Punjab Kings (PBKS) face Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 55 of IPL 2026 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Monday, May 11. Shreyas Iyer’s side moves to its second home venue in the Himalayas and gets a timely boost with Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai returning to the squad after personal bereavement. PBKS need a win badly after three back-to-back losses that have pulled them down to third on the points table.
DC, led by Axar Patel, arrive in Dharamshala in poor form too they have lost five of their last six games. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, this is practically a must-win for the visitors.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Match 55, IPL 2026 |
| Teams | Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals |
| Date and Time | Monday, May 11, 2026 · 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh |
| PBKS Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| DC Captain | Axar Patel |
| Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (App and Website) |
| PBKS Standing | 3rd (W6, L3, NR1 · 13 points from 10 matches) |
| DC Standing | 8th (W4, L7 · 8 points from 11 matches) |
IPL 2026 Season Stats: PBKS vs DC Comparison
Batting Stats
| Metric | Punjab Kings | Delhi Capitals |
|---|---|---|
| Top Run-Scorer | Shreyas Iyer (captain; 397 runs at avg 66.17, SR 180.45 in last 10 matches; unbeaten 69 off 33 vs SRH on Apr 11) | KL Rahul (wk; 468 runs from 11 matches; 3rd highest run-getter in IPL 2026; consistent at the top) |
| Opener in Form | Prabhsimran Singh (wk; 378 runs at SR 168.75; set up PBKS’s highest-ever T20 chase vs DC on Apr 25) | Pathum Nissanka (solid opening partner for Rahul; featured in DC’s better performances this season) |
| Aggressive Opener | Priyansh Arya (attacking left-hander; key in powerplay phase across the season) | Nitish Rana (middle-order batter; provides stability after the openers depart) |
| Middle-Order Strength | Cooper Connolly (unbeaten century vs SRH in PBKS’s last match despite team defeat; growing performer) | Sameer Rizvi (young talent; capable of acceleration in the middle overs) |
| All-Round Bat | Marcus Stoinis (pace and lower-order hitting; important in tight chases) | Tristan Stubbs (wk option; finisher with big-hitting ability; consistent lower-order presence in 2026) |
| Finisher | Shashank Singh (known for death-over hitting; has struggled with dropped catches this season) | Ashutosh Sharma (shown promise in the lower order this season) |
Bowling Stats
| Metric | Punjab Kings | Delhi Capitals |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Pacer | Arshdeep Singh (8 wickets; below-par season with the ball; can swing in Dharamshala’s conditions) | Mitchell Starc (key weapon; DC rely heavily on him to make early inroads with the new ball) |
| Lead Spinner | Yuzvendra Chahal (consistent wicket-taker; 7 wickets; most successful in middle overs) | Kuldeep Yadav (5 wicketless outings in 9 games; economy rate of 10.40 worst among IPL spinners in 2026) |
| Support Pacer | Marco Jansen (left-arm swing; adds batting depth at No. 8; effective with the new ball) | Lungi Ngidi (returned to DC’s side recently; more reliable than the bowling unit’s overall numbers suggest) |
| Key Addition | Azmatullah Omarzai (back after personal leave; gives PBKS balance by freeing space for a second spinner) | Mukesh Kumar (pace support; shares the bowling load alongside Starc and Ngidi) |
| Second Spinner Option | Harpreet Brar (likely to come in with Omarzai’s arrival; tested in past matches with good returns) | Axar Patel (captain; left-arm spin; one of DC’s best-performing bowlers this season; leads by example) |
PBKS vs DC Head-to-Head Record in IPL
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total IPL Meetings | 36 |
| PBKS Wins | 18 |
| DC Wins | 17 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No Result | 0 |
| Head-to-Head Lead | PBKS (razor-thin lead of one win) |
| Last Meeting | PBKS (265/4) beat DC (264/2) by 6 wickets · April 25, 2026 |
| Last Result Before That | DC (208/4) beat PBKS (206/8) by 6 wickets · May 24, 2025 |
| PBKS Record in Last 5 vs DC | Won 3, Lost 2 |
| Most Runs in This Fixture (All-Time) | Mayank Agarwal – 450 runs |
| Most Wickets in This Fixture (All-Time) | Axar Patel – 20 wickets |
| Record at HPCA Dharamshala | 2 wins each from 4 matches at this venue |
The April 25 fixture earlier this season produced the greatest run-chase in T20 history. DC posted 264/2, with KL Rahul scoring a magnificent 152 off 67 balls, the highest score by an Indian batter in IPL history. PBKS overhauled that total with 7 balls to spare, powered by Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer in a match that will be remembered for years.
