KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Josh Hazlewood, and Rajat Patidar headline the key players in DC vs RCB Match 39 of IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Monday, April 27.
Delhi Capitals are 6th on the points table with three wins from seven matches, reeling from a shocking loss to PBKS where they failed to defend 264 despite KL Rahul’s record-breaking 152 not out.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru sit 2nd with five wins from seven matches (10 points), riding high after a convincing win over Gujarat Titans where Kohli anchored the chase brilliantly.
This is the reverse fixture of Match 26, where DC won by 6 wickets at the Chinnaswamy, making this a revenge mission for the defending champions.
Key Players To Watch Out For From Both Teams
| Category | Player Name | Team | Key Role / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | KL Rahul (wk) | DC | 357 runs in 7 innings; unbeaten 152* vs PBKS; top form. |
| Batsman | Tristan Stubbs | DC | 60 off 47 in reverse fixture; match-winning finisher. |
| Batsman | David Miller | DC | 6-6-4 final-over heroics vs RCB at Chinnaswamy; explosive. |
| Batsman | Sameer Rizvi | DC | Two match-winning 50s as impact player this season. |
| Batsman | Virat Kohli | RCB | 328 runs in 7 games at SR 163; approaching 9,000 IPL runs. |
| Batsman | Rajat Patidar (c) | RCB | SR 213.46 this season; fastest fifty of IPL 2026 (17 balls). |
| Batsman | Devdutt Padikkal | RCB | 55 off 27 vs GT; back in form at No.3. |
| Bowler | Kuldeep Yadav | DC | Key spinner; 2/32 in the reverse fixture; dominates Patidar. |
| Bowler | T Natarajan | DC | Left-arm yorker specialist; death-overs accuracy. |
| Bowler | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 11 wickets in 7 matches; RCB’s leading wicket-taker. |
| Bowler | Josh Hazlewood | RCB | Economy of 8.89 in IPL 2026; controls powerplay and death. |
| All-Rounder | Axar Patel (c) | DC | Captain; tight left-arm spin at eco 7.86; crucial in middle overs. |
| All-Rounder | Krunal Pandya | RCB | Economical left-arm spin; 100+ IPL wickets milestone. |
| All-Rounder | Tim David | RCB | Power finisher; explosive in death overs. |
Key Player Battles To Watch: DC vs RCB
This reverse fixture features blockbuster individual contests on a high-scoring Delhi deck.
| Battle | DC Player | RCB Player | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay Duel | KL Rahul | Josh Hazlewood | Rahul’s 85 off 51 vs Hazlewood in 6 innings. Eco 8.89 vs 357 runs this season. The tone-setter. |
| Spin vs Captain | Kuldeep Yadav | Rajat Patidar | Patidar has just 16 off 13 Kuldeep balls (dismissed once). Kuldeep had 2/32 in reverse fixture. |
| Death-Overs Thriller | David Miller | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Miller hit 6-6-4 to win at Chinnaswamy. Bhuvi’s 11 wickets make this a revenge duel. |
DC vs RCB: Head-to-Head Record in IPL
The DC vs RCB rivalry is one of the oldest in IPL history, with RCB holding a dominant record.
RCB lead 20-13 in 33 IPL meetings, while DC lead 7-6 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 33 |
| RCB Wins | 20 |
| DC Wins | 13 |
| DC Home Record vs RCB | 7-6 at Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| Last 10 Meetings | RCB 6, DC 4 |
| Reverse Fixture (Match 26) | DC won by 6 wickets at Chinnaswamy |
| Most Runs in Rivalry | Virat Kohli (1,130 runs) |
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch And Conditions: What To Expect
The Arun Jaitley Stadium has been a batting paradise in IPL 2026.
The average first-innings score at this venue this season is a staggering 212 runs, the highest of any ground.
In the last game here, a total of 529 runs were scored across two innings (264 by DC, 265 by PBKS), confirming the flat nature of the surface.
Chasing teams have won 5 out of 6 matches at this venue in IPL 2026, so the toss is massive.
Additionally, heavy dew in the second innings makes bowling extremely difficult, particularly for spinners.
Temperature in Delhi will peak at 42 degrees Celsius during the day, though the evening start should make conditions more bearable.
Probable Playing XIs for DC vs RCB Match 39
Here is the Probable 11 of both the teams:
DC Probable XI
Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera
Impact Player: Mitchell Starc (if available)
Note: Lungi Ngidi is set to miss out after a serious head injury. Dushmantha Chameera or Kyle Jamieson is expected to replace him in the pace department.
RCB Probable XI
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Impact Player: Rasikh Salam Dar
Note: Phil Salt’s fitness is a concern. If he misses out, Jacob Bethell opens and Jitesh Sharma keeps wicket.
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Final Verdict: Both Teams Ready With Balanced Squad For Clash
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter as favourites with superior form, a deeper batting lineup led by Kohli’s 328 runs, and Bhuvneshwar’s 11 wickets.
However, DC have home advantage and KL Rahul in career-best form (357 runs), plus the reverse fixture win as a confidence booster.
The key variable is DC’s bowling, which has been their Achilles heel all season. If they can’t contain RCB’s firepower on a batting-friendly Delhi deck, this could be another high-scoring thriller.
Regardless of the result, this Monday evening clash between the defending champions and a desperate DC side promises entertainment on a surface where 200 is the bare minimum.
