Delhi Capitals’ Nitish Rana unleashed pure carnage against Xavier Bartlett, hammering 28 runs off the 12th over – all boundaries – in the IPL 2026 encounter against Punjab Kings at Arun Jaitley Stadium. This demolition lit up the Delhi night and shifted momentum dramatically.
Shreyas Iyer’s decision to bring on Bartlett backfired spectacularly. Rana opened with a six that sailed into the stands, followed by two crisp fours that raced away. His fifty arrived in 29 balls as he continued the assault with two more boundaries before sealing the over with a six. Rana now stands alongside DC legends Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Jake Fraser-McGurk in the elite club of 28-run over hitters.
Teaming up with KL Rahul, Rana scripted history by crafting the biggest partnership for any wicket between these rivals, surpassing Sehwag-Warner’s 146 from 2011. Despite an early stumble with Nissanka’s dismissal for 11, the duo rebuilt confidently after DC chose to bat first on winning the toss.
Axar Patel’s toss-winning streak hit nine matches, equaling CSK and SRH’s IPL benchmark. No changes in line-ups for either side. DC’s campaign shows three victories in six outings, but their last match ended in a 47-run loss to SRH’s explosive 242/2, with DC managing only 195/9 in reply.
