62nd encounter IPL 2026 season witnessed a high-profile, thrilling clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday. Delhi Capitals (DC) won the toss and elected to field first against the Giants Rajasthan Royals (RR). While the match was full of explosive batting performances, it was an incredible knock from the DC skipper. Akhar Patel stole the limelight and completely changed the pace of the game.
Axar Patel’s breathtaking dive sends Riyan Parag back during the DC vs RR encounter
The Rajasthan Royals captain had the defining moment of the first innings in the 15th over. Rian Parag he was firmly seated in the driver’s seat. Parag tore apart the DC bowling attack, hitting a magnificent 51 off just 26 deliveries punctuated by 3 fours and 5 powerful sixes.
In the second ball of 14.2 overs, the veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc He lifted a clever cutter well outside the off stump. Parag tried to drive it straight over the boundary but mistimed the deceptively slow ball. The ball hung in the Delhi night sky for a long time.
Akhar on the boundary followed the ball flawlessly. Moving forward with absolute commitment, Akhar took a magnificent, full-length diving catch, perfectly grasping both hands under the skin a few inches above the turf. The stunning dismissal broke a crucial partnership and spelled a huge blow for the Royals.
We present the video:
From Rainy Borders to Starstorm 🌪️🔥
🎥 Mitchell Starc responds with 3 wickets
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Also WATCH: David Miller took a stunning catch to dismiss Vaibhav Suryavanshi during the DC vs RR match
RR writes a difficult conclusion against DC
Despite Axar’s heroic challenge, Rajasthan Royals managed to post a highly competitive total of 193/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The team got off to a fast start, asserting their dominance in the early stages. Opening dough Yashasvi Jaiswal Early dismissal at age 12, but young prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi He played a sensational cameo, scoring 46 runs off just 21 balls at a strike rate of 219.04 with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Finally they caught him David Miller Off the bowling of Madhav Tiwari.
After Suryavanshi’s departure Dhruv Jurel closed shots brilliantly. Jurel scored a well-deserved half-century of 53 runs off 40 balls, batting calculatedly but aggressively. However, Akhar’s dismissal of Parag at 161/3 was the final turning point.
After Parag’s exit, Starc dismantled RR’s middle order, leading to a massive collapse. Donovan Ferreira Starc fell for a golden duck caught by Axar off and Ravi Singh was trapped lbw for 4 just two balls later. Royals managed only 27 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the last 5 overs, choking in the death overs.
Starc picked the bowlers for DC, recovering from a costly start to end with impressive figures of 4/40 in his 4 overs. Good luck While providing excellent control with 2/24 Madhav Tiwari Entered on 2/27. Thanks to the late boundaries under the influence Dasun Shanaka (10), RR closed on 193/8 and left DC with a steep target of 194 runs to chase on a dynamic Delhi track.
