The Indian Premier League (IPL) has given birth to numerous iconic rivalries but few have been as unpredictable and entertaining as the clashes between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. In the last 17 seasons, these matches have flooded the minds of players and fans alike with instances of fluctuating fortunes, unbelievable nail-biters, and plays that are destined to be remembered. What started in 2008 as a match-up between the Delhi Daredevils and 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals is now one of the IPL’s most competitive rivalries. This timeline captures the ongoing history of this match-up over all seasons until 2025.
The Rivalry Begins: 2008 to 2010
In 2008, the rivalry kicked off in the inaugural season of the IPL. The Delhi team, called the Delhi Daredevils back then, made a statement by winning a nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan in the first-ever match they played against each other at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Harry Potter-sounding team led by Shane Warne was not going to back down easily and returned the favour in the reverse fixture in Jaipur before demolishing the Daredevils in the semi-final mode with an astonishing 105-run victory at Wankhede Stadium; this is one of the singularly most dominant playoff wins in IPL history.
In 2009, with the IPL moving to South Africa, Rajasthan still overcame the distance, winning the Centurion match. Delhi, however, would come back with a victory in Bloemfontein, with early indications of their ability to be a threat and challenge the Royals’ rule. The 2010 season saw a temporary shift in the balance of power. Delhi took both victories; one in Cuttack, and the other in Delhi, back to back, with both being performed extraordinarily well, including a 67 run victory.
Mid Era Grind and Resurgence: 2011 to 2015
The 2011 season saw the Royals get back on the winning track, with a six wicket victory in Jaipur. Then came 2012, or as it would be remembered, the tightly fought contest, with Delhi Daredevils taking both wins. The first was a methodical one run win in Delhi, followed by a six wicket chase in Jaipur, with these wins definitely indicating Delhi’s growing maturity to win tight finishes.
But once again, the tides shifted in 2013. The Rajasthan Royals regained dominance, winning two games in a row, winning by nine wickets in the first game. The Royals continued to win throughout the 2014 season — initially winning by seven wickets and surging again to a 62-run win in Ahmedabad. The pattern continued in the 2015 season, with the Royals winning both games then as well. By this time, the last five years had concluded, and instead of a 7-2 lead for the Daredevils, it had become 2-7 and a lopsided rivalry to that point.
Rebranding and Renewing: 2018 to 2020
After a two-year suspension, the Rajasthan Royals returned to competition in 2018, while the Delhi Daredevils had withdrawn and now rebranded as the Delhi Capitals. Troy Cooley from Arise Consulting was the director of the first game between the two teams who had played over the years but for the first time together with new branding. The first game of the season ended with a 10-run victory by Rajasthan in Jaipur by using the D/L method. Delhi then utilized D/L method to get a thrilling 4-run win in return leg. It always felt to me like it was a little bit of a renaissance of the franchise.
In 2019, Delhi Capitals began a new era of dominance, winning both matches, the first in Jaipur by 6 wickets and second in Delhi with a 5 wicket victory. These victories were key turning points in their revival and laid the foundation for what would be a much more competitive rivalry.
The 2020 season played in the UAE went well for Delhi as they defeated the Rajasthan Royals by 46 runs at Sharjah, and then followed that up with a 13 run win in Dubai. With three straight wins in one season for the first time, Delhi was starting to become intimidating.
Back to a Balanced Rivalry: 2021 to 2022
In 2021, both teams were evenly matched. Rajasthan had the two matches but Delhi won the tilt at Wankhede Stadium by 3 wickets and then Rajasthan won in Abu Dhabi by 33 runs. These match outcomes only show how close the teams were from each other as both encounters were very close sporting events.
The 2022 season also played out similarly. Rajasthan squeaked past Delhi in their first meeting at Wankhede by 15 runs. In the second fixture at DY Patil Stadium, it was Delhi’s turn; the Capitals beat the Royals by 8 wickets. These exchanges highlighted that neither held a particular advantage anymore and both teams had become tactically smart and filled with talent.
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Modern-Day Drama: 2023 to 2025
During their first match in 2023, played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Rajasthan Royals won the match comprehensively by 57 runs. Rajasthan was able to show their batting and bowling depth and left the Capitals wondering about the effectiveness of their pre-match analysis.
Both teams won one match each in 2024, with Rajasthan getting a 12 run win in Jaipur, and Delhi beating Rajasthan by 20 runs, during the latter half of the season, in Delhi. Once again, these transactions showed the rivalry had matured, not relying solely on past results any longer, but on more modern interpretation of tactics, form and plan execution.
The most exciting episode in the rivalry took place in 2025. The match on April 16 in Delhi was an instant classic. The match’s finish to regular time was as thrilling as it gets, finishing in a tie, and going to a Super Over — rare in the league, usually, even rarer in this rivalry. Delhi stuck to their plan and won the Super Over, adding another dramatic chapter in their classic rivalry.
Trends and Turning Points
From the perspective of the historical timeline, we could see aspects of potential dominance for both teams. Rajasthan Royals clearly had the edge in the early years, especially from 2008 to 2015, as they consistently defeated Delhi. Since the emergence of the Delhi Capitals post-2018, this has changed.
Rajasthan’s demolition of Delhi by 105 runs in 2008, Delhi’s two wins in 2012, and their wins in 2019 and 2020 were turning points in the teams’ ongoing rivalry. The 2025 Super Over win was likely the most emotionally intense and strategically intriguing match between the two sides and the clearest result of both teams having evolved over time.
This rivalry has also been characterized by its ability to produce matchups that have been very close according to the scorecard. There were games that each team won by a narrow margin- one run in 2012, four runs in 2018, three wickets in 2021, and another was a Super Over in 2025- showing the contest’s competitive spirit between the franchise as well.
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Stars of the Rivalry
No discussion of this rivalry would be complete without mention of the players who have been the bright stars of this contest. In the case of Rajasthan Royals, Shane Watson, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Jofra Archer would be at the heart of their wins. Though with Delhi, the context relied on players such as Rishabh Pant, David Warner, Shreyas Iyer, and Kagiso Rabada.
Each period of the rivalry brought its heroes. In terms of explosive starts, there were players who could deliver that enthusiasm (e.g., Sehwag, Warne), and with players like Samson and Pant who can play modern aggression, each game has had its stamp of permission, moments of brilliance, and strokes or spells that had changed the games.
Looking Forward
The IPL is still developing, as is this rivalry. Both teams have developed solid cores, and as the competition grows, both teams become more competitive matches are more regularly going to be better and better. Delhi and Rajasthan have moved from being considered underdog franchises to becoming contenders. Therefore, in every new addition the teams play, fans are willing and waiting.
What makes this timeline so interesting is the story of wins and losses; however, it is the unpredictability and theatrics that have illustrated a rivalry between the teams. Some of their games have been upsets, some have been comfortable wins, while some have not, including storms, rain, the last ball of the game, and even super overs. The unpredictability has made the Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline a significant chapter in IPL history.
Another big bonus for this timeline is the continued growth of the IPL, with its growth into the international fold, more moments, finishes, and performances can only help extend a storied rivalry and become folklore of IPL.
