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Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 Match 62: Preview, Predictions & Fantasy Tips

Sidharth Menon
· 4 min read
delhi capitals vs rajasthan royals match 62 17 05 2026

The High-Stakes Clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium

The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) reaches a fever pitch this Sunday, May 17, as the Delhi Capitals (DC) host the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a must-win Match 62. With the playoff race intensifying, every ball bowled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium carries immense weight for both franchises.

Delhi Capitals: Walking the Tightrope

For the Delhi Capitals, the road to the playoffs has been nothing short of a roller-coaster. Currently sitting in seventh place, Axar Patel’s side requires nothing less than perfection in their final two group stage games. Despite a roster packed with talent, consistency has been the Achilles’ heel for the Capitals this season.

KL Rahul has been the standout performer with the bat, accumulating 477 runs at a stellar average of 43. However, the team requires more from middle-order stalwarts like Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, and Nitish Rana to ease the burden on the top order. On the bowling front, the expectation remains high for Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi to provide early breakthroughs, while Kuldeep Yadav looks to regain his form as the tournament reaches its conclusion.

Rajasthan Royals: Seeking Redemption

The Rajasthan Royals find themselves in a precarious position after a slump that saw them drop five of their last seven matches. Now languishing in sixth place, they are desperate to reclaim the form that saw them top the table earlier in the campaign. In the absence of Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to take charge as captain.

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The batting unit relies heavily on the opening partnership of Jaiswal and the dynamic Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The middle order, featuring experienced campaigners like Shimron Hetmyer and Ravindra Jadeja, must shoulder more responsibility to prevent middle-overs collapses. With Jofra Archer spearheading the pace attack, the Royals possess the firepower to dismantle any opposition, provided they can maintain discipline throughout the 20 overs.

Venue and Conditions: What to Expect in Delhi

The Arun Jaitley Stadium is renowned for its batting-friendly surface. With a fast outfield and short boundaries, bowlers are often at the mercy of the batters. While the pitch remains firm for the majority of the first innings, spinners might find some assistance as the game progresses. With the temperature expected to hover around 36-38°C, the oppressive heat will add another layer of challenge for the players.

Tactical Insights and Predictions

The outcome of this match will likely be decided by the powerplay. Rajasthan’s openers have been lethal in the opening overs, whereas Delhi has historically been susceptible to early wickets. Conversely, Delhi holds an advantage in the spin department; if the pitch assists turn, the duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav could prove too difficult to handle for the Royals. While both teams are evenly matched in their historical head-to-head records—with DC leading 6-4—our analysis suggests a Delhi Capitals victory due to their urgency and familiarity with home conditions.

Dream11 Fantasy Picks

For those building their fantasy teams, consider these key performers:

  • KL Rahul (DC): A consistent run-getter with 476 runs in his last ten outings.
  • Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR): A explosive opener who averages nearly 39 over his last ten games.
  • Jofra Archer (RR): The primary wicket-taking threat for the Royals, boasting 13 wickets in his recent appearances.
  • Axar Patel (DC): The captain offers stability and is currently the leading wicket-taker for his side.
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR): A high-impact batter with a strike rate of 159, essential for powerplay points.
  • David Miller (DC): A reliable finisher who can clear the ropes with ease in the death overs.
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Probable Playing XIs

Delhi Capitals: Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (wk), Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (capt), Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc.

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal (capt), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande.

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Sidharth Menon

Sidharth Menon is a senior cricket correspondent for The New Indian Express, known for his lyrical long‑form features and his intimate knowledge of Kerala’s cricketing culture. A University of Kerala graduate who fell in love with the game on the backwaters’ makeshift grounds, he cut his teeth covering Ranji Trophy matches at the Thumba and Wayanad cricket academies before stepping onto the national beat. Sidharth specialises in the art of wrist‑spin, dedicating much of his writing to the mechanics, psychology, and beauty of leg‑break and googly bowling. He has covered multiple IPL seasons with a sharp eye on emerging talent from South India, and his player profiles regularly appear in the Express’s weekend supplements. A recipient of the K. C. Mammen Mappillai Award, Sidharth brings a literary sensibility to cricket journalism, believing that a well‑told sports story can illuminate much more than a scoreboard.

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