LIVEIPL 2026 : Kuldeep Yadav strikes, Buttler departs, Washington Sundar catching up, catch all live updates here

Kuldeep Yadav strikes, Buttler departs

Kuldeep Yadav delivered a crucial breakthrough, clean bowling the dangerous Jos Buttler with a clever change of pace. Dropping it shorter and slower, Kuldeep tempted Buttler into playing the pull shot. However, the ball didn’t come onto the bat as expected. Buttler, already committed to the shot, swung hard across the line but completely missed it. The delivery sneaked through and crashed into the middle stump. Buttler departed after a quickfire 52 off 27 balls, including three fours and five sixes, giving Delhi Capitals a massive wicket at a key moment in the innings.

Fifty for Jos Buttler

One of the finest of the format, Buttler is hammering the ball in a fine tune, with a strike rate of 204. He has completed his fifty in 24 balls with 5 sixes and 3 fours,.

Jos Buttler looks in good touch

Jos Buttler has announced himself with style; his four sixes are powering the Titans to end the powerplay on a strong note. He completely dismantled the attack by Mukesh Kumar, who was looking in good rhythm and confident after departing Sai Sudarshan but his length fell short in front of England's former captain.

Mukesh Kumar gives the first blow

Mukesh Kumar struck early for Delhi Capitals, dismissing Sai Sudharsan with a sharp delivery. Bowling a shortened length ball angled across the left-hander, Mukesh forced Sudharsan onto the back foot. Attempting an aggressive cut, Sudharsan failed to get his footwork right, and his bat came down at an awkward angle. The ball took an inside edge and crashed onto the stumps, lighting up the bails. Sudharsan departed for 12 off 7 balls, including two boundaries. It was a crucial early breakthrough, giving Delhi Capitals momentum and putting Gujarat Titans under immediate pressure in the powerplay overs.

Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel(c), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar

Delhi Capitals opted field first

Delhi Capitals have won the toss and elected to field first, aiming to make early use of the pitch conditions under lights. With some expected assistance for bowlers early on and possible grip for spinners later, DC will look to restrict Gujarat Titans to a manageable total. Chasing could be advantageous as the surface is expected to remain good for batting, making it easier to pace the innings in the second half.

Pitch Report

The pitch appears balanced but slightly batting-friendly, with even square boundaries and some shorter sides under 60 meters that batters will target. The central strip looks solid, though not quite a 250-run surface. Expect a competitive total around 190–200. There is some dryness outside the crease, which could assist spinners as the game progresses. Under lights, the pitch has a decent sheen, suggesting good stroke play early on. Teams with quality spin options may have an edge in the middle overs. Overall, it’s a good wicket, but not an extreme high-scoring one, making conditions slightly more challenging than usual at this venue.