The IPL 2026 rolls into the capital city this Saturday for one of the most exciting clashes of the season. Delhi Capitals (DC) are set to host the in-form Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi — a must-watch game with massive playoff implications on both sides.
DC are fighting for survival in the top four, while PBKS are chasing history as the only unbeaten team left in the tournament. It’s home pride vs momentum — and something has to give.
In this article, we have covered match prediction, toss insight, fantasy tips, and everything you need before the first ball on April 25.
Match Details At A Glance
Before getting into the numbers, here’s a quick summary of everything you need to know about this fixture.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Match Number | Match 35, IPL 2026 |
| Date | Saturday, April 25, 2026 |
| Time | 3:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| DC Captain | Axar Patel |
| PBKS Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
You can catch every ball live on JioHotstar or tune into Star Sports.
Where Both Teams Stand Right Now
The points table tells the real story here. One team is flying high, and the other is gasping for breath.
| Team | Position | Points | NRR | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 1st | 11 | +1.42 | W W W W W (NR) |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 5th | 6 | -0.13 | W L L W L |
PBKS have been the only unbeaten side this season, with 5 wins and 1 no-result in 6 matches. DC, on the other hand, have lost 3 of their last 4 games, including a heavy 47-run defeat to SRH. A loss tonight could effectively end Delhi’s playoff hopes.
DC vs PBKS Win Probability & Betting Odds
Punjab Kings enter this game as clear favourites across all major platforms. Their consistent run-scoring and settled team combination give them the edge on paper.
| Team | Win Probability |
|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | 45% |
| Punjab Kings | 55% |
Betting Platform Odds (in INR terms)
Odds are fairly consistent across platforms, confirming that the market sees PBKS as the stronger side tonight.
| Platform | DC Win Odds | PBKS Win Odds | Toss Odds (DC) | Toss Odds (PBKS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 2.4 | 1.58 | 1.88 | 1.88 |
| Stake | 2.35 | 1.62 | 1.9 | 1.85 |
| 4RABET | 2.25 | 1.65 | 1.88 | 1.9 |
| BetVibe | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.88 |
Safe Pick: Shreyas Iyer to score 25+ runs. The PBKS captain is averaging 52.00 this season — he’s been one of the most consistent batters in IPL 2026.
High-Risk Pick: Priyansh Arya to go big in the Powerplay. Coming off a 93-run blitz with a season strike rate of 248.23, he’s the most dangerous batter in the competition right now.
Toss Prediction — Who Wins & What Happens Next?
The toss is almost always a 50/50 flip, but at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, it matters more than usual. Both captains know this ground well.
Expected Decision: Bowl first. Chasing teams have a clear edge in Delhi because the pitch flattens out as the game progresses, and moderate dew in the evening can make batting easier. PBKS, in particular, are highly clinical while chasing, so Delhi would ideally want to bat first and put up a total.
Here’s the thing though — if DC win the toss and choose to bat, they actually take pressure off themselves. Set a target, let the bowlers do the job. But if PBKS call it right, expect them to field first without hesitation.
Pitch Report & Weather Conditions
The Arun Jaitley Stadium has traditionally been a batter’s paradise. Short square boundaries and a surface that tends to offer pace and carry early before flattening out completely by the second innings.
Pitch Details
- Surface: Batting-friendly. Short boundaries reward aggressive strokeplay.
- Pacers: Will rely on cutters and slower balls. Banging it in short is risky on this ground.
- Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal could get some purchase in the first innings.
- Expected Score: 190–215.
- Recent Average: 203.
Weather Forecast for April 25, 2026
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Hot and dry |
| Temperature | Low 30s°C |
| Humidity | Low (~15%) |
| Dew Factor | Moderate (evening) |
| Rain Chance | Very Low |
Expect players to sweat it out in the field — literally. The hot afternoon conditions make fielding the harder job, and that’s another reason why teams prefer to bat second and chase under lights.
DC vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record
This rivalry is one of the most evenly matched in IPL history. No clear home advantage, no lopsided record — just good cricket.
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 35 |
| DC Wins | 17 |
| PBKS Wins | 17 |
| No Result | 1 |
| DC Wins in Delhi | 6 |
| PBKS Wins in Delhi | 6 |
Interesting, right? Even at home, Delhi doesn’t have any statistical advantage over Punjab. The last completed meeting went DC’s way by 6 wickets, but PBKS are in a completely different form cycle this season compared to whenever that game was played.
Predicted Playing XI
Team selections can shift based on conditions and injury updates. These are the most likely XIs based on current squad form and roles.
