Punjab Kings Aim for Top-Two Finish Against Delhi Capitals in IPL Showdown

The Punjab Kings are on the brink of achieving their first top-two finish in 11 years as they prepare to take on the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. With a strong squad bolstered by key overseas players, PBKS is determined to capitalize on their recent success. Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals are looking to end their disappointing season on a high note. This match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for crucial points. Will PBKS secure their spot in the finals, or can Delhi turn their fortunes around? Read on for more insights.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 23, 2025, 13:33 IST

Punjab Kings Set for Crucial Clash

After enduring a challenging decade, the Punjab Kings are riding high on success and are eager to secure their first top-two finish in 11 years as they prepare to face the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League this Saturday.

Aside from their remarkable 2014 season, where they topped the league and finished as runners-up, PBKS has only made one other playoff appearance in the 18-year history of the tournament.

Having recently ended an 11-year playoff drought, the team is now not only aiming for a top-two finish but also looking to reach the final and vie for their first title.

The squad, filled with confidence, has been further strengthened by the arrival of their overseas players—Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, and Kyle Jamieson—who joined their talented Indian teammates in the Pink City just three days ago.

All four players are available for selection as PBKS seeks to secure a top-two finish against a struggling Delhi Capitals team, which was eliminated from playoff contention following a heavy loss to the Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.

These international players had previously left the team when the BCCI suspended the tournament for a week due to military tensions between India and Pakistan, which resulted in the abandonment of their match in Dharamsala on May 8 after just 10.1 overs.

The PBKS management acted swiftly to reinstate their overseas contingent after the tournament resumed, and the team now appears determined to overcome the disappointments of previous years in this popular event.

Captain Shreyas Iyer, who recently made history by being the first captain to lead three franchises to IPL playoffs, has been pivotal to their success. For PBKS to achieve their goals, Iyer must maintain his impressive form in the upcoming matches.

Before his successful stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders last year, Iyer led the Delhi Capitals to the playoffs in both 2019 and 2020, including their only final appearance in 2020.

Currently, he ranks as the second-highest run-scorer this season with 435 runs in 12 matches and is eager to add to his tally.

Thanks to standout performances from players like Prabhsimran Singh (458 runs), Priyansh Arya (356 runs), Arshdeep Singh (11 wickets), and Yuzvendra Chahal (13 wickets), PBKS has emerged as the most consistent team this season, amassing 17 points from 12 matches and securing a playoff spot with two games remaining.

On the other hand, the Delhi Capitals have had opportunities this season but have struggled with inconsistent scoring in the powerplay and the absence of their leading pacer, Mitchell Starc, which has negatively affected their chances.

They will aim to conclude their disappointing season on a positive note, but facing a formidable opponent like PBKS will be a significant challenge.

Teams:

Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer ©, Arshdeep Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Azmatullah Omarzai, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Aaron Hardie, Harnoor Singh, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis, Kyle Jamieson, Marco Jansen, Musheer Khan, Mitchell Owen, Prabhsimran Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Nehal Wadhera, Yash Thakur.

Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel ©, Mustafizur Rahman, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Sameer Rizvi, Darshan Nalkande, Tripurana Vijay, Dushmantha Chameera, Faf du Plessis, T Natarajan, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari.

Match starts at 7:30 PM