New Delhi: Delhi Capitals ended their TATA IPL 2026 campaign on a winning note with a victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, while Rajasthan Royals’ triumph over Mumbai Indians confirmed the final playoff line-up. Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, JioStar experts Deep Dasgupta and Anil Kumble analysed KKR’s inconsistent season, Kuldeep Yadav’s impactful return, the decisive moments in MI’s chase against RR, and the key Powerplay battle likely to shape Qualifier 1 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.
On Kolkata Knight Riders’ season – Deep Dasgupta
Deep Dasgupta described KKR’s campaign as a challenging one, shaped by early instability and squad imbalance, particularly in the bowling department due to the unavailability of key players in the first half of the season.
He noted that several senior batters, including Rinku Singh and Ajinkya Rahane, also took time to settle into form, which contributed to a difficult start for the franchise.
However, he acknowledged KKR’s strong fightback in the latter half of the tournament, highlighting Varun Chakaravarthy’s return to form as a key positive. Despite the turnaround, he pointed out that the team still has clear gaps that need to be addressed ahead of the next season.
On Qualifier 1 – RCB vs GT Powerplay battle
Looking ahead to Qualifier 1, Dasgupta identified the Powerplay as the most decisive phase of the match.
He said the key contest will be between Gujarat Titans’ top order and the new-ball attack of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. He recalled how Shubman Gill handled Hazlewood effectively in their previous meeting, while Bhuvneshwar struck crucial early blows to build pressure.
According to him, the first six overs could dictate the direction of the game, as both sides rely heavily on strong starts. He added that, in his view, “whichever team wins this game could go on to win the tournament,” underlining the importance of momentum in knockout cricket.
Anil Kumble on Kuldeep Yadav’s impact
JioStar expert Anil Kumble praised Kuldeep Yadav, calling him a proven match-winner capable of turning games with decisive spells.
He noted that while every bowler goes through ups and downs, Kuldeep’s skillset and experience allow him to bounce back strongly. Kumble highlighted that Kuldeep does not just pick up isolated wickets but often triggers collapses with multiple breakthroughs, as seen in his recent performance for Delhi Capitals.
He also expressed surprise that Kuldeep was not brought into the XI earlier, emphasizing that bowlers with his quality and confidence should ideally be backed consistently, given their ability to change matches.
On MI vs RR – turning point in the chase
Reflecting on Mumbai Indians’ defeat to Rajasthan Royals, Kumble said MI were in control when Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were batting together.
Even after a dropped chance, Hardik’s immediate counterattack with boundaries and sixes kept MI firmly in the chase. At that stage, the equation still looked manageable, especially with batting depth to follow.
However, Kumble explained that the pressure shifted once the required runs climbed beyond 50 for the lower order. The momentum changed decisively when Jofra Archer’s spell accounted for Hardik Pandya, effectively derailing Mumbai Indians’ chase and swinging the game in Rajasthan’s favour.
