PBKS chased down 264 runs against DC and created a new IPL and T20 record.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) handed Delhi Capitals (DC) one of the most humiliating losses as they chased down 264 runs in the IPL 2026 game when they met in Delhi on April 25. It was not only that bowling failed for DC, but their fielding was also very poor.
The spotlight was on Delhi Capitals (DC) Karun Nair, who endured a difficult outing in the field, dropping Shreyas Iyer twice in the space of four balls, errors that proved decisive in the context of the game.
Iyer went on to make 71* in 36 balls with 7 sixes and 3 fours, leading PBKS to a scintillating win over DC.
Karun dropped Iyer the first time in the 15th over, bowled by Vipraj Nigam, letting go of a very easy catch as Iyer had skied the ball straight up. Then four balls later, Kuldeep Yadav deceived Iyer with a googly and Iyer top-edged the ball, but Nair spilled the catch despite getting in position early.
Former India cricketer R Ashwin supported Karun Nair and offered a measured perspective on his struggles.
"Let me tell you about Karun Nair’s situation. When a player knows they aren't in the playing XI, they usually find out at least a day in advance. Players who are dropped or rested often hit the gym or do extra training on match days to stay fit, knowing the next day might be a travel day with late-night flights and limited practice time.
So, maybe Karun Nair was mentally "switched off"—though that’s probably the wrong word—but he might have been fatigued from training. I’m not making excuses, but for a substitute to suddenly step into the intensity of the game, these things can happen,'' Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"He dropped one catch, and his confidence just plummeted after that. Karun is actually a fabulous fielder; I’ve seen him be very reliable in first-class and red-ball cricket, especially in close-in positions. I’ve rarely seen him drop catches like that, but today was just one of those days," Ashwin added.
DC will be in action on April 27, when they host Royal Challengers Bengaluru, another team with a brilliant batting lineup.