Delhi Capitals faced a collapse of incredible proportions as they crumbled in their chase against Mumbai Indians, who claimed a thrilling 12-run win in the Indian Premier League.

The Capitals went into Sunday's clash as the IPL's only unbeaten team, but their streak came to an end as Mumbai snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with some tremendous fielding late on.

Hardik Pandya's Indians got themselves back in the game after Karun Nair struck a breathtaking knock of 89 runs off 40 balls on his IPL comeback, putting the Capitals in pole position to chase down Mumbai's 205-5.

Having made a slow start to their innings, Mumbai benefitted from some fine batting from their middle order. Rohit Sharma (18) was dismissed early, but Ryan Rickelton (41) and Suryakumar Yadav (40) made inroads in the powerplay.

Suryakumar and Mumbai's leading scorer Tikal Varma (59) did brilliantly through the middle, and Naman Dhir provided a much-needed flourish, striking 38 not out off 17.

Kuldeep Yadav continued his excellent form and was the pick of the Delhi bowlers, his figures reading 2-23 from four overs.

The Capitals' chase got off to a nightmare start, with Jake Frase-McGurk dismissed for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings.

But Nair stole the show from there, smacking Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah to all parts of the ground to race to a 22-ball fifty.

Mitchell Santner brilliantly ended Nair's knock in the 12th over, but despite the losses of KL Rahul (15), Axar Patel (nine), and Tristan Stubbs (one), Delhi looked poised to chase the target down with Ashutosh Sharma (17) at the crease, needing 23 off 12 deliveries.

But a comical passage of play and some brilliant fielding from Mumbai saw Delhi collapse with three run-outs in the final three balls of the 19th over. Rickelton, Will Jacks, Raj Bawa and Santner combined to pull off an improbable heist and seal the Indians' second win of the season.

Owing to their brilliant start to the season, the Capitals remain in second place on eight points, while Mumbai climb up to seventh.

A fairytale comeback 

Karun Nair smashed a whirlwind 89(40) 

Describe his knock, #DC fans #TATAIPL | #DCvMI | @DelhiCapitals | @karun126 pic.twitter.com/NyRK7Pcu7P

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 13, 2025

Data debrief: Karun Nair’s crunch comeback knock in vain

Making his first IPL appearance in 1077 days, Nair entered the fray as an impact player and delivered a brilliant knock, notching up 89 runs off just 40 balls at an impressive strike rate of 222.50.

This is now his highest score in the IPL, overhauling his previous highest of 83, which came in 2016, coincidentally also for the Delhi franchise (named Delhi Daredevils at the time). He reached his half-century in just 22 balls, his first in the IPL in seven years and 11th in the competition overall.

The highlight of his innings was a fantastic takedown of Bumrah in the sixth over, from which he struck 18 runs – the most by any Indian batter against Bumrah in a single IPL over. In total, 29 of his 89 runs came off six Bumrah deliveries.

The great shame is that his efforts went in vain.

Interestingly, Mumbai have now been involved in three games with 12-run winning margins, but this is the first time they have come out on top by such a score.