Match: 35th Match, IPL 2026 Teams: Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 Time: 3:30 PM IST (Afternoon/Day-Night) Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi DC Captain: Axar Patel PBKS Captain: Shreyas Iyer
This is one of the most one-sided form matchups in IPL 2026 so far. Punjab Kings head into this game unbeaten in six matches the first team in IPL history to stay undefeated through their opening six games of a season. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, just suffered a 47-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad and have now lost two of their last three games.
For DC, this is a home game and a chance to bounce back. For PBKS, a win here keeps them clear at the top of the table and deepens their title credentials.
PBKS sit top with an NRR of +1.420 the best in the tournament. They have 3 more points than the chasing pack. DC’s loss to SRH on April 21 pushed them down to joint-5th with GT on 6 points.
The highest individual score across all DC vs PBKS matches belongs to Chris Gayle. In terms of recent IPL run scorers, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Shreyas Iyer have all been among the form players in this rivalry in recent years.
DC Predicted Playing 11 vs PBKS
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathum Nissanka | Opener |
| 2 | KL Rahul (wk) | Opener / Wicketkeeper |
| 3 | Sameer Rizvi | No. 3 / Allrounder |
| 4 | Axar Patel (c) | Middle Order / Captain |
| 5 | David Miller | Middle Order |
| 6 | Tristan Stubbs | Finisher |
| 7 | Nitish Rana | Batting Allrounder |
| 8 | Kuldeep Yadav | Spin Bowler |
| 9 | T Natarajan | Pace Bowler |
| 10 | Lungi Ngidi | Pace Bowler |
| 11 | Mukesh Kumar | Pace Bowler |
Impact Player Options: Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Tripurana Vijay
Note on Axar Patel’s fitness: Axar Patel retired hurt with cramps during the RCB match and hobbled off in the SRH game as well. He should be available here, but his physical condition is worth monitoring. If he is unavailable, DC will likely bring in Vipraj Nigam to add spin depth.
Note on Mitchell Starc: DC retained Starc for ₹11.75 crore ahead of IPL 2026, but he has yet to appear this season. He remains unavailable.
DC’s batting has been a mix of brilliance and inconsistency. Sameer Rizvi has been their most exciting performer he scored 41 off 28 in the SRH loss and has been DC’s top run-getter this season. KL Rahul’s 37 off 23 against SRH was brisk, but he and Nissanka have had issues at the top, especially against moving deliveries. The top three have hit just 12 sixes in six games the lowest by any team in IPL 2026. Against PBKS’s pace attack, that lack of power in the powerplay becomes a real concern.
Kuldeep Yadav remains DC’s most dangerous bowler. His wrist-spin works well on the Kotla surface, and he can exploit any grip the pitch offers. Natarajan provides variety with his left-arm pace, while Lungi Ngidi has taken 7 wickets in 5 matches and gives DC consistency in their seam bowling.
PBKS Predicted Playing 11 vs DC
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) | Opener / Wicketkeeper |
| 2 | Priyansh Arya | Opener |
| 3 | Cooper Connolly | No. 3 Batter |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer (c) | Middle Order / Captain |
| 5 | Nehal Wadhera | Middle Order |
| 6 | Shashank Singh | Finisher |
| 7 | Marcus Stoinis | All-rounder |
| 8 | Marco Jansen | All-rounder / Pace |
| 9 | Xavier Bartlett | Pace Bowler |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Pace Bowler |
| 11 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Leg-spin Bowler |
Impact Player Options: Vishnu Vinod, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Yash Thakur, Harnoor Singh
PBKS arrive at Kotla in the form of their lives. Their batting depth is the core of everything they do. Priyansh Arya hit 93 off 37 against LSG, and his 182-run stand with Cooper Connolly produced the highest total of IPL 2026 so far 254/7. Arya has 9 sixes in a single innings, showing the sheer power he brings at the top.
Shreyas Iyer has been in excellent touch through the middle overs, striking at around 197 in overs 7 to 16. He provides the bridge between the explosive top order and the finishing depth. Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh add lower-order hitting.
The bowling is led by Arshdeep Singh, who offers swing with the new ball. Marco Jansen gives the attack all-round balance. Yuzvendra Chahal’s form has been inconsistent, but he provides the leg-spin variety that can be a handful at Kotla if the pitch offers any grip.
