Predictions, Dream11 teams & pitch reports — May 26 to 31
Delhi Capitals host defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Arun Jaitley Stadium tonight. DC need a home win after losing to PBKS, RCB are surfing form after thumping GT at Chinnaswamy. Read on for our Dream11 captain picks, pitch report, weather, head-to-head record, probable playing XI and the final winner verdict.
This is a Sunday-night blockbuster between two sides chasing very different outcomes. Delhi Capitals come into Match 39 after a six-wicket loss to Punjab Kings on 25 April that dented their playoff hopes. KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs need to pile up runs at home or DC slip further behind in the top-four race.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru arrive carrying a serious head of steam. Their five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at Chinnaswamy on 24 April was the night Virat Kohli became the first batter ever to reach 800 IPL boundaries. Phil Salt is firing at the top, the bowlers are taking wickets at the right times, and as defending champions RCB are quietly building a top-three case.
Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has been a balanced surface this IPL 2026. Average first innings score has hovered around 175-190 in night games. Pace bowlers get help with the new ball, spinners take over from over 8 to 15, and the surface tends to slow down in the second innings. However, evening dew makes ball-grip tougher for spinners and gives chasing teams a real edge after 9 PM IST.
Captain who wins toss should consider bowling first. Last 5 matches at this venue: 3 of 5 chases successful.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total IPL meetings | 32 |
| RCB wins | 20 |
| DC wins | 12 |
| Last 5 meetings | RCB 3 - 2 DC |
| At Arun Jaitley Stadium | RCB 6 - 4 DC |
RCB hold the all-time edge in this fixture, but DC have been competitive at home. The last meeting at Arun Jaitley went to RCB by 23 runs, with Kohli scoring a fifty.
KL Rahul (wk), Faf du Plessis (c), Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Karun Nair, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, Mohit Sharma, T. Natarajan
Phil Salt (wk), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood
Our recommended Dream11 XI for DC vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 39:
Kohli is in the form of his life. He just became the first batter ever to 800 IPL boundaries on 24 April vs GT, scoring back-to-back fifties. Delhi's pitch suits classical batting, and Kohli has 600+ runs at this venue across his IPL career. Safe and high-ceiling pick.
Salt has been the engine at the top for RCB. Strike rate above 175 in IPL 2026, and Delhi's true bounce will let him swing through the line. If you want a DC differential, Tristan Stubbs is the smart pick - he's been the cleanest hitter in the middle order for Delhi.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru will win this match. RCB carry better recent form (won 4 of last 5), Kohli is on fire, and Hazlewood-Yash Dayal pace pair has been clinical. DC's loss to PBKS exposed the middle order. RCB to win by 5-7 runs (defending) or by 4-5 wickets (chasing).
Win probability: RCB 56%, DC 44%.
Read the analysis, then back your prediction. T&C apply, 18+ only.
Place Your BetDC vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 39 starts at 7:30 PM IST on 27 April 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Toss is at 7:00 PM IST.
Virat Kohli is the safest captain pick - he just became the first batter to 800 IPL boundaries against GT on 24 April. For a differential, KL Rahul has a strong record at home in Delhi. Phil Salt and Faf du Plessis are reliable vice-captain options.
Arun Jaitley Stadium typically offers a balanced surface. Average first innings score is 175-190. The pitch tends to slow down in the second innings, but dew can offset that. Pace bowlers find help with the new ball, spinners come in around overs 8-15. Chasing has historically been the preferred option.
Delhi weather on 27 April is hot and clear with evening temperatures around 30-35 C. Humidity moderate at 35-50 percent. No rain forecast - a full match is expected. Some dew possible after 9 PM IST.
For vice-captain, consider Phil Salt or Faf du Plessis from RCB if Kohli is captain. KL Rahul or Tristan Stubbs from DC are strong differential picks. Krunal Pandya offers all-round value as a balanced VC option.
DC vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 39 is live on Star Sports Network (TV) and JioCinema (mobile and web streaming) in India. Coverage starts from 7:00 PM IST with the toss.