With 18 wins apiece after that contest, this rivalry is the closest in IPL history. Both franchises have swapped the lead multiple times over 36 games, and every encounter adds weight to that record.
HPCA Stadium Dharamshala Pitch Report
| Pitch Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Altitude | Approximately 1,457 metres above sea level |
| Surface Nature | Good bounce and carry; pace-friendly early; batting-friendly once settled |
| Average First-Innings IPL Score | 182–187 |
| Average Winning First-Innings Score | 191–194 |
| Batting-First Win Rate | 64% (9 wins out of 14 IPL matches at this ground) |
| Powerplay Economy (Historical) | 8.2 runs per over |
| Sixes Per Match | 21 on average at this ground |
| Toss Trend | Teams winning the toss almost always choose to bat first |
| Pacers vs Spinners | Pacers get more assistance throughout; spinners find very little turn on this surface |
| Dew Factor | Very low mountain conditions mean dew rarely affects the second innings |
| Weather on May 11 | Partly cloudy; temperature around 17–21°C; winds from east-northeast at 13 km/h; no rain expected |
| IPL 2026 Note | This is the first IPL 2026 match at Dharamshala the pitch is fresh and expected to be full of runs |
The HPCA Stadium is one of the most visually stunning venues in world cricket, set against the Dhauladhar mountain backdrop. Its high altitude means the ball travels faster off the bat, making it a favourite for batters who hit cleanly. Pacers can extract decent swing with the new ball, but the pitch generally flattens in the middle overs. Spinners, including Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, have limited impact here. The thin mountain air adds pace off the pitch Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen for PBKS, and Mitchell Starc for DC, will be the bowlers to watch in the powerplay.
The highest score ever at this venue in the IPL stands at 241/7 by RCB. The lowest total is 116, and no team has successfully chased above 180 here in completed matches.
Predicted Playing XI
Here are the Playing XI for both Teams:
Punjab Kings Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Priyansh Arya | Opener |
| 2 | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Opener |
| 3 | Cooper Connolly | Middle Order |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer (c) | Captain / Middle Order |
| 5 | Marcus Stoinis | All-Rounder |
| 6 | Azmatullah Omarzai | All-Rounder |
| 7 | Shashank Singh | Finisher |
| 8 | Marco Jansen | All-Rounder / Pacer |
| 9 | Harpreet Brar | Left-Arm Spinner |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Pace Bowler |
| 11 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Leg-Spin Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Vijaykumar Vyshak | Pace Bowler |
Key Change: Azmatullah Omarzai comes in for Xavier Bartlett, who has been expensive in recent matches. Harpreet Brar adds a second spinner option.
Bench / Others in Squad: Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan, David Miller, Ben Dwarshuis, Mitchell Owen
Delhi Capitals Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathum Nissanka | Opener |
| 2 | KL Rahul (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Opener |
| 3 | Nitish Rana | Middle Order |
| 4 | Sameer Rizvi | Middle Order |
| 5 | Tristan Stubbs | Finisher |
| 6 | Axar Patel (c) | Captain / Left-Arm Spinner |
| 7 | Ashutosh Sharma | Lower Order |
| 8 | Vipraj Nigam / Auqib Nabi | Spin / Pace Option |
| 9 | Mitchell Starc | Pace Bowler |
| 10 | Kuldeep Yadav | Wrist Spinner |
| 11 | Lungi Ngidi | Pace Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Mukesh Kumar / David Miller | Pace / Batting Cover |
Key Decision: DC could bring in Auqib Nabi in place of Vipraj Nigam given Dharamshala’s pace-friendly conditions. Axar Patel has hinted the team may test bench strength, but with playoff survival at stake, DC are unlikely to make wholesale changes.
