Delhi Capitals hit rock bottom against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, enduring an embarrassing night at home as they were bundled out for just 75. It turned into a complete batting meltdown, with Delhi losing their first six wickets for a mere eight runs on the board. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ran riot in the powerplay, exploiting conditions perfectly and leaving the hosts shell-shocked.
The collapse was even more startling given the recent trend at the venue, which had produced high-scoring thrillers, including a successful 265-run chase just days before this clash. In stark contrast, Delhi’s timid display exposed serious flaws in their batting approach and temperament. What was expected to be another run-fest instead became a one-sided contest, as Bengaluru’s bowlers dictated terms from the outset and sealed one of the most dramatic collapses of the season.
DC’s batters looked completely clueless as Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood extracted swing and bounce to devastating effect. The surface posed questions they failed to answer, and the lack of composure and application against RCB’s pace duo was evident throughout a collapse that quickly spiralled out of control.
In the aftermath of Delhi Capitals’ crushing nine-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, co-owner Parth Jindal struck a defiant note, urging the side to stay united, keep fighting, and continue believing despite the heavy setback.
“Stay together more than ever now @DelhiCapitals – really very tough to take, but we must keep fighting and keep believing,” Jindal wrote on X.
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Axar Patel clueless after DC’s nightmare vs RCB
Meanwhile, still coming to terms with the crushing defeat, Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel conceded he was left searching for answers, even as he emphasised the importance of putting the loss behind and regrouping for the next match.
“I still don’t understand what happened. But everyone says that in cricket, every day you have to be on your toes and you have to come back and do the same things again and again. But yes, when you go into the next match, you have to forget this and move on,” Axar told broadcasters.
The last two defeats have pushed Delhi Capitals into a tricky spot on the points table, where they sit seventh with just three wins from eight matches. The slide has made their path to the playoffs increasingly difficult, leaving little margin for error in the remaining games. With momentum slipping and competition intensifying, their chances of breaking into the top four are beginning to look slim, putting added pressure on the side to turn things around quickly.