Skipper Axar Patel showed the way with an essential half-century, supported by David Miller’s important 51-run knock as Delhi Capitals successfully pursued 211 to inflict Punjab Kings’ fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2026 on Monday at Dharamshala. DC found themselves struggling at 74/4, but Axar (56) and Miller (51) revived the run chase before Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari sealed the victory, reaching 216/7 with an over to spare. Previously, Priyansh Arya (56 from 33) and Prabhsimran Singh (18) gave PBKS a blistering beginning, putting together 78 runs from merely 41 deliveries for the first wicket. After their dismissals, Shreyas Iyer (59 from 36) and Cooper Connolly (38 from 27) stepped up to push the innings along as PBKS managed an imposing 210/5. Delhi Capitals’ Dynamic Chase Puts the team in the race of playoffs.
TOSS-
Delhi Capitals won the toss and chose to bowl first.
PLAYING XI –
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI):
KL Rahul(w), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel(c), Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi Dar, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi
Punjab Kings (Playing XI):
Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Ben Dwarshuis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
PUNJAB KINGS-
Priyansh Arya came in after appearing somewhat uncertain in recent matches, but Mitchell Starc served him a gift of a full delivery that the southpaw launched for six – the opening blow of his six maximums within the Powerplay. Starc struggled with control in a wayward 22-run opening over, where a bouncer sailed past KL Rahul’s desperate dive for five extras, Arya’s top edge found the boundary for another maximum, and Prabhsimran dispatched a full toss for four. Arya sent one sailing over the square leg boundary off Auqib Nabi before hammering two more sixes against Lungi Ngidi to maintain momentum. PBKS reached their quickest team fifty in just 2.4 overs, though this was followed by a more controlled eight-run over from Nabi. Arya completed his 24-ball fifty on the opening delivery of the sixth over, where Nabi bowled disciplined lines to concede only two singles. PBKS still managed 72/0, yet the surface offered some assistance to the fast bowlers.
The PBKS skipper had appeared unusually uncomfortable and off-rhythm during his side’s three consecutive losses, but he cast those concerns aside in Dharamsala. So much so that even a mishit attempt after missing a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi cleared the long-off boundary for six. He struck several more authoritative shots throughout his innings, particularly the maximum over deep extra cover off Madhav Tiwari to reach his half-century.
Madhav Tiwari performed admirably, though his final figures of 2-40 don’t tell the complete story. He bowled intelligently with plenty of variety. Arya, who was eager to attack the bowling, became his first IPL scalp when he picked out the deep point fielder. Tiwari also claimed PBKS’ latest centurion Cooper Connolly with a cleverly disguised slower bouncer. A costly 19-run fourth over tarnished what could have been an outstanding debut for Tiwari.
It seemed the Australian would redeem himself after his expensive opening spell, but Suryansh Shedge had different plans. Starc removed Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh with his first two deliveries of the 19th over, yet watched his hat-trick delivery launched over long-on for six by Shedge. He anticipated Starc’s yorker attempt next and moved deep in his crease to find the boundary rope. Starc switched to around the wicket for the final ball, and Shedge contemptuously pulled it for six over deep mid-wicket.
DELHI CAPITALS-
There was no room for extravagance here. Delhi Capitals simply collapsed. Yash Thakur nipped one back to crash into Abishek Porel’s middle stump, Marco Jansen took a spectacular diving catch in the deep to dismiss KL Rahul, and Sahil Parakh picked out Yuzvendra Chahal at short third with an awkward ramp attempt. With that, DC slumped to 33/3. Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs pulled them to 48/3 after 6 overs.
A wet outfield, moisture, and a determined partnership between Axar & Miller. DC lost Stubbs in the ninth over to a brilliant direct hit from Connolly, which brought Axar and Miller together. As their partnership flourished, dew became increasingly prominent, and fielders struggled for grip in the deep. Axar was especially aggressive on the evening, swinging freely at a damp ball that came nicely off the bat. The DC skipper accumulated more runs in this single innings than his entire season total, but his dismissal in the 14th over – hoisting a Stoinis delivery to Ben Dwarshuis at long-on – arrived at a critical moment for the chase.
The absence of Arshdeep was noticeable. Miller capitalized on the previous over by attacking his South African colleague Marco Jansen. He plundered 15 runs from it, then greeted Dwarshuis with two massive sixes in the 17th over to complete a 27-ball half-century. Despite falling to what could be the tournament’s best catch by Prabhsimran Singh, the scoring continued. Tiwari entered and nonchalantly guided one behind point for four as 17 runs flowed from the over. Stoinis consistently delivered hittable balls to Ashutosh Sharma, who joyfully smashed a four and six to begin. Tiwari then contributed, receiving another friendly delivery that he sent soaring over deep backward square leg. This 19-run over brought the target down to merely 19 from 12 balls. All those runs came off Yash Thakur in the second-last over – Tiwari remained undefeated on 18 from 8, Ashutosh departed for 24 from 10, and Auqib Nabi arrived to apply the finishing touch with a four and maximum.
Brief Scores:
Punjab Kings 210/5 in 20 overs [Priyansh Arya 56 (33), Shreyas Iyer 59 (36), Suryansh Shedge 21(8); Madhav Tiwari 2-40] lost to Delhi Capitals 216/7 in 19 overs [David Miller 51 (28), Axar Patel 56 (30), Ashutosh Sharma 24 (10); Arshdeep Singh 2-21] by 3 wickets.
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