KL Rahul, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Mitchell Starc, Jofra Archer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the key players to watch in DC vs RR Match 62 of IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Sunday, May 17.
Both teams are in playoff survival mode. Rajasthan Royals have tumbled from 3rd to 5th after losing 5 of their last 7 matches, while Delhi Capitals carry the worst NRR among playoff aspirants and need a win to stay mathematically alive.
DC won the reverse fixture in Jaipur, chasing 226 with 7 wickets in hand, thanks to Starc’s 3 wickets on debut. However, RR will be buoyed by Jofra Archer’s return to the XI and Ravi Bishnoi coming back alongside Shubham Dubey.
With chasing teams winning 80% of matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the toss could be the decisive factor tonight.
Key Players To Watch Out For From Both Teams
| Category | Player Name | Team | Key Role / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | KL Rahul (wk) | DC | 477 runs at SR 177.98; avg 51.6 vs RR; but 4 consecutive low scores. |
| Batsman | Madhav Tiwari | DC | POTM vs PBKS (18* off 8 + 2/40); emerging all-rounder. |
| Batsman | Tristan Stubbs | DC | Power-hitter in the middle order; capable of quick fifties. |
| Batsman | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | 32 of 40 sixes vs fast bowlers; explosive left-handed opener. |
| Batsman | Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | Just 132 runs in last 7 at avg 18.9; needs to rediscover form. |
| Batsman | Donovan Ferreira | RR | Consistent middle-order contributor; emerged during RR’s mid-season. |
| Bowler | Mitchell Starc | DC | 3 wickets in reverse fixture; left-arm swing threat. |
| Bowler | Kuldeep Yadav | DC | Spinner; Jurel averages 17.6 vs wrist-spin (dismissed 5 times). |
| Bowler | T Natarajan | DC | Left-arm yorker specialist; death-overs accuracy. |
| Bowler | Jofra Archer | RR | Returns to XI; 13 wickets in first 8, but 2 in last 3 at eco 12. |
| Bowler | Ravi Bishnoi | RR | Returns alongside Archer; leg-spin threat on dry surface. |
| Bowler | Nandre Burger | RR | South African pacer; new-ball partner for Archer. |
| All-Rounder | Axar Patel (c) | DC | DC captain; tight left-arm spin and batting depth. |
| All-Rounder | Ravindra Jadeja | RR | Steady bowling and batting; consistent all-round performer. |
Key Player Battles To Watch: DC vs RR
This double elimination clash features three crucial individual contests on a bimodal Kotla surface.
| Battle | DC Player | RR Player | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay Rematch | Mitchell Starc | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Starc took 3 wickets in reverse fixture. But Sooryavanshi has 32 of 40 sixes vs pace. Left-arm swing vs left-handed power. |
| Form vs Record | KL Rahul | Jofra Archer | Rahul avg 51.6 vs RR but on 4 low scores. Archer back in XI but 2 wickets in last 3 at eco 12. Both need a performance. |
| Spin Trap | Kuldeep Yadav | Dhruv Jurel | Jurel averages 17.6 vs wrist-spin (dismissed 5 times this season). Kuldeep on a dry Kotla surface could end Jurel’s innings early. |
DC vs RR: Head-to-Head Record in IPL
The DC vs RR rivalry is one of the IPL’s most closely fought.
DC lead 16-15 overall, and won the reverse fixture this season by 7 wickets chasing 226.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Overall H2H | DC lead 16-15 |
| Reverse Fixture | DC won by 7 wickets (chased 226; Starc 3 wickets) |
| DC Current Points | 10 (5W-7L, worst NRR among aspirants) |
| RR Current Points | 12 (6W-6L, lost 5 of last 7) |
| RR Second-Half Slide | 5 losses in last 7 after 4-0 start |
| Chasing Record at Kotla | 80% win rate this season |
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch And Conditions: What To Expect
The Arun Jaitley Stadium has been a bimodal surface this season, producing first-innings scores ranging from 75 to 264.
Chasing teams have won 80% of matches (4 out of 5) at this venue, making the toss absolutely crucial.
Hot, dry conditions with no dew expected in this evening game mean the surface should offer consistent bounce throughout.
Projected first-innings score is between 150-180, significantly lower than the earlier games here due to the surface drying out as the season progresses.
Temperature will be around 35-38 degrees Celsius at match time.
Probable Playing XIs for DC vs RR Match 62
DC Probable XI
KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan
Impact Player: Madhav Tiwari or David Miller
Note: Madhav Tiwari was Player of the Match against PBKS (18* off 8 + 2/40) and could feature as impact sub. DC need a win to stay mathematically alive in the playoff race.
RR Probable XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma
Impact Player: Adam Milne or Tushar Deshpande
Note: Riyan Parag is expected to return from his hamstring injury, which is crucial for captaincy and batting at No.4. Archer and Bishnoi both return, giving RR a more attacking bowling combination. Another defeat makes RR’s path to playoffs significantly tougher.
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Final Verdict: Both Teams Ready With Balanced Squad For Clash
This is a double elimination clash where neither team can afford to lose.
DC‘s home advantage, Rahul’s avg 51.6 vs RR, Starc’s reverse fixture heroics, and the 80% chasing win rate at Kotla give them a slight edge.
However, RR have Sooryavanshi’s explosive batting (32 of 40 sixes vs pace), Archer’s return, and Bishnoi’s spin to challenge any team on any surface.
Regardless of the result, this Sunday evening clash between two teams fighting for their IPL 2026 survival promises to be one of the most intense matches of the season.
