DC vs RR IPL 2024 Highlights: Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 20 runs

And there it is. DC have held their nerves and have beaten RR by 20 runs. A good game but RR have been beaten for the third time this season now. DC are back into contention and are on the 5th place in the points table. RR are yet to qualify.

RR need to do an improbable task now. They need 29 off 6 balls and DC are favourite to win this.

Kuldeep gets Donovan LBW and DC are right back in this. DC reviewed it and it came three reds. RR 6 down.

This game is shifting time and again. When Samson was there, Royals were looking good but now two wickets in quick time. Shubham Dubey falls at long-on. Royals are 5 down. RR need 41 from 18

Ohh, that's the body blow. Samson is gone. he has been caught at long-on as Shai Hope took a great catch while trying to balance himself. Is this a six? The third umpire take a look at it. Shai Hope is the fielder and his shoes are way too close to the boundary cushion. The umpire gives it out. Samson seems to much happy as he goes for a word with the umpire. He wanted to review. But the timer has possibly passed. Samson gone for 86

Samson has led the charge up until now and he is not taking his foot off the gas. Samson is closing in on a ton as RR need 74 from 36 balls. Make it 63 required from 30 balls now. 

Sanju Samson smashes Rasikh Salam for two sixes and one four in an over to keep Rajasthan on track in a tough chase.

RR - 131/3 in 13 overs (Sanju Samson - 74* off 35 and Shubham Dubey - 2* off 3 balls).

Rajasthan need 91 off 42 balls to win the game. 

It's a 28-ball fifty for the Royals skipper. He gets there in style with a giant six over deep mid-wicket on a free-hit off Kuldeep Yadav. Royals need runs at over 12 an over. More of these hits will help.

While the spinners do hold the key, Rasikh has struck and has broken this stand. He has removed Riyan Parag for 27. A slower one does the trick as he has been bowled. Shubham Dubey comes in.

Spinners will hold key for the Capitals. Samson is having a brilliant season against the spinners. Can he pounce on this match-up?

Axar strikes and he breaks the partnership that was starting to trouble the Capitals. He pitched this on a good length outside off and Buttler played it onto his stumps. RR lose their second. Powerplay done and RR are at 67/2 after 6. Riyan Parag has joined Samson now.

Samson and Buttler are keeping the Royals going. Samson in particular is looking very good. He has made 13 off 7 balls and RR are on 27/1 after 3 overs

The chase is on and the Royals have lost Jaiswal on the second ball. He hit Khaleel for a deflected four on the first ball and top-edges the next one to depart early. Samson is now in.

Delhi have amassed 221/8 in their 20 overs. This looks a good total but will it be enough against RR? For the 4th time, the 200-mark has been breached in the first innings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Jake Fraser gave a solid start with a 19-ball fifty followed by Abhishek Porel's strong 65-run knock. Stubbs played well for his 41 and DC managed to finish well

Stubbs is showing his muscle in the death overs. He has smashed 29 in 17 balls and DC are looking for finish. But Gulbadin falls. Trent Boult gets him caught at short-third. DC 6 down for 195

And Delhi Capitals are now in a bit of trouble. They have lost half of their side for 150 in 13.5 overs. The required rate is not a problem but they would still need a good finish Chahal gets Pant and that is his 350th wicket in T20s

Abhishek Porel slams a half-century off 28 balls as he pulls Avesh Khan over deep mid-wicket. A good half-ton by the youngster. 

The first break is done and the Royals are posing a fight back now. DC have made 84/2 in the first 7 overs. They lost Shai Hope to an unfortunate run-out at the bowler's end.

Ohh, the fireworks come to an end. He has hit Ashwin straight to the covers and has been caught out. He smashed 28 runs off Avesh Khan to bring up a 19-ball fifty but the knock is over as DC lose their big-hitting opener

After a challenging first over, Jake Fraser-McGurk is taking on the attack to the bowlers. He has hit 34 from 16 balls now and DC are off to a strong start. 

The DC openers - Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel are at the crease and they are aiming for a good start. Trent Boult has the new ball in hand

DC Impact Subs: Rasikh Dar Salam, Praveen Dubey, Lalit Yadav, Sumit Kumar, Kumar Kushagra

RR Impact Subs: Jos Buttler, Kuldeep Sen, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tanush Kotian, Kunal Singh Rathore

RR's Playing XI:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

DC's Playing XI:

Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Gulbadin Naib, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed

Gulbadin and Ferreira make their IPL debut today

Two changes for DC too

"Pitches this season are more batting friendly. Some injuries, health issues are there in the team but we don't focus on those things and we got to focus on the team and do our best. Ishant and Gulbadin come in," Pant said.

Two forced changes for RR.

"We would like to bowl first, looks a good a wicket to chase on. We are comfortable doing both. The environment in the team is what pleases me, we have great characters, of course winning helps. Dhruv and Hetmyer are unavailable. Dubey and Donovan are in," Samson said.

Sanju Samson has won the toss and RR are bowling first.

The toss is not too far away from now. Around 10 minutes to go for the flip of the coin. What is the best doing here? Dew is not likely to be a major factor. So does not matter much what the captains chose

Yes, RR will officially qualify if they beat DC today. They have 16 points from 10 matches and will go to 18 with another win. Apart from them, only three teams can reach to 18 or beyond it which means RR will surely be one of the teams to book their ticket for the knockouts if they win today

When DC and RR last met each other, Riyan Parag's cool-headed 84 guided RR to a respectable 185. The bowlers then complemented well to restrict the Capitals to 173

While it is a contest between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, it is also a contest between two wicket-keepers, who are also in India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. They are having good seasons and would like to continue with that. 

Delhi Capitals will be hosting Rajasthan Royals in match 56 of the Indian Premier League 2024. The Royals are one win away from securing their place in the playoffs and this might be the game where they get that 'Q' against their name. Meanwhile, the Capitals are looking to stay in hunt and need as many wins as possible if they have qualify for the playoffs.