DC vs RCB: 'I'm surprised myself...' — After thrashing Delhi, RCB captain Rajat Patidar reveals the secret behind the victory.

RCB defeated the Delhi Capitals by 9 wickets in the 39th match of IPL 2026, securing their sixth victory of the current season. RCB bundled out DC for just 75 runs in 16.3 overs and subsequently chased down the target in 6.3 overs.

RCB clinched the match with 81 balls to spare—marking the second-largest victory in IPL history in terms of balls remaining. The overall record is held by MI, who achieved the biggest victory with 87 balls to spare against KKR in 2008.

Even Captain Rajat Patidar appeared surprised by the manner in which RCB dismantled DC on their home turf. Following the match, he also revealed the strategy devised specifically for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood.

What did Captain Rajat Patidar say after defeating DC?

Indeed, fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke the back of the Delhi team. Hazlewood conceded just 12 runs in 3.3 overs to claim a total of 4 wickets, while 'Bhuvi' took 3 wickets for 5 runs in 3 overs. Suyash, Rasikh Salam, and Krunal Pandya each claimed one wicket. Following the victory, RCB Captain Rajat Patidar stated during the post-match presentation:

"Absolutely, though I am myself surprised by the way the wicket played. Full credit goes to the bowlers—especially the way Hazlewood and Bhuvi bowled during the Powerplay. They pitched the ball in the right areas and also found a bit of swing early on. It was amazing to watch."

When asked if there was significant swing early in the innings, the RCB captain replied that, no, the swing was actually quite normal. He noted that the key factor was securing early wickets, which allowed them to stay ahead in the match.

Rajat was also asked if he felt tempted to have Bhuvi and Hazlewood bowl their full quota of overs; to this, he simply replied, "No, no." We had already planned that if we secured early wickets, we would have both bowlers bowl three overs each. Then, we would observe how the pitch was behaving. Subsequently, Suyash and Sheppy delivered a brilliant bowling performance. Suyash generated significant turn, yet he maintained a stump-to-stump line; it was truly a delight to watch.

It is worth noting that the RCB team currently sits in second place on the points table with 12 points, having won 6 out of their 8 matches. Speaking on the importance of maintaining their winning momentum, Rajat said:

"It is crucial to stick to our routine. There is still a long journey ahead in this tournament. We are focusing on taking it one match at a time. The positive aspect—as I mentioned after the previous match as well—is that different players are stepping up and delivering performances for the team. This is a very good sign for us. If you are playing T20 cricket on a flat pitch, it is imperative to possess a strong bowling unit, because ultimately, it is the bowlers who win you the championship." — Rajat Patidar