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DC vs RR, IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals are still clinging on for a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs as they beat the Rajasthan Royals by five wickets on May 17, Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The 100-run partnership between KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel set up the Capitals’ run-chase of 194 as Ashutosh Sharma and Axar Patel stayed till the end to finish the job, thereby hurting the Royals’ chances of comfortably progressing to the playoffs.

It’s certainly worth exploring how the Capitals and Royals can reach the playoffs.

DC vs RR, IPL 2026: How can the Delhi Capitals qualify for the playoffs after beating the Rajasthan Royals?

A loss on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium would have knocked the Capitals out of the playoffs race but they must also win their game. Having beaten the Royals, the Capitals would still be eliminated if they get defeated by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens. Should Axar Patel and co. beat the Knight Riders too, they must hope for the Royals, Punjab Kings and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to not win any of their games.

Then the Capitals would be on 14 and go through, with Royals (12 points), Punjab Kings (13) and the Super Kings (12) eliminated.

DC vs RR, IPL 2026: Can the Delhi Capitals still have the opportunity to qualify for the playoffs?

Having lost their sixth match, the Royals have slid to 6th spot in the points table, below the Super Kings. A win in the remaining two matches will take them to 16 but must still hope for the Punjab Kings to lose at least one more match and CSK to not win any of theirs.

But Riyan Parag and co. will be largely in trouble if they win only one and lose the other, leaving them to depend on net run-rate. Losses in both of the remaining games means they are sure to be eliminated.

The Royals’ went from 161/2 to finish with only 193/8 when a total of 220 was on the cards. Mitchell Starc’s third over producing three wickets significantly turned the momentum in favour of the home side. Starc deservedly claimed the Player of the Match award for his outstanding haul of 4-0-40-4. Lungi Ngidi and Madhav Tiwari also bowled well for his two wickets apiece.