PBKS chase 265 as Rahul’s 152 goes in vain

Punjab Kings beat Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets with seven balls remaining in a staggering IPL run-fest, chasing 265 despite KL Rahul’s extraordinary 152 off 67 balls for DC. Rahul was named Player of the Match after producing one of the innings of the season, but PBKS still found a way through a fearless top order and a commanding finish.

This was Match 35 of 70 in the 2026 Indian Premier League, and it extended Punjab Kings’ strong run in the tournament. PBKS had already won Matches 4, 7, 17, 24 and 29 before adding another statement victory here, while Delhi Capitals were left to reflect on a night when 264 for 2 still was not enough. The league now moves on later on Saturday with Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, before Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.

Rahul and Rana power Delhi to 264

Delhi Capitals appeared to have batted Punjab Kings out of the match. Pathum Nissanka struck 11 off 7 at the top, but once he fell, KL Rahul and Nitish Rana tore into the PBKS attack with a stand that completely changed the tempo of the innings.

Rahul was magnificent, finishing unbeaten on 152 from just 67 balls, an innings packed with 16 fours and 9 sixes at a strike rate of 226.9. He combined classical placement with brutal range-hitting, finding boundaries square of the wicket and straight down the ground with equal ease. At the other end, Rana matched the aggression superbly with 91 off 44, hitting 11 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 206.8.

The pair reduced Punjab’s bowlers to damage-limitation mode. Arshdeep Singh returned 1 for 49 from 4 overs and Xavier Bartlett picked up 1 for 69, while Marco Jansen went wicketless for 45. Vijaykumar Vyshak’s 3 overs cost 48, Yuzvendra Chahal conceded 42 in his 4, and Marcus Stoinis gave away 11 from his lone over. David Miller’s unbeaten 3 off 3 merely applied the finishing touch as DC closed on a towering 264 for 2.

Punjab Kings launch an even better chase

Even by modern T20 standards, the reply was outrageous. Punjab Kings came out with total clarity: if they were to chase 265, they had to attack from ball one. Priyansh Arya did exactly that, blasting 43 off 17 with 5 sixes, while Prabhsimran Singh went even harder, hammering 76 off only 26 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes.

That opening assault turned the chase from improbable to imaginable. Delhi’s bowlers were immediately under intense pressure, and the required rate never spiralled because PBKS kept collecting boundaries in clusters. Auqib Nabi conceded 41 in 2 overs, Mukesh Kumar 55 in 3, and T Natarajan 54 in 3.5 as the innings became a sustained powerplay in spirit, even after the field restrictions ended.

Delhi did create brief openings. Axar Patel claimed 1 for 44 from 4 overs, Vipraj Nigam took 1 for 24 from 2, and Kuldeep Yadav was the pick with 2 for 46 in his 4 overs. But every time DC threatened to drag things back, Punjab found another gear.

Cooper Connolly added 17 off 10 to keep the momentum alive before Shreyas Iyer played the defining hand of the chase. Already one of PBKS’s form batters this season, Iyer produced 71 from 36 balls, striking 7 sixes and 3 fours. His innings gave the chase shape after the explosive opening burst, ensuring Punjab did not lose control in the middle overs.

Nehal Wadhera’s 25 off 15 was a valuable contribution in support, and Shashank Singh’s unbeaten 19 off 10 closed out the chase. PBKS finished on 265 for 4 in 18.5 overs, completing one of the tournament’s most remarkable pursuits.

Match-turning moments

Rahul’s knock had set up what usually would have been a match-winning total, especially with Rana’s 91 ensuring there was no slowdown in the middle overs. But the tone of the contest changed completely in Punjab’s opening stand, with Arya and Prabhsimran attacking without hesitation and wiping out the psychological pressure of the target.

The next decisive phase came when Iyer took control after the early wickets. Rather than consolidating conservatively, he maintained the chase at full speed, preventing Delhi from stringing together quiet overs. By the time Shashank and Wadhera arrived at the finish, PBKS needed composure rather than rescue work, and they supplied exactly that.

Key performers

Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul 152* (67), Nitish Rana 91 (44), Pathum Nissanka 11 (7); Kuldeep Yadav 2/46 (4), Axar Patel 1/44 (4), Vipraj Nigam 1/24 (2).

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh 76 (26), Shreyas Iyer 71 (36), Priyansh Arya 43 (17), Shashank Singh 19* (10), Nehal Wadhera 25 (15); Arshdeep Singh 1/49 (4), Xavier Bartlett 1/69 (4).

NerdSports Stat: Delhi Capitals scored 264 for 2, with KL Rahul and Nitish Rana combining for 243 runs, and still lost with 7 balls remaining — a rare T20 result where a side made 260-plus and was beaten comfortably before the final over.

What it means

For Punjab Kings, this was another major result in a season that is gathering momentum. Having already won Matches 4, 7, 17, 24 and 29, they now have another two points from Match 35 and further strengthen their position in the league phase. For Delhi Capitals, the defeat is especially painful because it came on the back of one of the great IPL innings from Rahul.

There is plenty still to come in this Indian Premier League season. Later on Saturday, Rajasthan Royals meet Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Sunday brings Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings followed by Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders. Delhi Capitals next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday, April 27, while Punjab Kings are next in action against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday, April 28.

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