IPL 2026: PBKS vs DC Updates: Shreyas keeps Punjab's charge alive

Lungi Ngidi came into the attack and started with disciplined lines, as Shreyas Iyer opened the over cautiously, defending the first delivery before working one fine to deep leg for a single. Cooper Connolly then edged one safely down to third man for another run.

But Shreyas soon shifted gears. After a quiet restart to his innings, he picked his moment and launched a clean six -- Punjab Kings' first maximum since the early overs, breaking a long boundary drought and lifting the tempo instantly. He followed it up with a calm single, while Connolly had a narrow escape when a delivery just missed the leg stump.

Ngidi's over still went for 9 runs, with Punjab Kings reaching 125 for 2 after 12 overs.

Mukesh Kumar continued the attack, and Shreyas stayed busy -- rising on his toes to punch one into the square-leg region for a single. Connolly survived a close call as well, beaten on the outside edge. The batters kept things ticking with singles, before Shreyas finished the over in style, cutting away a boundary.

Another controlled over for Punjab Kings -- 8 runs from it, taking them to 133 for 2 after 13 overs, with Shreyas anchoring the innings and gradually rebuilding momentum.

Cooper Connolly walked in after the wicket, joining Shreyas Iyer at the crease with Mitchell Starc back into the attack. Starc began with a delivery that was mistimed in the air but landed safely, allowing Shreyas to collect a couple before working the next behind point for a single.

Starc's rhythm wavered briefly with back-to-back wides, and Connolly made him pay immediately -- cracking a confident boundary to get going. The over still ended with just 10 runs as Punjab Kings moved to 107 for 2 after 10 overs.

Madhav Tiwari continued his spell, and Connolly rotated strike smartly with a single early on. There was a bit of luck too, with a delivery slipping down leg after sticking in the hand and going down as a wide.

Shreyas Iyer then showed his class again, timing a clean boundary before taking a single to keep things moving. Connolly added another couple of runs through sharp placement, while Shreyas finished the over with a smooth drive to long-on.

Just a dot ball to end it, but Punjab Kings still added 9 runs from the 11th over, reaching 116 for 2 -- steady, controlled, and still building after Arya's earlier fireworks.

Auqib Nabi completed his spell with Priyansh Arya starting the over in control, nudging one away for a single. Then Shreyas Iyer took charge in style, cracking back-to-back boundaries to shift momentum straight back to Punjab Kings. He rotated strike after that, picking up singles and keeping the scoreboard moving as Punjab reached 88 for 1 after 8 overs.

The introduction of Madhav Tiwari brought a twist. Shreyas initially missed one, and even wicketkeeper KL Rahul fumbled a chance to give away extra runs. But Tiwari soon hit back. Arya tried to keep the momentum going with a boundary, but in the very next moment he went for another big shot and miscued it.

Sahil Parakh held on safely at deep point, giving Tiwari his maiden IPL wicket -- and a big one too, as Arya walked back after a superb 56 off 33 balls. A well-set batter gone just when Punjab looked set for a surge.

Despite the breakthrough, Punjab still added 9 runs in the over, finishing the 9th at 97 for 2, with Delhi Capitals slowly clawing their way back into the contest.

Delhi Capitals used the timeout wisely, slowing down the early surge and pulling things back after a frantic start. Mukesh Kumar continued the attack, and this time it was much tighter from DC.

Prabhsimran Singh managed a couple of runs early in the over with a neat flick to square of the wicket, but Mukesh soon found his rhythm. A bouncer flew over Prabhsimran for a wide, and the batter then tried to force one but couldn't connect cleanly. He was beaten on the next delivery as well, with DC building pressure ball by ball.

After a brief exchange of singles, the breakthrough finally arrived. Prabhsimran's struggle ended when he mistimed one and was caught by Auqib Nabi, departing for 18 off 15 balls. A timely wicket for Delhi Capitals, just when they needed to break the opening stand.

Shreyas Iyer walked in as the new batter but had no time to settle -- Mukesh finished the over with a sharp delivery that beat him as well. Just 6 runs and a wicket from the over, and after 7 overs Punjab Kings are 78 for 1, with a brief sense that DC have managed to claw things back.

Auqib Nabi continued his spell, but the pressure only kept building. Priyansh Arya opened the over with a soft push to point for a single, before Prabhsimran Singh released the pressure in style -- lofting one over the fence for four. Nabi then overstepped again, giving Punjab another free hit.


On the free hit, Prabhsimran went for the big shot across the line but missed completely. He recovered with a single next ball, while Arya tried to drive and was beaten all ends up -- lucky to keep his stumps intact. The over ended quietly after a single, but Punjab still added 8 runs, reaching 59 without loss after 4 overs.


A change of bat for Arya seemed to do the trick. When Mukesh Kumar came into the attack, Arya immediately answered with a towering six. Whatever the change, it clearly didn't slow him down. He then rotated strike smartly before Prabhsimran was involved in a lucky edge that ran past wicketkeeper KL Rahul for four. Punjab raced to 70 without loss after 5 overs.


Nabi returned for his third, and Arya calmly nudged one to mid-on to bring up a blazing fifty off just 24 balls -- his fifth IPL half-century. Prabhsimran added a single, but Arya was beaten again in the over as the bowlers finally tightened things slightly. Only 2 runs came from it, taking Punjab Kings to 72 without loss after 6 overs -- still firmly in control despite the brief squeeze.

Auqib Nabi came in from the other end, but the momentum didn't slow down one bit. Priyansh Arya looked in complete control -- even when he was beaten, the ball somehow kept finding the boundary. One top-edge still sailed over the ropes for six, and when he was dropped in the deep with Axar Patel running back, Punjab were handed another lifeline.

There was also drama with a no-ball after Arya was beaten by a good-length delivery, adding free runs to the tally. The batters rotated strike smartly for the rest of the over, finishing it strongly. Punjab Kings raced to 34 without loss after 2 overs.

Then came Lungi Ngidi into the attack -- and Arya only got more aggressive. He launched two huge sixes in no time, showing complete disdain for the bowling. Even a dipping slower yorker was met with authority, before he carved out a clean boundary.

Prabhsimran Singh played his part too, adding a single and then timing a straight drive to mid-off for no run.

After just 3 overs, Punjab Kings were flying at 51 without loss -- a blazing start with Arya leading the charge.

Here are the playing XIs

Time for the toss in Dharamsala. Shreyas Iyer flips the coin, Axar Patel calls correctly, and it lands tails. 

Punjab Kings will look to halt their slide in the IPL season when they take on Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on Monday.