Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals will face each other in the 58th game of the ongoing edition of the tournament on 8th May at Dharamsala.
Match Preview:
Punjab Kings are sitting pretty in third place with 15 points from 11 games — and they’re not just looking to sneak into the playoffs; they’ve got their sights set on a top-two finish. Their campaign has been built on fearless batting and solid, consistent performances.
Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, find themselves in a trickier spot. They’re fifth on the table with 13 points from the same number of games. After a flying start to the season — four wins in a row — their momentum has fizzled. Now, every game is do-or-die. A loss tonight could push them to the brink, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
The difference between the two sides has been most obvious with the bat.
Punjab’s success has been driven by their blazing openers. Prabhsimran Singh (437 runs) and Priyansh Arya (347 runs) have been one of the tournament’s most dangerous opening pairs, putting together 406 runs — the third-best partnership in IPL 2025. They score at 10.36 runs per over in the PowerPlay, setting the tone early and often. Captain Shreyas Iyer has played the perfect foil, anchoring innings with 405 runs and providing stability when needed. As a team, PBKS are second only to one in post-PowerPlay scoring, going at 9.87 — a sign of their relentless intent.
Delhi, on the other hand, have struggled for rhythm. Their top order has misfired in recent games, and while KL Rahul has 381 runs this season, his form has dipped lately. The team’s opening partnership has been particularly weak — they score just 9.00 runs per over at the start, the third lowest in the league, and none of their four opening batters average more than 30.
Tonight’s match in Dharamsala could prove decisive — and the venue plays right into Punjab’s hands. Known for high scores and altitude-assisted big hitting, the ground has been a happy hunting ground for teams batting first. Four of the last five matches here have been won by the team setting a target, and 200+ scores have been posted three times. For Punjab, it’s the perfect setting to unleash their hitters. For Delhi, it’s a potential minefield.
Playoff math adds extra spice. A win for PBKS takes them to 17 points — all but sealing a spot in the final four and keeping them firmly in the race for a top-two finish. Two wins from their last three games will see them through, but one more tonight puts them in control.
For the Capitals, the path is steep. They likely need to win all three of their remaining games to guarantee a playoff berth without depending on other results. Lose tonight, and they’ll be walking a tightrope — hoping not just for back-to-back wins, but for favourable outcomes elsewhere. Not ideal at this stage of the tournament.
Probable Playing XIIS:
Punjab Kings (likely XII): 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Prabhsimran Singh, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Josh Inglis (wk), 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Azmatullah Omarzai, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal, 12 Vijaykumar Vyshak
Delhi Capitals (likely XII): 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Abishek Porel, 3 Karun Nair, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 T Natarajan, 12 Mohit Sharma/Mukesh Kumar
Pitch and weather report:
The teams’ practice was delayed by the rain that fell in Dharamsala on the eve of the game, and there is a potential that it will rain on match day as well. Although the Dharamsala airport has been closed due to the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the game is scheduled to proceed as scheduled.
Since there was a lot of swing available in the season’s opening match, new-ball bowlers are probably going to be crucial, while spinners will need minimal help.
Head-to-head record:
Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals have played each other 33 times, with Punjab Kings winning 17 matches and Delhi Capitals securing 15 victories. One match between the two teams ended in a tie.
Prediction:
Punjab Kings are favourite to win the upcoming clash of the tournament.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
Pakistan: Tapmad
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Afghanistan: ATN
MENA: Cricbuzz
