After going unbeaten in their first 7 matches in IPL 2026, the Yuzvendra Chahal-starrer Punjab Kings have now lost 4 matches in a row. This has severely dented their chances of making the top four in this year's tournament.
On Monday, PBKS lost to a struggling Delhi Capitals at their second home ground, the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. The thrilling win kept Delhi's playoffs hopes alive in the tournament, even if bleak.
Key Points
- Punjab Kings suffered their fourth straight defeat after losing to Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.
- PBKS faced heavy criticism for not using Yuzvendra Chahal despite all pacers getting hit.
- Punjab bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule defended the decision, calling it a “spontaneous” tactical move.
DC complete the highest successful chase in Dharamsala
DC's decision to win the toss and bowl first didn't really go to plan. Priyansh Arya was up to the usual, making 56 runs in 33 balls before debutant Madhav Tiwari had him holing out.
Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Cooper Connolly then put up a powerful stand of 83, broken when Tiwari returned to take Connolly's wicket. Iyer ended the innings with an unbeaten 59, but it was Suryansh Shedge's finish that powered Punjab to 210.
Shedge entered the crease when Mitchell Starc had already dismissed Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh off consecutive deliveries. Shedge not only denied Starc the hat-trick with a six, but also went on to hit another six and a four in the very same over, and eventually hit a four off the last ball of the innings to remain unbeaten on 21 runs from 8 balls.
Delhi's batting powerplay arguably went worse than their bowling powerplay. Arshdeep Singh removed both KL Rahul and Sahil Parakh within the first six overs on either side of Yash Thakur, dismissing Abhishek Porel.
Tristan Stubbs was also run out due to a mix-up, and DC were in peril at 74/4. David Miller and skipper Axar Patel both made fifties and put up an important stand of 64. Important cameos from Ashutosh Sharma, Madhav Tiwari, and Auqib Nabi helped Delhi complete the highest successful chase at Dharamsala in IPL history with an over to spare.
Delhi Capitals had interestingly made five changes to their playing XII for this match.
The Yuzvendra Chahal controversy
In an unprecedented move, all 39 overs bowled in this match were bowled by pacers, including four by PBKS' Marcus Stoinis.
Kuldeep Yadav was dropped for this match, while neither Axar Patel nor Yuzvendra Chahal were deemed useful enough to bowl. Patel is the Capitals' skipper and decided not to bring himself on at all.
Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, was criticised for not trusting Yuzvendra Chahal even though all his other bowlers were being taken apart. While, in theory, the conditions may have supported pace through and through, Yuzvendra Chahal is still the highest wicket-taker in IPL history.
This year, though, Yuzvendra Chahal has blown a little hot and cold just like all of Punjab's bowlers. His 8 wickets in 11 matches have come at an average of 35.75 and an economy of 9.35.
"It was a spontaneous decision" - Punjab Kings coach
Speaking after the match, Punjab Kings' bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule elaborated on the decision not to bowl Yuzvendra Chahal.
"Definitely, there was a thought (about bowling spinners) during the time-out, but I think the ball was seaming and the conditions were suitable for the fast bowlers. So I think the decision was very spontaneous to continue with the fast bowlers and see how we can get those wickets, which we did early on. But I think one partnership just took it away from us," he said.
When asked to focus on the reasons for Punjab's defeat, Bahutule said that poor bowling and the dropped catches cost the team.
"Definitely, we will look into certain phases of our bowling and also the fielding part. Again, today, unfortunately, we dropped a few catches again at a crucial time, so that was very important. And I think we will reflect, but again, there is no time for us to really brood about it; we must move ahead."
"At a crucial time, we are dropping catches, which unfortunately is breaking the momentum that we were getting. Because if we had taken two catches, I don't think they would have reached the target; it would have been very difficult for them, and we may have won the game by 20 runs," he asserted.
Also Read: Axar Patel punished by BCCI after Delhi Capitals’ costly mistake vs Punjab Kings in IPL 2026
Arshdeep Singh to David Miller, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the off stump, David Miller hangs in the crease to make a confident pull, sending the ball towards deep mid wicket for 1 run.
End of over 15 (5 runs)
Marco Jansen to David Miller, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, Marco Jansen sends down a sharp delivery, David Miller hangs in the crease to defend it, but mistimes the shot, beats the bat, leaving the batter confused.
Marco Jansen to David Miller, Four, Four !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump. David Miller goes back, hits pull in the gap towards deep mid wicket, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Marco Jansen to David Miller, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, David Miller hangs in the crease and tucks cut, edged!! and the ball goes toward the fielder, who halts the ball.
Marco Jansen to David Miller, Six, Six !! What a delivery! fast ball lands right on the stumps, David Miller goes back, exhibits impeccable timing as batter hammers pull sending it flying to the deep square leg region for a remarkable Maximum!
