Delhi Capitals’ (DC) IPL 2026 campaign is hanging by the thinnest of threads, but the dramatic win over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala has at least kept their playoff hopes alive heading into a must-win clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. For a team that looked almost out of contention just a week ago, the victory injected fresh belief into a struggling setup desperate to rediscover consistency at the business end of the tournament.

However, Delhi’s biggest concern remains its disastrous home form. DC have managed just one win in six matches in Delhi this season and are currently on a five-match losing streak at the venue. Their top order has failed repeatedly, putting enormous pressure on the middle order to rescue innings. KL Rahul, who enjoyed a purple patch earlier in the campaign, has now registered three consecutive scores below 25, while DC as a unit have lost more Powerplay wickets than any other team this season.

Even in the successful chase against PBKS, it was the middle and lower order that bailed them out. Axar Patel, David Miller and Ashutosh Sharma played crucial knocks under pressure, once again proving Delhi’s batting depth. Miller’s return to the XI has especially added balance, considering his reputation as one of the IPL’s best finishers in run chases.

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Delhi’s bowling attack has also lacked rhythm throughout the season. Apart from Lungi Ngidi, and Dushmantha Chameera in a limited sample size, most DC bowlers have conceded over 10 runs per over. Kuldeep Yadav’s dip in form has further exposed the attack, especially on the batting-friendly surfaces in Delhi. Rajasthan Royals arrive with similar concerns. Much of the spotlight remains on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose fearless strokeplay has been one of the stories of IPL 2026.

Yet outside his explosive starts, RR’s batting has looked fragile. Yashasvi Jaiswal has struggled for consistency, while Dhruv Jurel and stand-in skipper Riyan Parag have failed to deliver regularly in crunch situations. Their bowling unit, once considered among the strongest in the tournament, has also lost momentum. Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger have not replicated their early-season impact, leaving Rajasthan searching for answers during a critical phase of the competition.

Despite their recent slump, RR still hold a stronger position than Delhi with two extra points and a game in hand. But with both teams battling inconsistency, Sunday’s encounter feels like a virtual knockout clash where momentum, composure, and execution under pressure could decide whose playoff hopes survive a little longer.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals will once again rely heavily on captain Axar Patel to deliver in the middle overs after finally showing signs of batting stability in their previous outing. Axar’s upcoming contest against Ravindra Jadeja could prove decisive, especially considering his excellent record against the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder. The left-hander has scored 81 runs off just 43 balls against Jadeja in T20 cricket at a strike rate of 188.37, making this one of the key match-ups to watch. David Miller has also enjoyed success against Jadeja, striking at over 171 against the veteran spinner.

Probable XII: KL Rahul (wk), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi Dar, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Rajasthan Royals could receive a timely boost with stand-in captain Riyan Parag returning to full fitness. Parag was spotted batting in the nets ahead of the clash and is expected to slot straight back into the playing XI.

For Delhi, KL Rahul remains central to their top-order hopes despite a dip in form. However, he faces a tough challenge against Jofra Archer, who has historically troubled him in the Powerplay. Although Rahul scores at nearly 140 against Archer, the England pacer has dismissed him three times, setting up a crucial early battle.

Probable XII: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Brijesh Sharma