PBKS vs DC, IPL 2025: Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals meet in Dharamsala with playoff race heating up

With the Indian Armed Forces striking terror targets across the border, and airlines halting operations in some parts of northern India till May 10, questions swirled around the fate of Punjab Kings’ upcoming home fixture against Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.

However, even as the situation evolves, the game is set to go ahead as per schedule.

And under the lights on Thursday, PBKS and DC will meet in a contest that will have major implications on their playoff chances.

The Kings are sitting pretty in the top four, just a point shy of the table summit, yet can’t afford a lazy recline heading into the final three encounters. The Capitals needed some help from the heavens to eke out a point against Sunrisers Hyderabad, after being restricted to 133 in their batting effort. They will have to steer away from further slip-ups as they take on three of the current top-four in the remaining games.

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Punjab has relied on its top three to provide explosive starts during the PowerPlay this season. Uncapped stars Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, who have combined for more than 750 runs, alongside skipper Shreyas Iyer, have more than compensated for the inconsistency lower down the order. Despite a lack of middle-order runs, the team boasts the second-highest run rate post-PowerPlay (9.87).

In contrast, Delhi has struggled for top-order contributions. All four batters who have opened the innings for the team have averages below 30. Wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul has been the standout, with 381 runs at a healthy strike rate of 142.16.

Punjab’s Arshdeep Singh will have another opportunity to showcase his skill with the moving ball in a stadium where vast open pockets allow the wind to play a role. The left-armer shone against Lucknow Super Giants, claiming three wickets in his opening spell, and his team will hope for more of the same.

The early swing on offer will also suit veteran pacer Mitchell Starc, who leads the wicket-taking charts for the Capitals with 14. The lanky left-armer has also proved his worth in the death overs, with an economy rate of 9.66, the fifth-best among pacers with at least four appearances this season.

Teams batting first have won four out of five encounters since the ground returned as the Kings’ second home base after a 10-year hiatus. The 200-run mark has been reached three times during these games. The Axar Patel-led side will hope to replicate its 2023 performance, when it defended a score of 213, and add some uncertainty to the playoff race.