Security personnel at the HPCA Stadium on the eve of the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, May 07, 2025.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
With the Indian Armed Forces striking terror targets across the border, and airlines halting operations in some parts of northern India till May 10, questions swirled around the fate of Punjab Kings’ home fixture against Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala.
However, even as the situation evolves, the game on Thursday, which will have major implications on the teams’ playoff chances, is set to go ahead as per schedule.
Despite sitting just a point shy of the table summit, the Shreyas Iyer-led Kings can’t afford a lazy recline heading into the final three encounters. The Capitals needed help from the heavens to eke out a point against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and will have to up their performance in the remaining games against three of the leading four teams.
Uncapped stars Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have given the host whirlwind starts in the PowerPlay this season, aggregating more than 750 runs together. Conversely, the Delhi-based side has been grappling for top-order contributions. All four batters who have opened the innings for the team have a below-30 average.
Punjab’s Arshdeep Singh will have another opportunity to display his prowess with the moving ball in a stadium with vast open pockets for wind to blow across. The early swing on offer will also please veteran pacer Mitchell Starc, who leads the wicket-taking charts for the Capitals (14).
Teams batting first have won four out of five encounters since the ground returned as the Kings’ second home after a ten-year hiatus. The 200-run mark has been scaled thrice during these contests. The Axar Patel-led side will hope it can replicate its 2023 performance, when it defended a score of 213, and inject some uncertainty into the playoff race.
Published – May 07, 2025 08:38 pm IST
Content Source: www.thehindu.com