Match overview
Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on 28 March 2024. Batting first, Rajasthan posted 185/5, a total 20 runs above the ground's average of 165 from 97 IPL matches at the venue. Delhi Capitals made a decent fist of the chase, reaching 173/5, but the 12-run deficit was never fully clawed back after a steady middle phase. R Parag was named Player of the Match.
Delhi had won the toss and chosen to field, the preferred option for 60 per cent of toss winners at this ground. Rajasthan's innings was built in two distinct bursts. They were cautious early, scoring 31/2 in the powerplay against a venue average of 46, before accelerating sharply: 77 runs in the middle overs and another 77 in the death overs of 16 to 20 gave the innings its final shape.
In reply, Delhi moved at a stronger pace through the powerplay, 59/2 from six overs, well ahead of the ground average. Their middle phase produced 61 more runs but two further wickets began to tighten things. When 53 runs from the final five overs was not enough to cross the line, Rajasthan secured a win that kept them near the top of the early IPL 2024 standings.
Venue and conditions
Sawai Mansingh Stadium has hosted 97 T20 matches and its numbers tell a clear story. The average first-innings score sits at 165, the average second-innings at 153. Chasers have won here 64 per cent of the time, which makes a below-par first-innings total particularly dangerous for the batting side. The powerplay average is 46 runs; the death-overs average is 39.
Rajasthan's ability to score 77 at the death in this match was therefore exceptional rather than routine. For context, they scored almost double the venue's average for that phase. Delhi's death-over total of 53 was above average too, which explains why the game stayed competitive deep into the final overs. Pitches at this ground typically offer pace bowlers some help early before flattening out in the middle, and dew in evening matches can affect grip for spinners in the second innings.
The toss continues to carry weight here. With chasing sides winning nearly two-thirds of games and 60 per cent of toss winners choosing to field, captains generally back their bowling units to restrict totals. Rajasthan proving capable of setting a defendable score despite fielding second was one of the notable aspects of this result.
How to watch
IPL matches are available to UK subscribers on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming options via Sky Go and NOW TV. Games in India typically start at 19:30 IST, which puts first ball at 14:00 BST for afternoon fixtures or 14:00 to 15:30 BST depending on scheduling. The full IPL 2024 schedule runs through May, and Sky Sports carries the bulk of live coverage for UK audiences.
Recent form
Rajasthan Royals arrived at this fixture having won their previous IPL match against Lucknow Super Giants in 2024. Their broader recent record across the 2023 and 2024 seasons showed three wins and two losses in their last five, a run that reflected a reasonably settled side with the ability to produce results on different surfaces.
Delhi Capitals' recent form coming into this match made for less comfortable reading. They had lost to Punjab Kings immediately before this game and, looking back across five results, carried a record of one win from five. Four defeats in that stretch suggested fragility in close chases, and their 12-run defeat here followed a pattern of falling just short under pressure. Rajasthan's superior form through this period likely gave them a confidence advantage that showed in how they set and then defended their total.
