The Indian Premier League 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals began Thursday evening in Dharamsala following a rain delay that pushed the start time back by 15 minutes. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
The toss, originally scheduled for 8:00 p.m. IST, took place at 8:15 p.m. IST, with the first ball bowled at 8:30 p.m. IST. A drizzle had welcomed the teams earlier, but conditions improved sufficiently for the game to proceed without any overs being lost.
For Delhi Capitals, two changes were made to the playing eleven. Madhav Tiwari came in for legspinner Vipraj Nigam, marking Tiwari's IPL debut. Sameer Rizvi also replaced Karun Nair, who had struggled in recent games.
Punjab Kings opted for the same batting lineup as their previous match. Captain Shreyas Iyer stated the decision to bat first was influenced by the potential for a wet outfield initially. Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel indicated his team would have preferred to field, noting the advantage of chasing with possible rain around.
Both teams enter the match with playoff aspirations on the line. Punjab Kings held 15 points from 11 games entering the contest and could secure a playoff spot with a win. Delhi Capitals, with 13 points from 11 matches, needed victories in their remaining games to assure qualification, though their chances could still exist even with a loss.
Delhi Capitals has faced recent challenges, with three losses and a rain-affected no-result in their last five outings. The HPCA Stadium pitch is generally considered favorable for batting, offering an opportunity for batters to find form. Punjab Kings has demonstrated strong batting performances throughout the season, led by players like Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer. Read more about the playoff scenarios.
The weather forecast for the evening had included chances of mild drizzling alongside sunny periods and dark clouds hovering around the picturesque venue. Despite earlier rain, the match was able to start, providing hope for a full contest.
Delhi Capitals bowling attack includes pacers Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera along with spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Punjab Kings' bowling attack features Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, who has shown improved form.
Axar Patel commented on his team's mindset heading into the match. "We've spoken about how we've been in a competitive position despite playing some poor games," Axar said. "We've been speaking about the positives."
