Match 39 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 saw the most wickets ever taken during the power play as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered one of the most disciplined and destructive powerplay spells in the history of IPL. After winning the toss and asking the Delhi Capitals to bat first, the hosts lost six wickets inside the first four overs as Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazelwood wreaked havoc on the DC batters.
The duo were so ferocious in their attack that by the end of the fifth over, Delhi was reeling at 11/6, effectively putting them on the back foot in the contest.
Carnage From The Opening Over!
The carnage began right from the opening over, when debutant Sahil Parakh was dismissed without troubling the scorers, setting the tone for what followed. The second
over proved even more damaging, as Josh Hazlewood struck twice in quick succession to remove KL Rahul for 1 and Sameer Rizvi for a golden duck. Hazlewood's relentless accuracy and ability to extract bounce made him virtually unplayable in the early exchanges.
At the other end, Bhuvneshwar Kumar complemented the attack with a masterclass in swing bowling. He kept the pressure intact with tight lines and subtle movement, forcing errors from the Delhi batters. The wickets continued to tumble as Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, and Nitish Rana also fell cheaply, leaving the home side in complete disarray within the powerplay.
The collapse not only set a new record in DC vs RCB encounters but also ranked among the worst starts in IPL history for the Delhi Capitals. With six wickets down before the end of the powerplay, the hosts were left with an uphill battle to post a competitive total.
DC vs RCB: How Tables Have Turned For Bengaluru In Recent Years?
This dramatic collapse stands in stark contrast to previous meetings between the two sides. Earlier in IPL 2026, Delhi had lost three wickets in the power play while chasing 176, but managed to recover and secure a six-wicket win. In IPL 2024, they lost four wickets inside 3.3 overs yet still reached 54/4 by the end of the powerplay. However, the 2026 encounter on April 27 surpassed all previous instances in terms of early damage.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's impact has been particularly noteworthy this season, with the experienced seamer repeatedly striking in the powerplay against Delhi. His ability to swing the ball early has made him a key weapon for RCB in high-pressure situations.
With such a devastating start, the momentum firmly swung in RCB's favour, leaving Delhi Capitals searching for answers after one of the most dramatic powerplay collapses in IPL history.
