19 May,2026 09:29 AM IST | New Delhi | Neeru Bhatia
DC pacer Mitchell Starc during the match against RR on Sunday. Pics/IPL
It took the magnificence of Mitchell Starc's (4-40) bowling to keep alive Delhi Capitals's hopes of making the Playoffs (12 points) with a five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals here on Sunday.
Starc's three-wicket burst in the 15th over restricted RR to 193-8 in their allotted 20 overs, when they looked all set to cross the 200-run mark after being comfortably placed at 160-2 in 14 overs. RR managed just 33 runs in their last six overs, losing six wickets.
The left-arm pacer first accounted for RR skipper Riyan Parag, who was set on 51. He dismissed Donovan Ferriera for a duck off the next ball, followed by Ravi Singh (4). His fourth wicket was that of Impact Player Dasun Shanaka (10) in the 19th over.
"We've had different wickets throughout in Delhi. We didn't bowl too badly in the Powerplay, but they batted well. However, we brought things back later, and KL [Rahul, 56 off 42 balls] batted fantastically. To finish at home with a win is always nice," Player of the Match Starc said.
DC coach Hemang Badani waxed eloquent about Starc. "I think he is possibly one of the best role models anyone can have in sport. His work ethic, his preparation before the game, with his own plans and training, is above par. I don't even see that with a lot of the younger boys. That's the reason why he has sustained for so long."
On Starc's impact within the dressing room, Badani revealed, "He is always talking to them, he is always trying to pass on knowledge. How can you get reverse swing? How do you hold your lengths? What does he do when a certain batter is going hard? Does he look to pitch it up? Does he look to try and be submissive and defensive?"
One
This is DC's first win in Delhi after five consecutive losses
Three
No. of matches DC have won in their last five since Starc's comeback; they had won three of their first eight matches in the Australian pacer's absence
