Punjab Kings (PBKS) will take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match No. 55 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Monday, May 11, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.
PBKS are slated to play their first game of the season in Dharamshala, their designated second home venue. They started the season strongly but have hit a bump in the road with three losses in succession. They find themselves seated in third place on the table and will be looking to get back to winning ways against a reeling Capitals side.
DC, on the other hand, arrive into this encounter on the back of their fifth loss at home in the season. They were beaten by the Kolkata Knight Riders, who tightened the screws with spin on a slower Delhi wicket. They have played 11 games and sit eighth on the table, needing a miracle to make their way into the playoffs.Â
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala: Pitch Report
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is one of the most scenic and breathtaking venues in the country. Keeping aesthetics aside, the wicket has historically favoured batting teams, with true and consistent bounce of the surface. Bowlers get help early in the form of lateral movement, but there is not much for the spinners on the surface. The higher altitude also means the ball travels much longer in the air, making this a ground ideal for big-hitting batters to thrive.
IPL Stats and Records at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala
| Matches Played | 14 |
| Won Batting First | 9 |
| Won Batting Second | 5 |
| Highest Total | 241/7 |
| Lowest Total | 116 |
| Average score batting first | 188 |
PBKS vs DC Strategies and Match-ups
The Shreyas Iyer-led side is coming off three losses in succession and will be hoping to reverse their fortunes when the Capitals come visiting. The franchise has been heavily reliant on runs from the top order in the season, and the lack of runs from the bat of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya in the last few games would be a concern.
DC, on the other hand, have struggled with both bat and ball in their last few matches, unable to get runs and leaking too many runs. Axar Patel‘s men have had a tumultuous ongoing season, despite starting strongly in the nineteenth edition of the tournament.Â
The last time these two teams met saw one of the most memorable encounters in the history of the IPL. DC, being put into bat, scored a mammoth 264 for 2 in their first innings, with KL Rahul scoring a mammoth 152 off just 67 balls, the highest score by an Indian in the league. PBKS made light work of the chase with the openers. Priyansh & Prabhsimran and skipper Iyer getting half-centuries broke their own record for the highest chase in T20 cricket.
