DC collapse to historic low as RCB seal crushing nine-wicket win

The collapse that rewrote the record books

Delhi were reduced to 13 for 6 inside the powerplay — the lowest six-over score in IPL history. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood were relentless from the first ball, generating swing and seam movement that DC’s top order had no answer to. Once the early wickets tumbled, any hope of a competitive total evaporated. The final score of 75 was a reflection of a batting unit that offered almost no resistance. RCB, by contrast, were composed and clinical in every phase of the contest.

Star Sports presenter Murali Kartik opened his post-match interview with DC captain Axar Patel almost apologetically, acknowledging the awkwardness of the moment. Yet Axar’s response surprised many. Rather than showing visible distress, the left-hander smiled at points and repeatedly stressed the need to move forward. “We have to accept it and move on,” he said, adding that the team could not afford to dwell on missed chances or prior setbacks.

A tone that did not match the damage

Axar did credit RCB’s bowlers, saying he was unsurprised by the movement they extracted. He also refused to single out any individual batter, framing the performance as a collective off-day. While the sentiment is understandable in a dressing-room context, many felt his public demeanour lacked the gravity the moment demanded. DC’s supporters, who had watched their side fall apart before the powerplay ended at their home ground, deserved a response that