KKR's spin attack stifles DC to restrict them at 142/8 in IPL 2026
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) held Delhi Capitals (DC) to 142/8 in their IPL 2026 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday. A disciplined bowling effort, led by spinners, kept the hosts in check despite Pathum Nissanka’s quick fifty. The pitch, marked by dry cracks, played into KKR’s hands as their attack stifled DC’s momentum in the middle overs. DC’s innings began brightly with Pathum Nissanka racing to a 29-ball fifty. However, KKR’s spin trio—Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, and Varun Chakravarthy—tightened the screws. Narine finished with 1-17, Roy claimed 2-31, and Chakravarthy conceded just 28 runs in his four overs.
Between overs 11 and 16, DC managed only 20 runs while losing two wickets, their lowest tally in that phase this season. The pressure built as KKR’s bowlers exploited the dry, cracking pitch. Kartik Tyagi then struck twice in the death overs, taking 2-25 to further restrict DC. A late cameo from Ashutosh Sharma, who scored 39 off 28 balls, pushed the total past 140. After the match, Narine credited KKR’s success to hard work in the nets and a focus on execution. He also stressed the importance of applying pressure during the Powerplay and maintaining momentum while chasing any target.
KKR’s bowlers delivered a controlled performance, limiting DC to a below-par total. With the pitch assisting spin, their attack capitalised to keep the opposition under constant pressure. The team now turns its focus to chasing down the target with a disciplined approach.
