IPL 2024: 5 Best DC vs KKR matches in IPL history

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will lock horns in match 16 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Kolkata looked ferocious in their previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and emerged victorious by seven wickets.

Following two back-to-back triumphs, the Knight Riders will look to win their third consecutive game in this competition. However, Delhi, who won their last game by 20 runs against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the same venue, will endeavour to give a tough time to the two-time champions. In the last two IPL editions, Delhi were dominant against Kolkata, with three off three wins. 

This year, Shreyas Iyer and his men have looked disciplined so far while DC have struggled in initial games. Discussing their head-to-head record, both sides have squared off with each other in 32 games and the Knight Riders have pocketed 16 wins while the Capitals came out victorious 15 times. In 16 years of IPL, whenever both teams have met each other, a fine level of competition has been witnessed. Ahead of the superb clash in Visakhapatnam, let’s revisit the five best contests between DC and KKR.

Here are the five best DC vs KKR matches in IPL history

5. 2016 

In the 2016 IPL edition, Delhi hammered Kolkata by 27 runs in Match 26 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium but when the game started, KKR pushed the Capitals on the backfoot. In the first over of the contest, Andre Russell picked up Shreyas Iyer and Quinton de Kock. With the departure of both openers, Delhi needed someone to spend time at the crease and play an impactful knock.

Karun Nair and Sam Billings stepped up in the crisis and produced the knocks of 68 off 50 and 54 off 35 respectively from their bats. Carlos Brathwaite’s finishing touch of 34 off just 11 helped Delhi reach 186 runs in 20 overs. Defending the total, DC skipper Zaheer Khan removed Gautam Gambhir and Piyush Chawla within the first powerplay.

Except for Robin Uthappa, all other KKR batters failed to show up a fighting spirit. Following the early breakthroughs, Carlos Brathwaite also showed his fierce side with the ball and broke the back of KKR’s batting unit, picking up the scalps of Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rajagopal Sathish. In the end, the visitors capitulated on 159 in 18.3 overs. DC registered a convincing 27-run win and Brathwaite got the Player of the Match award for his magnificent all-round display (34 off 11 balls and 3/47).