Delhi Daredevils restricted the lethal Kings XI Punjab batting line-up to 143/8 courtesy a superb performance from their pace bowlers.
But Delhi's top order fared no better.
The turning point proved to be the first 6 overs of the powerplay in which Delhi lost 3 big wickets.
Young Prithvi Shaw got Delhi off to a flier with a quickfire 22 from 10 balls.
But Punjab fast bowler Ankit Rajpoot left Delhi reeling with the wickets of Shaw and Glenn Maxwell (12) in successive overs.
Gautam Gambhir perished to Andrew Tye for 4 to leave his team in trouble on 42/3 in the 6th over.
Delhi struggled to get going and it was only some late hitting by Shreyas Iyer (57 from 45 balls) that revived their hopes at the end.
Eventually, Delhi lost by 4 runs to suffer their 5th defeat in 6 games.
When Sachin took on Pakistan
Sachin's most special birthday
Who are the Paisa Vasool players at IPL-11?
IPL MVPI: Shane Watson zooms to the top
Turning Point: Amazing Rayudu and Raina