Delhi Capitals (DC) will field KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, and Kuldeep Yadav, while Rajasthan Royals (RR) rely on Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jofra Archer, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Match 62 of IPL 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
Currently, eight teams remain in playoff contention with eleven games to go, and both DC and RR desperately need a win tonight. Although DC snapped their losing streak by beating PBKS by 3 wickets in their last game, RR are reeling after a 77-run hammering by GT and face a potential blow with Riyan Parag’s hamstring injury making his availability doubtful.
DC Playing 11 Today
Because DC beat PBKS by 3 wickets in their last game, they carry fresh momentum into this home fixture. Accordingly, Abishek Porel keeps wickets and opens alongside KL Rahul (Orange Cap #5, 477 runs, SR 177.98), since the duo combined for a crucial partnership at Dharamsala.
Furthermore, Madhav Tiwari earned Player of the Match in his last game (18* off 8 balls + 2/40), cementing his place in the XI. Additionally, Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma handle the middle order, while David Miller provides death-overs power at No. 6.
On the bowling front, Mitchell Starc leads the pace attack with genuine speed and swing. Moreover, Kuldeep Yadav has been effective on the Kotla surface, while captain Axar Patel adds left-arm spin depth. Besides that, T Natarajan delivers deadly left-arm yorkers at the death, and Vipraj Nigam provides leg-spin variety.
DC Predicted XI: Abishek Porel (WK), KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan.
RR Playing 11 Today
Since RR suffered a devastating 77-run loss to GT (137/7, Rashid Khan 4/36), their confidence has taken a hit. Consequently, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continue opening, although the duo failed to fire against GT.
Besides that, Riyan Parag’s hamstring injury (day 16 recovery) makes his availability a major doubt. If Parag misses out, Shimron Hetmyer steps into the middle order. Additionally, Dhruv Jurel keeps wickets at No. 3, while Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja provide all-round balance.
In terms of bowling, Jofra Archer remains RR’s most consistent wicket-taker this season. Moreover, Nandre Burger and Tushar Deshpande share the pace duties, while Ravi Bishnoi handles the spin department. However, RR’s bowling conceded 228, 265, and 225 in three consecutive games before the GT match, which raises serious concerns about their death-overs execution.
RR Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande.
Impact Player Picks for Both Sides
DC Impact Sub: Karun Nair / Nitish Rana
Since the Arun Jaitley surface has produced wildly different scores (75 to 264 this season), Karun Nair or Nitish Rana becomes the ideal batting impact sub. Specifically, their ability to adapt to match situations gives Axar Patel a flexible middle-order option depending on whether DC bat or chase tonight.
RR Impact Sub: Shubham Dubey / Lhuan-dre Pretorius
Similarly, Shubham Dubey or Lhuan-dre Pretorius offers RR batting depth from the bench. Because Parag’s absence creates a gap in the middle order, Pretorius’s power-hitting ability at the death also addresses RR’s most glaring weakness against DC’s disciplined bowling unit.
Key Players to Watch in Match 62
Firstly, the battle between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Mitchell Starc in the powerplay could define the game, since Sooryavanshi’s SR of 237 makes him the most explosive opener remaining while Starc’s left-arm pace generates swing under lights. Similarly, KL Rahul (SR 177.98, middle-overs SR 211) versus Ravi Bishnoi promises a fascinating contest between the Kotla’s most dangerous batter and RR’s primary spin threat.
| Player | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | DC | WK-Opener | Orange Cap #5; 477 runs; SR 177.98; middle-overs SR 211; DC’s heartbeat |
| Mitchell Starc | DC | Pace Spearhead | Genuine pace 145+ kmph; left-arm swing under lights; Super Over hero 2025 |
| Madhav Tiwari | DC | All-rounder | POTM vs PBKS (18* + 2/40); emerging talent; earned permanent spot |
| Kuldeep Yadav | DC | Left-arm Spinner | Effective on Kotla surface; middle-overs threat; DC’s spin trump card |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | Opener | 312+ runs; SR 159; fastest IPL fifty (13 balls); explosive left-hander |
| Jofra Archer | RR | Pace Spearhead | Consistent powerplay wickets; 145 kmph; RR’s most reliable bowler |
| Ravindra Jadeja | RR | All-rounder | Batting and bowling depth; experienced campaigner; crucial at No. 6-7 |
In addition, chasing teams have won 80% of bat-first attempts at Arun Jaitley this season (4 of 5 completed matches), making the toss decision arguably the most important factor tonight.
Head-to-Head Record: DC vs RR
Across 31 IPL meetings, DC hold a narrow 16-15 lead over RR. Notably, this is one of the closest rivalries in IPL history, and the last three confirmed meetings show DC leading 2-1, including Starc’s iconic Super Over victory at this very ground in IPL 2025.
| Category | DC | RR |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 31 | 31 |
| Wins | 16 | 15 |
| Last 3 Meetings | 2 wins | 1 win |
| Earlier This Season | Won by 7 wkts at Jaipur (Match 43) | Lost by 7 wkts |
| 2025 Super Over | Won (Starc heroics) | Lost |
| Record at Arun Jaitley | Home advantage | 5-2 at Jaipur |
Additionally, DC won the earlier meeting this season by 7 wickets at Jaipur (Match 43), where KL Rahul’s 75 and Nissanka’s 62 powered a commanding chase. However, RR have historically performed well at this venue, and the bimodal surface (75 to 264 this season) means anything can happen tonight.
Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
Firstly, the Arun Jaitley Stadium has produced a bimodal surface this season, with first-innings totals ranging from just 75 (DC vs RCB) to 264 (DC vs PBKS). Furthermore, chasing teams have won 80% of completed matches at this venue in IPL 2026, making the toss arguably the most decisive factor tonight.
Secondly, the Delhi weather forecast shows extreme heat with a high of 42°C and zero chance of rain. Consequently, a full 40-over contest is guaranteed, although dry mid-May conditions mean dew may not be as heavy as earlier in the season. Besides that, the hot evening air will still make gripping the ball difficult for bowlers in the second innings.
As a result, the captain winning the toss will likely bowl first to chase on a surface where 80% of second-innings teams have won. Therefore, KL Rahul’s middle-overs SR of 211 makes him the most dangerous anchor in a chasing scenario tonight.
Match Prediction: Who Wins Today?
Delhi Capitals enter as slight favourites due to home advantage and the Arun Jaitley surface’s chasing dominance (80% win rate for second-innings teams). Specifically, DC’s batting with Rahul (SR 177.98), Stubbs, and Miller covers all phases, while Starc and Kuldeep form a lethal pace-spin combination under lights.
On the other hand, RR‘s explosive top order with Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal can overpower any attack on a flat surface. However, Parag’s hamstring doubt removes their captain and best middle-overs batter, and the 77-run loss to GT has dented their confidence badly.
As for the toss, the captain winning the flip will bowl first given the 80% chasing advantage at this venue. Ultimately, DC are predicted to win this contest at home, although RR’s explosive batting means any slip in DC’s bowling could cost them dearly.
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Final Word
To sum up, the DC vs RR Match 62 brings a crucial Sunday night clash to the Kotla, where the venue’s bimodal surface (75 to 264 this season) makes every game unpredictable.
If Rahul anchors a chase with his middle-overs SR of 211, then DC could climb back into serious playoff contention.
Otherwise, Sooryavanshi’s explosive batting could blow the game wide open in the first six overs. Either way, with eight teams still alive and the toss worth 80% at this venue, expect every ball to matter in this double-header Sunday night blockbuster.
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