An explosive start to what promised to be an entertaining contest between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) ended in disappointment as the match was abandoned due to a power outage at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The game, already delayed by rain, was called off after just 10.1 overs with PBKS cruising at 122 for the loss of one wicket, thanks to a fiery start from openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh.
After rain pushed back the toss, PBKS made the most of the conditions once play began. Winning the toss and choosing to bat, the home team came out with aggressive intent. Priyansh and Prabhsimran launched a stunning assault on the DC bowlers, setting the tone for a massive total. Their power-hitting had put PBKS in complete control, and the team looked well on track to post a mammoth total.
However, the momentum came to an abrupt halt when one of the stadium’s floodlights went off due to a major technical fault in the area, causing a power outage. Despite efforts to restore power, the light tower remained non-functional, and the game was eventually abandoned.
This is the second time this season that PBKS have been denied a possible win due to weather or external factors. Their earlier abandoned match came against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, when they were in a strong position. For the Capitals, this was also a second no-result game—the first being against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad.
The abandoned match has significant implications for the IPL 2025 points table. With one point each from this fixture, PBKS now sit third with 16 points, while DC are in fifth with 14 points. Neither side has secured a playoff spot yet, and the competition remains intense with seven teams still in contention.
For PBKS, the path to the playoffs is straightforward. Winning both of their remaining matches will take them to 20 points, virtually assuring them a place in the top four and possibly even a top-two finish. However, with Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru also in the mix and each having three matches left, PBKS will need to maintain momentum and hope for favorable outcomes elsewhere in order to finish in the top two.
Delhi Capitals find themselves in a trickier spot. Even if they win both of their remaining games to reach 18 points, their current net run rate of +0.362 may not be enough to guarantee qualification. A single win might leave them stranded at 16 points, forcing them to depend heavily on other match results.
This abandoned match between PBKS and DC has breathed new life into KKR’s campaign, keeping their playoff hopes alive. But for DC, who have stumbled in the latter half of the season due to inconsistent performances and a dip in form of the key players, the road to the playoffs is now much steeper. The race to the top four is heating up, and every game from here on could be a virtual knockout.