Marco Jansen to David Miller, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the stumps, David Miller goes forward to make a confident flick shot, sending the ball towards long on for 1 run.
Marco Jansen to Ashutosh Sharma, Four, Four !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Ashutosh Sharma hangs in the crease and caresses drive, edged!! towards third man, it raced away to the fence for four.
End of over 16 (15 runs)
Ben Dwarshuis to David Miller, Six, Six !! With a brilliant slower ball, on the off stump, David Miller hangs in the crease, showcases power-hitting prowess as batter unleashes it to long off for a colossal Maximum!
Ben Dwarshuis to David Miller, Six, Six !! fast ball is delivered on the off stump, good length and David Miller hangs in the crease, displays great skill by powering it to long on for a magnificent Maximum!
David Miller c P Singh b BJ Dwarshuis 51 (28) Ben Dwarshuis to David Miller, no run, c P Singh b BJ Dwarshuis, Caught out !! fast ball, back of length, on the stumps, David Miller goes back to try a high-risk pull, edged!! and the ball finds safe hands of Prabhsimran Singh, who makes no mistake in taking the catch, and David Miller is out.
Ben Dwarshuis to Madhav Tiwari, Four, Four !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump. Madhav Tiwari goes back, hits cut in the gap towards deep point, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Ben Dwarshuis to Madhav Tiwari, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the stumps, Madhav Tiwari goes back to make a confident push, sending the ball towards square leg for 1 run.
Ben Dwarshuis to Ashutosh Sharma, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Ashutosh Sharma goes forward to the delivery, tries to defend it with full face of the bat, but the ball jags away at the last moment, beating the bat.
End of over 17 (17 runs)
Marcus Stoinis to Madhav Tiwari, 1 run, Marcus Stoinis delivers fast ball at back of length, Madhav Tiwari hangs in the crease and plays the shot, but the ball goes straight to the fielder at deep mid wicket for 1 run.
Marcus Stoinis to Ashutosh Sharma, Four, Four !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump. Ashutosh Sharma hangs in the crease, hits pull in the gap towards deep mid wicket, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Marcus Stoinis to Ashutosh Sharma, Six, Six !! What a delivery! fast ball lands right on the stumps, Ashutosh Sharma hangs in the crease, exhibits impeccable timing as batter hammers and sends it flying to the deep fine leg region for a remarkable Maximum!
Marcus Stoinis to Ashutosh Sharma, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the off stump, Ashutosh Sharma hangs in the crease to make a confident drive, sending the ball towards short cover for 1 run.
Marcus Stoinis to Madhav Tiwari, Six, Six !! With a brilliant fast ball, on the off stump, Madhav Tiwari hangs in the crease, showcases power-hitting prowess as batter unleashes it to deep mid wicket for a colossal Maximum!
Marcus Stoinis to Madhav Tiwari, 1 run, fast ball, good length, on the stumps, Madhav Tiwari hangs in the crease and chunks it towards the deep fine leg for 1 run.
End of over 18 (19 runs)
Yash Thakur to Madhav Tiwari, no run, Dot ball !! off cutter, back of length, on the off stump, hangs in the crease, tries to play but misses to get the bat on it.
Yash Thakur to Madhav Tiwari, Four, Four !! fast ball, full length, on the off stump, Madhav Tiwari hangs in the crease, plays cut in the air to third man. Ball finds the ropes for four.
Yash Thakur to Madhav Tiwari, 1 run, fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, Madhav Tiwari hangs in the crease to make a room for himself and hits it towards short mid wicket for 1 run.
Yash Thakur to Ashutosh Sharma, Six, Six !! What a delivery! fast ball lands right on the off stump, Ashutosh Sharma hangs in the crease, exhibits impeccable timing as batter hammers and sends it flying to the deep point region for a remarkable Maximum!
Ashutosh Sharma c (sub PR Dubey) b YS Thakur 24 (10) Yash Thakur to Ashutosh Sharma, no run, c (sub PR Dubey) b YS Thakur, Caught out !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, Ashutosh Sharma hangs in the crease, takes a big risk by attempting pull towards deep mid wicket, but unfortunately, the ball flies towards Praveen Dubey, who displays excellent fielding skills to complete the catch, resulting in the dismissal of Ashutosh Sharma.
Yash Thakur to Auqib Nabi Dar, 5 no ball, Four !! fast ball, fulltoss, on the stumps. Auqib Nabi Dar hangs in the crease, whacked flick shot in the gap towards deep fine leg, ball finds the ropes in a flash for four. Umpire signals it a no ball !
Yash Thakur to Auqib Nabi Dar, Six, Six !! fast ball is delivered on the off stump, fulltoss and Auqib Nabi Dar hangs in the crease, displays great skill by powering it to long off for a magnificent Maximum!
End of over 19 (22 runs)