The IPL 2026 battle between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Gujarat Titans (GT) become a nailbiter, with the latter snatching a thrilling one-run victory. The match was held on Wednesday, 8 April at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Gujarat Titans opted to bat first and posted 210/4 in 20 overs, with captain Shubman Gill leading the way with a brisk 70 off as many balls. Jos Buttler (52 off 27) and Washington Sundar (55 off 32) provided strong support. In response, KL Rahul starred for Delhi Capitals, smashing a scintillating 92 off 52 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes.
During the death overs, David Miller launched a counterattack when DC needed 36 runs from the final 12 balls, bringing the equation down to a run-a-ball situation. However, on the penultimate delivery, bowled by Prasidh Krishna, Miller hit the ball towards deep square leg but turned down a crucial single.
On the last delivery, he missed and while trying for a run, Kuldeep Yadav was run out at the striker’s end after a direct hit from wicket-keeper Jos Buttler as GT registered a dramatic one-run-win.
On that subject, here we assess three games in which a single was denied on the second-to-last ball of a close run chase.
1. England vs India, 2014 T20I
The one-off T20I of 2014 was played between England and India at The Edgbaston in Birmingham. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts finished with 180/7 in 20 overs, as captain Eoin Morgan topped scored, notching up 71 off just 31 balls with three fours and seven sixes. Mohammed Shami claimed three wickets for India.
In reply, Virat Kohli top-scored for India with 66 off 41 balls, including nine fours and one six. It was a thriller of a game, with India requiring 17 off the final over bowled by Chris Woakes with MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu at the crease.
With Dhoni on strike, the first four deliveries of the over produced 12 runs — five needed off the final two. Dhoni hit the penultimate ball towards deep square leg, but denied a single. He could manage just one run on the last delivery and India lost by three runs.
2. PBKS vs RR IPL 2021
Match 4 of IPL 2021 was played between the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, PBKS scored 221/6 (20 overs), with captain KL Rahul being the top scorer with 91 runs off 50 balls, containing seven fours and five sixes, while Deepak Hooda played a cameo of his own — scoring in just 28 deliveries.
Sanju Samson, in response for RR was on the money, bringing up his century off 54 balls. Going into the last over, RR required 13 runs, with Samson and Chris Morris batting, and PBKS gave the ball to Arshdeep Singh.
Samson could not make any contact on the first ball but took a single off his second. Morris also got one on the third ball, before Samson belted the fourth for six and reduced the equation to five off just two balls. On the second-last delivery, Samson drilled the ball to wide long-off but denied himself the single. He tried to hit big on the last delivery, but perished at 119 as Rajasthan Royals fell short by four runs.
3. DC vs GT IPL 2026
The latest instance occurred during the Indian Premier League 2026 clash between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Batting first, GT posted 210/4 in 20 overs, with captain Shubman Gill leading the charge with 70 off 45 balls, including four fours and five sixes.
Chasing 211, KL Rahul anchored the innings with 92 off 52 deliveries, smashing 11 fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, David Miller took charge in the death overs and brought DC within touching distance, leaving them needing two runs off the final two balls. On the penultimate delivery, bowled by Prasidh Krishna, Miller declined a single. However, he failed to connect on the final ball, and during a desperate run attempt, Kuldeep Yadav fell short of his crease at the striker’s end as Jos Buttler fired in a direct hit, sealing a dramatic one-run win for GT.
