DC chased down the target of 211 set by PBKS with one over to spare.
Delhi Capitals (DC) secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Dharamsala on Monday (May 11), successfully chasing down a massive 211-run target with one over to spare.
Despite a 78-run opening stand between Priyansh Arya (56 off 33) and Prabhsimran Singh (18) and a half-century from Shreyas Iyer (59 off 36), PBKS's 210/5 was surpassed, largely thanks to explosive contributions from David Miller (51 off 28) and skipper Axar Patel (56 off 30).
Ashutosh Sharma (24 off 10), Madhav Tiwari (18* off 8) and Auqib Nabi Dar (10* off 2) provided the finishing touch as DC kept their slim IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive.
Speaking after the match, Axar emphasized that DC had been losing "crucial moments" in previous games but managed to win them in this match.
“Obviously, like I’ve been saying from the last few games, the main issue was losing those crucial moments. Whenever the key phases of the game came, we were ending up on the wrong side of them. Even then, I kept saying that this is a very good team and we are playing good cricket. It’s just that one or two moments in games cost us. But that happens in a long tournament. Every day is different. So yes, very happy with the way the team played today and hopefully we can continue like this,” Axar said at the post-match presentation.
Axar called the middle-over bowling from Mukesh Kumar and Madhav Tiwari as turning point in the match after a blazing start from the PBKS openers. He also acknowledged the 64-run partnership between him and Miller.
“I think the first 3-4 overs with the ball we went for 60 runs. In the middle overs, the way Mukesh Kumar and Madhav Tiwari bowled reminded me a bit of the Rajasthan game and I think that became a big moment. Then with the bat, the partnership between me and David Miller settled things down, and after that the youngsters like Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav finished the game beautifully,” Axar added.
The DC captain decided against bowling himself because the pitch was aiding fast bowlers after the initial overs. He kept a backup plan to bowl himself if Madhav had gone for runs, but deemed it unnecessary as the pacers were finding success.
“The wicket was behaving differently today. After the first few overs, especially when Auqib Nabi bowled, I felt the ball was swinging and seaming as well. We probably didn’t hit the right areas in the first 3-4 overs, but once we realised there was assistance for the fast bowlers, I felt there wasn’t much need for spin. Even when I gave extra overs to Madhav and Auqib, something was happening with the ball. So I thought if the pacers are getting help, then I should continue using them instead of bringing myself on.
“(You might have had to bowl if Madhav had gone for runs?) Obviously, as a captain you always keep backup plans ready. If Madhav had gone for runs in the first or second over, then maybe you would’ve seen me bowling. But whatever happened, happened for the good,” he explained.
Reflecting on his knock, Axar stressed that he had the same mindset throughout the season while also acknowledging a bit of luck and a dropped catch helped him in this game.
“Honestly I’ve been going in with the same mindset even before this innings. Today it just clicked. You go through phases in cricket, but what’s important is continuing to do the same things consistently. Even today, I just trusted my process. I had a bit of luck too - maybe earlier in the season those catches would’ve been taken. But today luck favoured me and there was a drop catch, the runs came,” he remarked.
Axar Patel expressed confidence in the team's future, highlighting the positive contribution of young talent.
“The way the wicket played and the kind of players we have, our bench strength is very strong. I think the future is very exciting for Delhi Capitals. The way these youngsters are stepping up in big moments gives a captain a lot of confidence. I had said earlier too that these players can contribute in multiple ways - batting, fielding, energy on the field. And when young players stand up like this under pressure, it’s a very good sign for the team,” he concluded.