PBKS host DC for season’s second encounter in Dharamshala:Must-win match for Delhi vs Punjab to keep qualification hopes alive

After suffering three consecutive defeats, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) are all set to take on Delhi Capitals (DC) for the second time in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season. Punjab will enter the match aiming to return to winning ways and strengthen their chances of finishing at the top of the points table. The high-pressure clash will be played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Monday. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, are under massive pressure after losing two matches in a row. The upcoming contest is expected to be a do-or-die encounter for the franchise, as another defeat could officially end their playoff hopes. Earlier in the season, PBKS defeated Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets with 7 balls remaining in a high-scoring thriller. Chasing a record-breaking target in T20 cricket, a 265-run target, PBKS produced a stunning batting performance. During that match, KL Rahul smashed a record-breaking century and became the first Indian batter in IPL history to score 150 or more runs in a single innings. PBKS vs DC, Match Details Match: Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Match 55 Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, Dharamshala Time: 7:30 PM IST, toss at 7:00 PM IST Date: 11 May, 2026 Where to watch: Star Sports network (Telecasting), JioHotstar (Streaming) Where to follow: Follow live updates from the game on the Bhaskar English app. PBKS vs DC, head-to-head record Delhi and Punjab have met 36 times in IPL history, with PBKS holding a slight edge with 18 wins compared to DC’s 17 victories, while one match ended without a result. DC’s highest score against Punjab is 264, whereas PBKS once posted 265 against Delhi. With closely matched records and high-scoring contests, this rivalry continues to excite cricket fans every season. Also read: ‘Arey Shedge, kya batting kiya!’ Suryansh reveals Rohit’s compliment: PBKS star hopeful of ‘strong performance’ Connolly and Arshdeep aim to lead PBKS at the top spot For Punjab, Cooper Connolly scored 377 runs in 10 matches played with a strike rate of 171.36. However, pacer Arshdeep Singh has taken 11 wickets with an economy of 10.42, including a best figures of 3/22. Rahul, Axar boost Delhi’s qualification hopes Delhi’s opening batter, KL Rahul, has scored 468 runs in his 11 matches played with a strike rate of 180. On the other hand, Axar Patel, despite being under pressure as a captain, has picked up 11 wickets with an economy of 8.08, including best figures of 2/18. KL Rahul has dominated Yuzvendra Chahal in IPL so far ‘KLassical’ Rahul had scored 148 runs, facing 97 balls with a strike rate of 152.57 in the tournament history. However, Yuzvedra Chahal could manage to dismiss Rahul only once and conceded runs with an economy of 9.15 in the past. Shreyas explosive with 178 strike rate, Kuldeep dismissed him three times PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer had scored 116 runs, facing 65 balls with a strike rate of 178.46. On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav has dismissed Shreyas three times and conceded runs with an economy of 10.70 in the past. HPCA Stadium pitch report The pitch is expected to assist fast bowlers early on, with the new ball likely to swing under the lights. Batters will need to be careful during the initial overs before conditions become easier for stroke play later in the innings. Dew is also expected to play a major role, making chasing a preferred option. Teams winning the toss are likely to bowl first, while batters must preserve wickets to accelerate strongly in the death overs. Himachal Pradesh weather report On Monday evening, the weather is expected to be clear in Himachal Pradesh with temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. There is no chance of rain as the humidity is 50% in the venue. The wind gust is 28 km/h.