IPL 2026: Hazlewood and Bhuvi Demolish Delhi Capitals; Virat Kohli Scripts History with 9,000 Runs

Sports Desk: In a night that will be remembered for world-class pace bowling, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a clinical performance to crush Delhi Capitals (DC) by 9 wickets. The match, held at the Arun जेटली Stadium, saw the DC batting lineup crumble like a house of cards, posting a meager 75 runs—their third-lowest total in IPL history.

The Powerplay Carnage: 5 Wickets for 7 Runs

The game was effectively decided in the first 18 balls. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood turned the pitch into a nightmare for the DC batters with a masterclass in swing and seam.

• The Dream Start: Bhuvneshwar Kumar set the tone on the very second ball of the match, cleaning up debutant Sahil Parakh (0) with a vicious in-swinger that sent the middle stump cartwheeling.
• Hazlewood’s Double Blow: In the second over, Josh Hazlewood removed KL Rahul (1) and Sameer Rizvi (0) in consecutive deliveries.
• The Captain’s Departure: DC skipper Axar Patel (0) and Tristan Stubbs (5) soon followed, leaving Delhi reeling at a shocking 7/5 within 2.4 overs. It was a historic collapse that left the home crowd in stunned silence.

Porel’s Lone Resistance

While wickets tumbled at the other end, Abishek Porel (30 off 33) played a gritty innings to ensure DC didn’t fall below the infamous 49-run mark. Nitish Rana (1) and David Miller (19) tried to stabilize the ship, but Hazlewood returned to dismiss Rana with a brutal short ball. Hazlewood eventually wrapped up the innings by yorking Porel, finishing with incredible figures of 4/8.

Virat Kohli: The First to 9,000 IPL Runs

Chasing a target of 76 was a walk in the park for the RCB openers. While the win was a foregone conclusion, the night belonged to Virat Kohli.

• The Milestone: With a flick to long-off, Kohli became the first player in history to reach 9,000 runs in the IPL.
• The Finish: Devdutt Padikkal played a scintillating cameo, smashing 34 off just 13 balls* (3 fours, 3 sixes). Kohli finished the demolition job in style, hitting two consecutive sixes off Natarajan to wrap up the win in just 6.3 overs.

Captain’s Corner

Rajat Patidar (RCB Captain): > “Even I am surprised at how the game went. All credit to the bowlers—Hazlewood and Bhuvi. They put us in the driving seat from the first over. Only bowlers can win you championships on these flat T20 pitches.”

Axar Patel (DC Captain): > “I still cannot understand what happened. Tonight was a bad day. You have to be on your toes at all times in cricket. We have to pick ourselves up and stay positive for what’s to come.”

Key Match Statistics:

• Josh Hazlewood: 3.3-0-8-4 (Player of the Match)
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 3-0-5-3
• Record Alert: Delhi Capitals recorded the lowest Powerplay score in IPL history (13/6).
• Virat Kohli: Reached the 9,000-run landmark in his 6.3-over sprint.