a routine Ranji Trophy match into a three-day festival, drawing huge crowds. This time, while the fanfare will be just as intense, Kohli’s loyal supporters will also be hoping for a DC win.
Kohli enters the match in scintillating form, sitting third on the Orange Cap leaderboard with an average of 65.33—his best since RCB’s run to the final in 2016. Notably, five of his six half-centuries this season have come in victories. Since 2022, he has contributed 26.12% of RCB’s runs in wins, second only to Shubman Gill.
The Kotla has been a happy hunting ground for Kohli—he’s amassed 483 runs in ten innings here, averaging 69 at a strike rate of 145.5, his best numbers at any venue where he’s played more than five matches. Unbeaten in five away games, RCB will be banking on another masterclass to pull ahead in the playoff race and break a three-way tie with Gujarat Titans and DC at 12 points.
But Kohli isn’t the only heavyweight in this contest. KL Rahul has been a revelation this season, ditching his cautious approach for a more aggressive style. When these sides met earlier in the tournament, Rahul led DC to victory at the Chinnaswamy with a commanding performance.
Rahul, DC’s top scorer with 323 runs at a strike rate of 153.80, comes into this game fresh off an unbeaten 57 against his former team, Lucknow Super Giants. His form has been vital for DC, especially with Faf du Plessis sidelined by a groin injury.
Adding another layer of intrigue is the fast-bowling duel between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood—two of the most accomplished pacers in world cricket.
With playoff spots and a potential top-two finish on the line, this game carries enormous stakes for both sides, who revamped their squads significantly at the mega auction.
Team News and Probable XI
Du Plessis, who hasn’t played since April 10, is nearing full fitness and could return as DC’s fourth overseas player.
Delhi Capitals: 1. Abishek Porel, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Karun Nair, 4. KL Rahul (wk), 5. Axar Patel (capt), 6. Tristan Stubbs, 7. Ashutosh Sharma, 8. Vipraj Nigam, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Mukesh Kumar, 12. Dushmantha Chameera
RCB, on the other hand, have a settled line-up and are unlikely to make changes.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1. Virat Kohli, 2. Phil Salt, 3. Devdutt Padikkal, 4. Rajat Patidar (capt), 5. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6. Romario Shepherd, 7. Tim David, 8. Krunal Pandya, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Yash Dayal, 12. Suyash Sharma
Kuldeep Yadav has been the linchpin of DC’s bowling attack, taking 12 wickets at an economy of just 6.3—joint-best alongside Varun Chakravarthy. His control in the middle overs has been vital, including a superb 2 for 23 against Mumbai Indians.
Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya has matched his best-ever IPL wicket tally with 12 scalps—all coming in victories. His double-strike, combined with Suyash Sharma’s tidy spells, played a crucial role in RCB’s recent win over Rajasthan Royals. While not as intimidating as the Chakravarthys or Narines, the RCB spin duo could be key as the playoff race heats up.
