IPL 2026: Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar power RCB to 9-wicket win over DC
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New Delhi: Searing spells from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar powered defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) in a one-sided Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.
The pace duo ripped through the Delhi batting lineup in a devastating new-ball burst, bundling the hosts out for just 75 runs. RCB then chased down the modest target in style, reaching 77/1 in just 6.3 overs, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 34 not out and Virat Kohli unbeaten on 23.
Hazlewood (4-12) and Bhuvneshwar (3-5) combined to take six wickets inside the first four overs, producing sharp movement and bounce that made batting extremely difficult, more akin to Test-match conditions. Their early assault ensured DC were bowled out for the lowest total of the season.
Outside edges flew, and batters were repeatedly beaten as DC collapsed with no answer to the pace attack. Impact substitute Abishek Porel’s 30 off 33 balls was the only notable resistance in an otherwise dismal batting effort, with no other batter crossing 20.
As per CricViz, DC became only the second team in IPL history to lose six wickets inside the powerplay in a non-rain-affected match, the only previous instance being Kochi Tuskers Kerala’s collapse against Deccan Chargers in IPL 2011. Notably, both incidents occurred on April 27.
The collapse began immediately. Bhuvneshwar Kumar first induced an edge from debutant Sahil Parakh before dismissing him next ball with a late in-swinging yorker that shattered the stumps.
Hazlewood then struck twice in consecutive deliveries, removing KL Rahul and Sameer Rizvi to intensify the damage. Rahul’s top edge on the pull was safely taken by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, while Rizvi’s expansive drive resulted in a catch behind the stumps.
Tristan Stubbs briefly counterattacked with a boundary off Hazlewood’s hat-trick ball, but Bhuvneshwar quickly dismissed him, followed by Axar Patel, both caught behind by Jitesh.
Hazlewood then joined the demolition again, removing Nitish Rana with a sharp short ball that resulted in a glove-edge catch at gully. At 9/6 inside four overs, DC were in complete disarray.
By the end of the powerplay, Delhi had slumped to 13/6 — the lowest powerplay total in IPL history.
A brief 35-run partnership between Porel and David Miller offered some resistance, with Miller striking boundaries off Rasikh Salam Dar and Romario Shepherd. However, Rasikh broke the stand by dismissing Miller, and Kyle Jamieson briefly entertained with a six before Krunal Pandya trapped him lbw.
Suyash Sharma then removed Kuldeep Yadav, and Hazlewood completed the innings by bowling Porel with a perfect yorker as DC were dismissed in 16.3 overs.
Chasing 76, RCB started confidently with Jacob Bethell hitting early boundaries before Virat Kohli opened his account with a fluent cover-driven four. Bethell’s aggressive 20 off 11 balls included two massive sixes before he was caught by T Natarajan off Kyle Jamieson.
Padikkal then took control, striking multiple boundaries and sixes, including a 104-metre hit and a commanding loft over mid-off. RCB reached 65/1 in the powerplay.
Kohli finished the chase in trademark style, hitting sixes down the ground and over deep mid-wicket as RCB completed a comprehensive win with 81 balls remaining.
Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals 75 all out in 16.3 overs (Abishek Porel 30, David Miller 19; Josh Hazlewood 4-12, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-5) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 77/1 in 6.3 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 34*, Virat Kohli 23*; Kyle Jamieson 1-42) by nine wickets.
(With IANS inputs)