The Delhi Capitals secured a decisive victory over the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, but the match will be equally remembered for a viral social media spat triggered by KL Rahul’s early exit. The “staircase war” erupted online after Rahul was dismissed for a golden duck during the chase, leading to a back-and-forth exchange between the two franchises.
The Social Media Standoff
The tension began the moment Rahul perished for a golden duck. Lucknow’s social media team posted an image of an empty staircase leading toward the dressing room. This was widely interpreted as a jibe directed at Delhi, especially since DC had previously shared a clip celebrating Rahul’s arrival at the Ekana Stadium.
However, Delhi Capitals ensured they had the final word. Following their victory, DC posted a counter-image of a staircase detailing their recent wins over Lucknow, effectively silencing the banter with on-field results.
We know https://t.co/mdrWi3cvUE pic.twitter.com/BCMEC9zHK3
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 1, 2026
Match Highlights: Sameer Rizvi Steers the Chase
While the social media drama unfolded, Sameer Rizvi emerged as the hero on the pitch. Entering the game as an Impact Substitute, Rizvi displayed remarkable composure to guide Delhi to a comfortable six-wicket win.
LSG’s Strategy: Lucknow relied heavily on a four-pronged seam attack. The pace bowlers found significant movement early on, making the 142-run target look difficult for Delhi’s top order.
The Critical Wicket: Mohammad Shami exploited the conditions immediately, forcing KL Rahul to slice a full outswinger directly to deep backward point for a first-ball duck.
The Recovery: Rizvi’s unbeaten 70 was the backbone of the innings. He was well-supported by Tristan Stubbs, who remained not out on 39, ensuring Delhi kicked off their campaign with style.
Official Match Summary
Lucknow Super Giants 141 all out in 18.4 overs
(Mitchell Marsh 35, Abdul Samad 36; T Natarajan 3-29, Lungi Ngidi 3-31, Kuldeep Yadav 2-31)
Delhi Capitals 145/4 in 17.1 overs
(Sameer Rizvi 70 not out, Tristan Stubbs 39 not out; Prince Yadav 2-20, Mohsin Khan 1-19)
Result: Delhi Capitals won by six wickets.
Most successive wins for DC against a team
5 vs RR (2018-20)
5 vs SRH (2020-23)
5 vs LSG (2024-26)*
