In the 66th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns against Delhi Capitals (DC) tonight, i.e., May 24, at 7:30 PM at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
PBKS have officially qualified for the IPL playoffs, with 17 points from 12 matches. Currently ranked third in the points standings, a win tonight could elevate them to first place. This represents a significant milestone for the team, since it is their first playoff berth since 2014. What makes this upturn genuinely astonishing is the core group of uncapped Indian batters who have propelled the turnaround. The opening combo of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya has given powerful openings all season. The left-handed Arya, in particular, has played an important role in establishing the tempo in the powerplay, complementing Prabhsimran’s aggressiveness with his own brave strokeplay. Nehal Wadhera has routinely provided powerful knocks in the middle order, while Shashank Singh has developed as a dependable finisher who closes off games with style. Skipper Shreyas Iyer has anchored the innings when necessary, providing both solidity and aggressiveness. Notably, PBKS is the only team in IPL history to have five batters with over 250 runs and a strike rate of more than 150 in a single season. On the bowling front, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh have been excellent, with Harpreet Brar providing top support.
On the other hand, DC have 13 points from as many games and will be looking to conclude their IPL 2025 season on an excellent note. They started the season well, winning five of their first six games, but quickly lost steam due to inconsistency, derailing their playoff ambitions. Nonetheless, veteran batter KL Rahul will be looking to make an impression, while skipper Axar Patel, who missed the previous game, is expected to return and lead from the front. The loss of Mitchell Starc has created a void in the speed attack, but DC will rely on Kuldeep Yadav‘s smartness and Dushmantha Chameera’s agility for vital breakthroughs. With a flat Jaipur pitch that favours stroke play and clear skies predicted, DC’s batters will need to band together and provide a full effort in what promises to be a high-stakes, high-scoring game.
Head-to-Head:
DC and PBKS have played 34 matches against each other in the IPL, with DC winning 16 and PBKS winning 17. One match ended without a result.
The last time these two sides played, the game was abandoned due to security concerns during the India-Pakistan dispute earlier this month. Punjab stormed to 122/1 in 10.1 overs in Dharamshala. Nonetheless, they will now have to start from scratch against a depleted Capitals team that was ousted following a crushing defeat to Mumbai Indians in a do-or-die match a few nights ago.
Where-to-Watch:
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