In today’s match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru demolished Delhi Capitals by nine wickets in one of the most lopsided encounters in recent IPL memory. The match had everything, a historic batting collapse, a gritty lower-order rescue, and a Virat Kohli milestone, all crammed into an evening that ended well before schedule.
The collapse that stunned
RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl, and his bowlers made him look like a genius almost immediately. RCB’s experienced pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/5) and Josh Hazlewood (4/12) shared seven wickets between them, dismantling Delhi’s top order in extraordinary fashion. Delhi was reduced to 6 wickets down for just 8 runs, moment that had fans wondering if the lowest score in IPL history was about to be rewritten.
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Sahil Parakh, Sameer Rizvi, and Akshar Patel were dismissed for ducks. KL Rahul and Nitish Rana managed just 1 run each, while Tristan Stubbs scratched 5. The powerplay total of 13 runs is now the lowest powerplay score in IPL history.
Abishek Porel (30), David Miller (19), and Kyle Jamieson (12) provided relative respectability to the total after being reduced to 8 for 6 in the fourth over. Impact Player Porel’s gritty knock was the only thing standing between Delhi and an all-time shameful record. Delhi were eventually bowled out for 75 — the lowest score of IPL 2026.
RCB chase It down in a flash
Chasing just 76, RCB made it look like a training session. Devdutt Padikkal (34 not out), Jacob Bethell (20), and Virat Kohli (23 not out) completed the chase in just 6.3 overs. And in the middle of it all, cricket history was made — Kohli became the first cricketer ever to complete 9,000 runs in IPL, sealing the win in thunderous style with a six over deep mid-wicket. Josh Hazlewood was named Player of the Match, noting there was enough in the pitch in the first six overs with the ball skidding on quickly from a short of a length.
The lowest score in IPL history — Still RCB’s own shame
Ironically, despite inflicting this humiliation on Delhi tonight, the record for the lowest score in IPL history still belongs to RCB themselves — a 49-run all-out against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in 2017.
Here is the list of lowest scores that remains unbeaten by today’s performance of Delhi capitals :
| Rank | Team | Score | Year | Opponent |
| 1 | RCB | 49 | 2017 | KKR |
| 2 | Rajasthan Royals | 58 | 2009 | — |
| 3 | Rajasthan Royals | 59 | 2023 | RCB |
| 4 | Delhi Daredevils | 66 | 2017 | MI |
| 5 | Delhi Daredevils | 67 | 2017 | KXIP |
It is worth noting that when RCB posted that 49-run horror in 2017, the Impact Player rule did not exist. Tonight, it was precisely that rule which saved Delhi from an even grimmer total, with Porel coming off the bench to provide the innings its only spine.
RCB strengthened their grip on second spot in the points table with the commanding win, while Delhi Capitals remained seventh. For Axar Patel’s side, it was an evening to erase from memory. For RCB, it was a statement — ruthless bowling, a breezy chase, and a Kohli milestone, all in one night.
The lowest score in IPL history remains 49. But after tonight, Delhi Capitals know better than anyone just how thin the line is between a bad day and an all-time record.
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The lowest score in IPL history is 49, scored by Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2017. RCB were bowled out in just 9.4 overs, and this unwanted record has stood for nearly a decade.
Rajasthan Royals hold the second lowest score in IPL history — 58 all out, scored at Cape Town in 2009. The same team also owns the third lowest score of 59, this time against RCB at Jaipur in 2023.
Delhi — across their two avatars as Delhi Daredevils and Delhi Capitals — features most frequently in the lowest IPL scores list. They own the fourth lowest (66) and fifth lowest (67) scores, both recorded in 2017, against Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab respectively. Their 75 all out against RCB in 2026 is the lowest score of this IPL season.
No. RCB’s 49-run total from 2017 remains the lowest score in IPL history and has survived multiple close calls, including Delhi Capitals’ dramatic collapse to 8 for 6 in April 2026. The Impact Player rule ultimately prevented Delhi from threatening the record that night.
The five lowest scores in IPL history are — RCB’s 49 against KKR (2017), Rajasthan Royals’ 58 (2009), Rajasthan Royals’ 59 against RCB (2023), Delhi Daredevils’ 66 against Mumbai Indians (2017), and Delhi Daredevils’ 67 against Kings XI Punjab (2017).
Prateeksha Kumari is a journalist and strategic communications professional specialising in digital journalism, political reporting, and public affairs. Her work focuses on grassroots issues, governance, and civic developments, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and narrative-driven reporting.
She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and has qualified the UGC-NET examination, reflecting her academic grounding in media studies and communication research. Her reporting spans politics, public policy, health, education, and socio-economic issues, and she is experienced in bilingual (Hindi and English) content creation tailored to diverse audiences.
Alongside her journalistic work, she brings experience in political communication and public relations, where she has contributed to campaign messaging, media outreach, and narrative building. She has worked on integrated communication strategies across print and digital platforms, combining editorial judgment with audience insight and data-led content approaches.