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi: Pitch Report & Stats
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total IPL Matches Hosted | 98 |
| Teams Batting First Wins | 47 |
| Teams Chasing Wins | 50 |
| No Result | 1 |
| Average 1st Innings Score (IPL 2026) | ~170-190 |
| Highest Team Total at this Venue (IPL) | 278/3 by SRH vs KKR (May 2025) |
| Lowest Team Total at this Venue (IPL) | 66 All Out by Delhi Daredevils vs MI (2017) |
| Highest Individual Score | 128* by Chris Gayle (2012) and Rishabh Pant (2018) |
| Boundary Size | Square boundaries: 63–67 metres |
| Match Time | 3:30 PM IST – Afternoon start, no dew factor |
The Kotla pitch has changed character over the years. It used to assist spinners heavily, but post-2023 it has become flatter and more batting-friendly. The square boundaries at 63–67 metres are short enough to reward good hitting.
Since this is an afternoon game starting at 3:30 PM, dew will not be a factor. That removes one of the biggest advantages that chasing teams usually get in evening IPL matches. The pitch will play roughly the same for both innings. Anything above 200 should be a competitive total at this venue given current conditions.
The pitch favours batters who can hit straight. Off-spinners and leg-spinners tend to get some purchase in the middle overs when the surface slows down. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are the two spin bowlers who could exploit this best.
Key Player Stats (IPL 2026 Season)
| Player | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Priyansh Arya | PBKS | 93 off 37 vs LSG part of 182-run stand |
| Cooper Connolly | PBKS | 87 off 46 vs LSG IPL 2026’s top stand (182 with Arya) |
| Shreyas Iyer | PBKS | 3 half-centuries; SR of 197 in overs 7–16 |
| Sameer Rizvi | DC | Top DC run-getter this season; 41 off 28 vs SRH |
| KL Rahul | DC | 37 off 23 vs SRH; steady but needs more |
| Lungi Ngidi | DC | 7 wickets in 5 matches this season |
| Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | Consistent with new ball; key powerplay asset |
| Kuldeep Yadav | DC | DC’s best bowling option; wrist-spin suits this surface |
| Marco Jansen | PBKS | 2 wickets vs LSG; provides pace all-round balance |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | PBKS | Leg-spin option; form inconsistent but useful at Kotla |
Key Player Battles
Priyansh Arya vs Kuldeep Yadav Arya has been the most destructive batter of IPL 2026 at the top of the order. Kuldeep is DC’s sharpest bowling weapon. If Kuldeep can dismiss Arya early, DC get a huge advantage. If Arya gets going, DC’s bowling will struggle to contain the damage.
KL Rahul vs Arshdeep Singh Arshdeep swings the ball early and targets right-handers with his angle. Rahul has had a patchy start to the season and needs a big innings here. His dismissal would put DC under early pressure, since Nissanka has also struggled against pace.
Shreyas Iyer vs Axar Patel Iyer plays spin well but can be lured into mistakes against good left-arm orthodox bowling at pace. Axar knows Iyer from their time together in Indian cricket setups and will have a plan. This battle in the middle overs will shape whether PBKS can build a big score or DC can restrict them.
Tristan Stubbs vs Marco Jansen Stubbs is DC’s finisher and has scored at SR of 297 in the death overs in his IPL career. Jansen is a left-arm seam bowler who gets awkward angles for right-handers. Both are South Africans playing on the opposite side here. This late-innings battle could decide the margin in the game.
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Final Verdict
PBKS are the clear favourites, regardless of the venue. Their NRR of +1.420 tells you how dominant they have been. Their batting lineup can post 200+ on any ground, and they have already done it multiple times this season. DC’s top order struggles against pace and their powerplay six-hitting (just 12 sixes in 6 games) is a real weakness against Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen.
DC’s best chance is Kuldeep Yadav delivering in the middle overs to slow PBKS down, and their lower-order hitters (Stubbs, Miller) making use of what should be a batting-friendly surface. The afternoon conditions also reduce the dew factor that usually helps chasing teams, which could slightly help whoever bats first.
But PBKS’s overall balance explosive top order, a settled captain in Iyer, and a bowling attack with genuine variety gives them the edge in most conditions. A win here would also extend their historic unbeaten start, which already stands as a record in IPL history.