Bench / Others in Squad: Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, Kyle Jamieson, T. Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Sahil Parakh, David Miller, Mayank Rawat
Key Injury and Availability News
Punjab Kings: Azmatullah Omarzai is back after his personal leave and is available for selection. Xavier Bartlett is likely to miss out after costly recent performances. There are no fresh injury concerns for PBKS heading into Match 55.
Delhi Capitals: Hardik Pandya missed MI’s last game with back spasms, but this does not affect DC. Within DC’s squad, there are no confirmed injury absentees. Axar Patel is available and fit to lead. DC may rotate some players given the slim playoff chances, but the situation still demands they field their best XI.
Key Player Battles to Watch
Here are the Key Player’s Battles to watch out for:
1. Shreyas Iyer vs Delhi Capitals Bowling
Iyer is PBKS’s most important match-winner. He has 397 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 66.17 and a strike rate of 180.45. He hammered an unbeaten 69 off 33 balls in the reverse fixture on April 11 against SRH, and was equally dominant against DC in April 25’s record-breaking chase. DC’s bowling unit is struggling they have the fewest wickets in IPL 2026 and stopping Iyer early is their biggest priority in this match.
2. KL Rahul vs Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar
Rahul leads DC’s batting with 468 runs from 11 matches and accounts for 26% of DC’s total runs scored this season. He has been DC’s most reliable batter across all conditions. PBKS will look to attack him with spin. Chahal has 7 wickets but struggles at Dharamshala where the pitch offers limited turn. Harpreet Brar, more of a containment spinner, could be the key man in the middle overs to keep Rahul in check.
3. Mitchell Starc vs Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya
DC pin a lot of their bowling hopes on Starc. His pace, swing, and experience with the new ball give DC their best chance to exploit the early conditions at Dharamshala. Prabhsimran (378 runs, SR 168.75) and Priyansh Arya set the tempo from ball one and love to attack pacers in the first six overs. If Starc can keep one of them quiet, DC can restrict PBKS below the average first-innings winning score of 191.
4. Azmatullah Omarzai’s All-Round Impact
Omarzai’s return adds crucial balance. He gives PBKS a genuine bowling option who can bat at No. 6 or lower. His medium-pace at Dharamshala’s altitude can be tricky, especially with early swing. With DC’s middle order relying on Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma to finish innings, Omarzai’s ability to pick up wickets in the 12–16 over window could change the shape of the game.
5. Axar Patel vs Cooper Connolly
Connolly scored an unbeaten century in PBKS’s last match against SRH, even in defeat. He is a left-handed batter who tends to handle spin well. Axar’s left-arm spin and ability to dry up runs in the middle overs will be tested against Connolly, who is growing in confidence with every game. This middle-overs contest could determine how PBKS structure their innings if the openers fail.
Match 55 Prediction
PBKS arrive in better form on paper despite three losses. Their squad is deeper, their top three is more dangerous, and Dharamshala is their home ground. Omarzai’s addition gives them an extra bowling option and balance they have lacked in the last few matches. Shreyas Iyer is in outstanding form, and the conditions here suit Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen in the powerplay.
DC’s problems run deeper. Their bowling is the worst in the tournament by wickets taken. Kuldeep Yadav has been wicketless in five of his last nine outings and is conceding over 10 an over. Axar Patel has managed just one double-digit score from seven innings with the bat this IPL. They depend heavily on KL Rahul if he goes early, their innings often collapses quickly.
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Final Verdict
The pitch strongly favours the team batting first, with a 64% win rate at Dharamshala. Both captains are likely to want to bat first after winning the toss.
PBKS will want to post 190+ and then let their pace attack exploit the early swing. DC will need Starc to fire and Rahul to build a big total if they choose to bat. But their bowling makes it very hard to defend any score against a lineup as explosive as PBKS’s top order.
PBKS also need this win to reclaim second place on the points table. The motivation is firmly on their side.
Toss Prediction: Both captains will look to bat first given Dharamshala’s historical data 64% of teams batting first have won at this ground. Expect the toss winner to choose to bat.
