Team Form & News
Punjab Kings
Punjab are finding momentum at the right stage of the season with back-to-back wins. Their aggressive approach with the bat is paying dividends, and their bowling is improving in tandem. A tactical shift has seen Azmatullah Omarzai come into the XI in place of Xavier Bartlett, adding more firepower at the top.
One possible tweak from their last outing could be using Harpreet Brar as an impact substitute. His spin offers more control, especially after Vijay Vyshak went at over 16 runs per over against Lucknow.
Likely Punjab XI: Arya, Prab Singh (Harpreet sub), Inglis, Iyer, Wadhera, Shahsank, Stoinis, Azmat, Jansen, Chahal, Arshdeep
Delhi Capitals
Delhi are in the midst of a concerning slide, with just one win in their last six games. Their batting continues to underperform, and they were fortunate to escape with a washout against Sunrisers after posting only 133.
Desperate for a turnaround, Delhi could turn to Jake Fraser-McGurk to rejuvenate the top order. The team needs a fresh spark to avoid sinking further in the table.
Likely Delhi XI: Porel, Du Plessis, Nair, Rahul, Axar, Stubbs, Ashutosh (Mukesh sub), Vipraj, Starc, Chameera, Kuldeep
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Pitch Report – Dharamsala
The venue promises fireworks with the bat. Dharamsala has become a high-scoring ground with an average run rate of 9.6 in the past five years. Though the sample size is limited, scores of 241 and 236 in the last two first innings indicate a pattern worth noting.
Expect plenty of sixes too — the last two games here saw 23 and 29 maximums, respectively. Punjab average 9.8 sixes per game, while Delhi are lower at 7.2, suggesting the Kings may have an edge in clearing the ropes.
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Match Outlook
Punjab’s current form makes them the more confident side heading into this clash. Their batting unit is built for pace, and with Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal leading the bowling attack, they’ll aim to dominate both phases.
For Delhi, the match feels like a do-or-die situation. A good start — ideally batting first — could allow them to control the tempo and finally post a challenging total. Their senior players need to step up to arrest the slide.
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Players to Watch
Marcus Stoinis continues to be a key figure for Punjab, though his lower-order role may limit his impact on a flat deck unless he gets in early.
Prab Singh is known for aggressive starts, but there’s a tendency to fall after the powerplay. If he survives, he can tilt the game; if not, it exposes Punjab’s middle quickly.
Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be crucial for Delhi, especially if they bowl first, with the potential to slow Punjab’s innings during the middle overs.