Delhi Capitals (DC) Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathum Nissanka | Opener |
| 2 | KL Rahul (wk) | WK-Batter |
| 3 | Sameer Rizvi | Batter |
| 4 | Nitish Rana | Batter |
| 5 | Tristan Stubbs | Batter |
| 6 | Axar Patel (c) | All-rounder |
| 7 | David Miller | Finisher |
| 8 | Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner |
| 9 | Mukesh Kumar | Bowler |
| 10 | T Natarajan | Bowler |
| 11 | Lungi Ngidi | Bowler |
Impact Player Option: Karun Nair or Dushmantha Chameera. Sameer Rizvi and KL Rahul have both crossed 200 runs this season, so DC’s batting isn’t devoid of form — the problem is the middle order collapsing under pressure.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) | WK-Opener |
| 2 | Priyansh Arya | Opener |
| 3 | Cooper Connolly | Batter/All-rounder |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer (c) | Batter |
| 5 | Shashank Singh | Batter |
| 6 | Nehal Wadhera | Batter |
| 7 | Marcus Stoinis | All-rounder |
| 8 | Marco Jansen | All-rounder |
| 9 | Xavier Bartlett | Bowler |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
| 11 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Spinner |
Impact Player Option: Vijaykumar Vyshak. PBKS have four batters already above 200 runs this season — Prabhsimran (211), Connolly (223), Iyer (208), and Arya with an otherworldly strike rate of 248.23. That’s the kind of firepower DC’s bowlers have to face tonight.
Match Prediction — Tactical Breakdown
Let’s break down what happens depending on the toss and how both teams approach the game.
Scenario 1: If DC Bat First
DC will need KL Rahul to play a long anchor innings while Stubbs and Miller provide the explosiveness in the death overs. A total of 185–200 looks realistic. However, against PBKS’s batting lineup, anything under 200 might not be enough. Lungi Ngidi getting Arya early will be crucial.
Scenario 2: If PBKS Bat First
Punjab will target 210+ aggressively. Their top order — Arya, Prabhsimran, Connolly, and Iyer — can all go from ball one. DC’s death bowlers Natarajan and Mukesh will be under immense pressure in the 16–20 over phase. Axar Patel’s spin in the middle overs becomes the key weapon DC have to control the flow.
Key Battles to Watch
- Priyansh Arya vs Kuldeep Yadav: The wristy spinner against the most explosive batter in the tournament.
- Axar Patel vs Shreyas Iyer: Captain vs captain. Axar has dismissed Iyer before — expect this duel to matter.
- Arshdeep Singh vs KL Rahul: Arshdeep’s left-arm pace against DC’s most reliable anchor.
- Lungi Ngidi vs Priyansh Arya: If Ngidi can nail the early swinging delivery, DC have a chance.
Final Prediction — Who Wins DC vs PBKS?
Despite Delhi having home conditions in their favour, Punjab Kings are the favourites to win Match 35. The numbers, form, and momentum all point in PBKS’s direction. Their batting depth is simply too strong for DC’s inconsistent bowling attack on a small ground.
| Team | Win Probability | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | 45% | Home conditions, Axar Patel’s spin, deep batting |
| Punjab Kings | 55% | Unbeaten momentum, four 200+ run scorers, elite bowling |
Final Call: Punjab Kings to win and extend their unbeaten run in IPL 2026. Expect a high-scoring match with both teams crossing 180+ at minimum.
Fantasy Cricket Tips (Dream11)
Picking the right captain and vice-captain is where most fantasy battles are won and lost. Here’s what we’d suggest for Match 35 based on current form.
Captain Picks
- Shreyas Iyer: Averaging 52.00 this season. Safe, reliable, and captaining an in-form team. Best choice for low-risk teams.
- KL Rahul: Consistent performer for DC this season. Strong record at his home ground.
Vice-Captain Picks
- Priyansh Arya: High-risk, high-reward. His strike rate is the best in IPL 2026 — one good innings and your fantasy team is set.
- Axar Patel: Bat and bowl contribution guaranteed. Captaining the home side adds extra motivation.
Must-Have Players
- Cooper Connolly — 223 runs this season, reliable all-round contribution.
- Yuzvendra Chahal — Spinning conditions might suit him tonight.
- Sameer Rizvi — Budget pick with a solid recent knock of 41 runs.
- Vijaykumar Vyshak — Impact Player with match-winning potential.
Players to Avoid
- Extra pace bowlers — Small boundaries in Delhi hurt fast bowlers badly.
- Lower-order anchors — The pace of this game will not suit accumulation-based players.
Suggested Reads:
Conclusion
DC vs PBKS on April 25 is shaping up to be a cracker of a contest. Delhi are desperate, their backs are against the wall, and home advantage does count for something. But Punjab Kings are playing some of the best cricket in the tournament right now — their batting is relentless and their confidence seems unshakeable.
If Axar Patel can summon a special performance with both bat and ball, don’t count DC out entirely. But on current form, PBKS look like the team to beat, and tonight could be another step toward a historic unbeaten run through the entire league stage.
Check the live scorecard on JioHotstar and follow the IPL 2026 official website for real-time updates, squad news, and standings.
Kiran is a cricket analyst and writer with strong expertise in the Indian Premier League and modern cricket. He closely follows match situations, player performances, team strategies, and season trends to deliver clear and accurate insights. Passionate about the game, Kiran enjoys exploring emerging talents, tracking auction movements, and sharing timely updates related to IPL and competitive cricket.
