IPL 2026 [WATCH]: KKR goes out of luck as Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi depart unexpectedly against DC

The 51st match of IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi took a dramatic turn on Friday night as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced a chaotic start to their 143-run chase. Despite being the favorites after a disciplined bowling performance that restricted the Delhi Capitals (DC) to 142/8, KKR’s top order was rocked by a sequence of events that defied logic. In a span of just four deliveries, both captain Ajinkya Rahane and young wicketkeeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi departed in blink-and-you-miss-it fashion, leaving the dugout in disbelief.

KKR stunned after losing Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi in quick succession vs DC

Chasing a modest target of 143, KKR seemed to be in cruise control before the ‘Delhi luck’ turned against them. The drama began in the final ball of the 3rd over. Rahane (13 off 9) was looking elegant, having already dispatched a six and a boundary. However, a thunderous straight drive from Finn Allen off Mitchell Starc resulted in a freak run-out. Starc managed to get a desperate left hand to the ball, which deflected straight onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Rahane backing up too far.

The shock deepened just four balls later in the 4th over. Raghuvanshi, coming off a high, faced Axar Patel but lasted only three deliveries. In what can only be described as a bizarre dismissal, Raghuvanshi attempted a sweep but missed. The ball struck his arm, lobbed into the air, and slowly trickled back toward the stumps. Raghuvanshi, momentarily losing sight of the ball, couldn’t react in time as the ball dislodged the bails. At 31/2, KKR went from comfortable to cautious in the blink of an eye, with Axar celebrating a gift of a wicket.

Here’s the video:

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁? 😮

🎥 2⃣ of the unluckiest dismissals you will ever see in the space of 5⃣ deliveries 🫣

Delight for #DC 💙

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/NaWLphmJKY#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvKKR pic.twitter.com/sScNewgsFK

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2026

Also WATCH: Anukul Roy castles Tristan Stubbs with an absolute ripper during DC vs KKR encounter

KKR stabilising their chase with damage control against DC

Despite the early tremors, the statistical advantage remained firmly with the men in Purple and Gold. By the time the Strategic Timeout was called at the 8-over mark, KKR had reached 67/2, needing just 76 runs from the remaining 72 balls. The stabilization was spearheaded by Impact Player Allen, who showcased why he is one of the most dangerous strikers in the format. Allen’s unbeaten 43 off 26 balls, featuring five fours and two massive sixes, kept the scoreboard ticking at a healthy Run Rate of 8.37.

At the other end, Cameron Green (10 off 10) played the anchor role, ensuring no further wickets fell to the spin duo of Kuldeep and Axar. While DC’s bowlers, particularly Axar (1/23), tried to squeeze the scoring, the low target meant KKR only required a 6.33 RR to secure the points.

Earlier in the evening, KKR’s bowling unit had set the stage. Anukul Roy (3/12) and Kartik Tyagi (2/25) were the pick of the bowlers, dismantling a DC lineup that saw Pathum Nissanka (50) fight a lone battle.