The Delhi Capitals (DC) kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive after beating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by three wickets in Match 55 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Monday, May 11.
The win takes DC to seventh in the standings, having picked up 10 points from 12 matches and thus ending their two-match winless run. PBKS, on the other hand, have lost four games on the trot and have fallen from first in the standings to fourth place.
Talking Points:
1. Dharamshala returns to the IPL with a bang
Everyone enjoys watching games played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala due to its close proximity to the Himalayas. The venue’s first game of the season did not disappoint, with more than 400 runs being scored, along with posting questions surrounding the dew. The venue is set to host two more league stage matches, along with the first Qualifier.
2. Captain Axar Patel’s first proper batting contribution
Before playing against PBKS today in Dharamshala, Axar Patel had an absolutely torrid time with the bat for the Capitals. The left-handed batter had scored just 44 runs all season long at an average of just 6.28. But today, he showed his class with the bat, scoring 56 off just 30 deliveries.
3. The Punjab Kings are running out of steam
The Kings made an excellent start to the season and were many people’s early tournament favourites. Shreyas Iyer’s side, however, have now lost four games in a row, slipping from the top of the standings to fourth spot. Based on their current form, it will now be hard for them to keep up with the chasing pack and maintain their position in the playoff places.
Who said what?
Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings captain:
“I won’t beat around the bush; I’ll just say fielding and bowling again. (If he thought 210 was a good score) Absolutely, I feel that it was 30 runs more on this wicket considering how the ball was seaming and there was variable bounce. (On bowling Chahal) There was absolutely a thought in my mind, but the way ball was seaming and the way it was helping seamers, I think if we would have executed our line and length precisely, we could have been able to extract wickets, but unfortunately again, we didn’t. (on how to bowl here) Still into the surface. I always say that the hard length – short of a hard length – is the best ball, especially when a new batsman is coming in. It’s not easy to hit because if you keep repeating those balls, at least one ball gives a chance of mis-hitting and you can get a wicket. We’ve been short of planning.”
Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals captain:
“Since last time I have been saying we are losing the crucial moments. We are a good team, playing a good cricket but not winning those crucial moments. Really happy with the way we played and hopefully we continue playing like this. The first 3-4 overs we went for 60 runs and we pulled things back. In the middle overs the way Madhav and Mukesh bowled were the winning moments. Even with the bat, after my dismissal the way Miller, Ashutosh and Madhav batted it was great. The ball was swinging and seaming, we didn’t bowl in the right areas in the first 3-4 overs but it was doing something right through, that’s why I didn’t use spin. You always have a back-up plan. I have been coming up the order but today it clicked. Luck changed, I was dropped and that also mattered. The type of cricket we are playing and the bench strength we have, the future is in good hands. Youngsters standing up in such situations is a good sign.”
Madhav Tiwari, Player of the Match:
“First of all I would like to thank management for giving me this opportunity. I am really happy to be on the winning side. The mindset is always that if things are not in your hand, you work in the practice sessions, I have worked on my bowling a lot, I have worked on my ranging hitting. I would like to say 100 percent bowler, 100 percent batter. The wicket was helping the length ball. I was trying to mix it with wide ball and short ball. I was prepared, given the conditions it was supporting the fast bowlers, lucky enough to bowl four overs for the team. Our batting coach Belly said you got the power, you have the technique, don’t try to overhit the ball.”
