Jaipur, May 24 – In a nail-biting clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Delhi Capitals wrapped up their IPL 2025 campaign in style by defeating Punjab Kings by six wickets in Match 66. While Delhi bows out of the tournament with a morale-boosting win, the loss has severely dented Punjab’s chances of securing a top-four finish for the playoffs.
Punjab Posts Competitive 206, Thanks to Stoinis’ Blitz
After being put in to bat by DC, Punjab Kings got off to a shaky start with opener Priyansh Arya falling for just 6. However, a solid 47-run stand between Josh Inglis (32) and Prabhsimran Singh (28) helped steady the innings. Both were dismissed in quick succession by left-arm spinner Viparj Nigam, who impressed with a double breakthrough.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer anchored the middle order with a well-crafted 53 off 34 balls, but found little support from the other end as Punjab’s middle order faltered again. In the final overs, Marcus Stoinis turned the tide with a power-packed 41* off just 16 balls, pushing Punjab to a respectable total of 206/7.
Delhi’s bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance. Mustafizur Rahman led the attack with three wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Viparj Nigam chipped in with two wickets apiece. Mukesh Kumar picked up one wicket as well.
DC’s Batting Lineup Fires to Chase Down 207
Chasing a steep target of 207, Delhi got off to a strong start with captain Faf du Plessis and KL Rahul putting together 55 runs for the opening wicket. Rahul made 35 before falling, followed by Du Plessis, who was dismissed for 23.
Debutant Sedikullah Atal made a quick impact, scoring 22 runs off 16 balls, including two sixes. The middle order then took control, with Sameer Rizvi and Karun Nair adding a crucial 62-run partnership. Nair narrowly missed a half-century, scoring 44 off 27 balls.
With 22 runs needed off the final two overs, Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs launched a calculated assault. Arshdeep Singh conceded 18 runs in the 19th over, effectively sealing Punjab’s fate. DC chased down the target with three balls to spare, finishing at 210/4.
Sameer Rizvi emerged as the standout performer, remaining unbeaten on 58 from just 25 balls, while Stubbs provided excellent support with a steady 18* off 14 deliveries.
Punjab’s Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy
Harpreet Brar was the pick of the Punjab bowlers with two wickets. Marco Jansen and Praveen Dubey took one each, but the bowling lacked bite in the final overs.
With this defeat, Punjab Kings now face an uphill battle to stay in playoff contention, needing other results to go their way.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.