RR vs DC Match 43 Preview: Jaiswal's Home Stand vs Axar's Delhi

Rajasthan Royals take on Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026 Match 43 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur — and the playoff math is starting to bite. With Riyan Parag leading Rajasthan Royals and Axar Patel leading Delhi Capitals, this fixture is more than two points: it reshapes the top four. In this preview we cover the pitch, the predicted XIs, the key battles, Dream11 captain picks, and the one toss-call that could decide the match before the first ball is bowled.

Match Overview

Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals — IPL 2026 Match 43 Date & time: Check the IPL 2026 schedule for start time Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur Broadcast: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (free on mobile)

Current form & points table context

As of 2026-04-21, Punjab Kings sit unbeaten at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad round out the top four, and both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are fighting from the bottom half. For the live standings, see our IPL 2026 points table and mid-season analysis.

Rajasthan Royals form

Rajasthan Royals come into Match 43 under Riyan Parag. Key players to watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Ravindra Jadeja, Trent Boult. Their death-overs unit has been a strength this season — see IPL 2026 death-overs specialists ranked for the data.

Delhi Capitals form

Delhi Capitals under Axar Patel bring their own firepower: Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Kuldeep Yadav, Fraser-McGurk. For how their impact player use compares to the rest of the league, read our impact-player rule breakdown.

Pitch report — Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

True-bounce pitch, short straight boundaries. Jaiswal thrives here. Full Sawai Mansingh pitch report.

Key battles to watch

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Mitchell Starc — the marquee battle that decides the powerplay shape. For powerplay form, see IPL 2026 powerplay leaders.
2. Axar Patel vs Ravi Bishnoi — death-overs chess that decides the total.
3. Spin vs the wicket — especially in overs 8–14.

Predicted playing XIs

Rajasthan Royals XI (predicted)

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. Riyan Parag (c)
3. Ravindra Jadeja
4. Trent Boult
5. Ravi Bishnoi
6. • 5 more from squad depth — track the Rajasthan Royals squad analysis.

Delhi Capitals XI (predicted)

1. Axar Patel (c)
2. Tristan Stubbs
3. Kuldeep Yadav
4. Fraser-McGurk
5. Mitchell Starc
6. • 5 more from the full Delhi Capitals squad.

Head-to-head records

For the all-time head-to-head between these two sides, bookmark our Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals all-time comparison. Short version: this is one of the more competitive match-ups in IPL history, with neither side dominating more than 55% of encounters.

Dream11 fantasy picks

Captain picks (in order of confidence):

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. Axar Patel
3. Ravindra Jadeja

Differential picks — for grand-league edge, read Dream11 batter differential picks IPL 2026 and powerplay bowlers differential picks.

Credits-efficient XI tips: see how to build a budget Dream11 team IPL 2026.

Prediction

Based on current form, venue trends and squad balance, the slight edge is with Rajasthan Royals on paper — but IPL 2026 has been a season of upsets, and the side that wins the toss at this venue will have a real advantage because of the dew equation.

Where to watch

Star Sports 1 / 3 HD (English & Hindi), JioHotstar (free on mobile via app), CricJosh live score page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Match 43 start?

Match 43 follows the standard IPL 2026 schedule. Evening games start at 19:30 IST, afternoon double-header games at 15:30 IST. Confirm on our live IPL 2026 schedule.

Where can I watch Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals live?

Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming, free on mobile). For live scorecard, visit our CricJosh live page.

Who is the captain of each team in Match 43?

Rajasthan Royals are led by Riyan Parag. Delhi Capitals are led by Axar Patel.

What is the venue and pitch type?

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. See the pitch report section above for batting-first average, dew factor and spin vs pace behaviour.

Who should I pick as Dream11 captain?

Top choices are Yashasvi Jaiswal and Axar Patel. For the full method, read our Dream11 captain-picks strategy.

The takeaway

Bookmark the IPL 2026 points table, check the live schedule, and use our Dream11 tools before you lock your fantasy team. CricJosh updates every hub after every match — no stale data.