265/4 (18.5)
CR : 14.07
264/2 (20.0)
CR : 13.20
Punjab Kings won by 6 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
KL Rahul
152(67)*
Most Dots of the Match: Kuldeep Yadav (8 Dots)
Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings Captain): [on the run fest] "It was scorching hot to come out there and field. To see bowlers getting hit for fours and sixes you kind of lose your mindset and don't know what to do in this situation but I know how the wicket was. We were actually presuming that the wicket would be turning but there wasn't much turn to offer. After the powerplay when Yuzi came in to bowl, the ball was holding a bit but not creating that much of an impact. Kudos to KL, the way he played was fabulous and it was pleasing to the eye.
[on his mindset during the 1st innings] Whatever they get from here on, we just have to score one more run and see to it that we become victorious. That was the mindset, nothing more because whatever balls the bowlers were bowling at that particular timing, I think KL was improvising and he was playing beautiful shots. It wasn't looking as if he was trying really hard but I just said to myself that if they can, we can too.
[on the discussion mid innings] We discussed that in the previous games, we have chased around 220-225 and with 2 overs left. The mindset was really simple. Get as many runs as possible in the powerplay and they just went bonkers from ball one and steadied the ship for us. The rest of us just wanted to capitalize on the start.
[on the areas that need addressing] Right now we just want to go and have fun as much as possible and get relaxation because it was 3 days of hard work, practicing and playing in the heat. Probably day after we rejuvenate and probably go back to the drawing board and see how we can come back stronger and plan successfully in terms of what opponents we are playing in the future."
[on his mindset during the 1st innings] Whatever they get from here on, we just have to score one more run and see to it that we become victorious. That was the mindset, nothing more because whatever balls the bowlers were bowling at that particular timing, I think KL was improvising and he was playing beautiful shots. It wasn't looking as if he was trying really hard but I just said to myself that if they can, we can too.
[on the discussion mid innings] We discussed that in the previous games, we have chased around 220-225 and with 2 overs left. The mindset was really simple. Get as many runs as possible in the powerplay and they just went bonkers from ball one and steadied the ship for us. The rest of us just wanted to capitalize on the start.
[on the areas that need addressing] Right now we just want to go and have fun as much as possible and get relaxation because it was 3 days of hard work, practicing and playing in the heat. Probably day after we rejuvenate and probably go back to the drawing board and see how we can come back stronger and plan successfully in terms of what opponents we are playing in the future."
Teams Winning 6 of Their First 7 Matches in an IPL Season most number of times
3 – Chennai Super Kings (2014, 2015, 2019)
2 – Mumbai Indians (2010, 2017), Punjab Kings (2014, 2026)*
1 – Rajasthan Royals (2024), Gujarat Titans (2022), Gujarat Lions (2016)
3 – Chennai Super Kings (2014, 2015, 2019)
2 – Mumbai Indians (2010, 2017), Punjab Kings (2014, 2026)*
1 – Rajasthan Royals (2024), Gujarat Titans (2022), Gujarat Lions (2016)
Player of the Match: KL Rahul
KL Rahul: "(On his batting) I was very pleased, very happy at the end of first 20 overs. I have been working hard over the last couple of years. I have been working with Abhishek Nayyar for a while, working on my white ball as well as red ball game. For now, the focus is the IPL. But it was about trying to catchup with the demands of the white ball game. I was happy to help my team get to what. thought was a winning total"
(On what exactly has he worked on?)It is about stepping back a little bit and seeing where T20 cricket has gone. Watching the T20 World Cup and watching some young guys smash it from the first ball, I had to work on my six hitting. There was a time that the T20 game was different. I could take some time as an opener. But now it is about maximising the powerplay.
(On when does he shift to attack mode) In T20 cricket, the mindset I am in is that there is no time to say 'later'. In ODI cricket, you can hold off for a couple of overs and attack at the back end. But in T20 cricket, there is not time for you to think that way. There are certain match-ups where I fall back to hitting boundaries and six hitting becomes the secondary option. But I have been telling myself that six-hitting is the way to go in this format."
(On what exactly has he worked on?)It is about stepping back a little bit and seeing where T20 cricket has gone. Watching the T20 World Cup and watching some young guys smash it from the first ball, I had to work on my six hitting. There was a time that the T20 game was different. I could take some time as an opener. But now it is about maximising the powerplay.
(On when does he shift to attack mode) In T20 cricket, the mindset I am in is that there is no time to say 'later'. In ODI cricket, you can hold off for a couple of overs and attack at the back end. But in T20 cricket, there is not time for you to think that way. There are certain match-ups where I fall back to hitting boundaries and six hitting becomes the secondary option. But I have been telling myself that six-hitting is the way to go in this format."
Most 100s in a losing cause in the IPL
3 - Virat Kohli, KL Rahul*
2 - Hashim Amla, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson
3 - Virat Kohli, KL Rahul*
2 - Hashim Amla, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson
Highest aggregates in an IPL match
549 – RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru, 2024
529 – DC vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026, Today*
528 – SRH vs RR, Hyderabad, 2025
549 – RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru, 2024
529 – DC vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026, Today*
528 – SRH vs RR, Hyderabad, 2025
529 runs. 49 fours. 33 sixes. A bazillion dropped catches. A scary injury that made us all wish and pray for Lungi Ngidi's good health. This afternoon had it all.
Despite a historic knock from KL Rahul, and his scintillating partnership with Nitish Rana, Delhi Capitals fall short in front of Shreyas Iyer's PBKS. Who can stop that juggernaut? That seems to be the million dollar question right now.
Of course, the Saturday showdown does not stop here. Switch tabs to tune into RR vs SRH, where Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is setting the world on fire. From here, this is Darpan Tikiya signing off on the behalf of Pritam Dey, Ajay Pal Singh, Ninaad Dixit, Aman, Paras Yadav and Manish Bishnoi. See you soon!
Despite a historic knock from KL Rahul, and his scintillating partnership with Nitish Rana, Delhi Capitals fall short in front of Shreyas Iyer's PBKS. Who can stop that juggernaut? That seems to be the million dollar question right now.
Of course, the Saturday showdown does not stop here. Switch tabs to tune into RR vs SRH, where Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is setting the world on fire. From here, this is Darpan Tikiya signing off on the behalf of Pritam Dey, Ajay Pal Singh, Ninaad Dixit, Aman, Paras Yadav and Manish Bishnoi. See you soon!