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The Delhi Capitals would have been directly knocked out had they lost this match against the Punjab Kings, but they survived their elimination, registering one of the most crucial victories. Axar Patel, the skipper, truly led from the front with the bat.
The Delhi Capitals started off the season in the IPL with a poor start; however, they could not advance to the top spot due to their struggles throughout the season. The Capitals are seventh on the points table with just five wins in the season.
The Axar Patel-led side has been lacking form, especially with the lack of form with the bat. However, this time around, they have turned the tables with a stunning performance and are still contending for a playoff spot in IPL 2026.
Delhi Capitals put on a record chase against PBKS in IPL 2026
Delhi Capitals have managed to chase a massive target in this game at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The Punjab Kings managed to score 210 runs on the tough track of the Dharamshala pitch that offered immense help to the pacers.
Delhi failed to make a poor start to the season as they lost four early wickets, with three of them lost in the powerplay itself. However, Axar Patel played a spectacular knock with the bat after he was not handed the ball.
Capitals backed David Miller, and he too scored another half-century in the season, and the two have helped them chase the 200+ total, making it the biggest chase in Dharamshala. Punjab Kings lost their fourth straight match in the season.
Madhav Tiwari pulls out a POTM performance in first IPL appearance of 2026
Madhav Tiwari is a middle-order batter and was included in the XI to back the Delhi Capitals’ batting order. However, he was backed by Axar Patel to bowl all four overs despite being a part-timer.
He bowled four overs as the fifth bowling option for the Capitals. Having bowled all those overs, he controlled the flow of runs to just 10 and also managed to dismiss two batters, including the two set batters, Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly, handing them vital breakthroughs.
He also played a stellar knock of 18 runs off just 8 balls and hit two fours and a massive six with a strike rate of 225, helping in the chase of runs.
I have been saying we are losing the crucial moments- Axar Patel
“Since last time I have been saying we are losing the crucial moments. We are a good team, playing a good cricket but not winning those crucial moments. Really happy with the way we played and hopefully we continue playing like this,” said Axar Patel on Delhi’s win.
“The first 3-4 overs we went for 60 runs and we pulled things back. In the middle overs the way Madhav and Mukesh bowled were the winning moments. Even with the bat, after my dismissal the way Miller, Ashutosh and Madhav batted it was great.
“The ball was swinging and seaming, we didn’t bowl in the right areas in the first 3-4 overs but it was doing something right through, that’s why I didn’t use spin. You always have a back-up plan,” the DC skipper added.
Axar Patel looked joyous on his own batting performance, “I have been coming up the order but today it clicked. Luck changed, I was dropped and that also mattered. The type of cricket we are playing and the bench strength we have, the future is in good hands. Youngsters standing up in such situations is a good sign.”
ALSO READ: “Thank management”: Madhav Tiwari thanks DC managment after POTM performance vs PBKS in IPL 2026
