PBKS Create IPL History by Chasing 265 Against DC Under Shreyas Iyer’s Leadership
Indian Premier League
Arun Jaitley Stadium • Delhi
Delhi Capitals
264/2
(20)
Final
Today
265/4
(18.5)
Punjab Kings
PBKS won by 6 wickets
Recap Scorecard Commentary Runs
Top Batters
R
B
4s
6s
SR
KL Rahul
(DC)
152
67
16
9
226.87
Nitish Rana
(DC)
91
44
11
4
206.82
Top Bowlers
O
M
R
W
Econ
Kuldeep Singh Yadav
(DC)
4
0
46
2
11.5
Axar Patel
(DC)
4
0
44
1
11
Punjab Kings Create IPL History With Record 265-Run Chase Against Delhi Capitals
New Delhi, April 25, 2026: Punjab Kings produced one of the most extraordinary wins in Indian Premier League history as they chased down a massive 265-run target against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. In a match packed with records, dropped catches, brutal batting and dramatic momentum shifts, Shreyas Iyer’s side defeated Delhi Capitals by six wickets with seven balls remaining.
The result became historic because Punjab Kings completed the highest successful run chase in IPL history, surpassing their own previous record of 261 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. What looked like an almost impossible target at the halfway stage turned into a stunning show of fearless T20 batting from Punjab’s top and middle order.
Delhi Capitals had earlier posted a gigantic total of 264 for 2 after choosing to bat first. KL Rahul played one of the greatest innings ever seen in the IPL, smashing an unbeaten 152 off just 67 balls. His knock included 16 fours and nine sixes. It was also the highest individual score by an Indian batter in IPL history. Rahul became the first Indian to cross 150 in an IPL innings, placing himself behind only Chris Gayle’s 175 not out and Brendon McCullum’s 158 in the tournament’s all-time list.
Rahul was well supported by Nitish Rana, who scored a powerful 91 off 44 balls. Rana’s innings included 11 fours and four sixes. Together, Rahul and Rana added 220 runs for the second wicket in just 95 balls, completely dominating Punjab’s bowling attack. At that stage, Delhi seemed to have taken complete control of the match.
However, Punjab Kings responded in unbelievable fashion. Their chase began explosively, with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh attacking from the very first over. Prabhsimran was especially destructive, racing to a half-century in only 18 balls. He smashed six fours in one over and helped Punjab reach 116 runs in the Powerplay without losing a wicket.
Prabhsimran eventually fell for 76 off 26 balls, while Priyansh Arya scored 43 off 17 deliveries. Even after Delhi picked up quick wickets through Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, Punjab did not lose control of the chase. Shreyas Iyer then took charge in the middle overs and kept the required run rate under control.
Delhi had several chances to turn the match around, but their fielding let them down badly. KL Rahul had also been dropped early during Delhi’s innings, and Punjab suffered similar luck later when Shreyas Iyer was dropped more than once. Karun Nair missed two important catches of Iyer, and those errors proved very costly.
One of the most concerning moments of the game came when Delhi Capitals pacer Lungi Ngidi suffered a serious injury while attempting a catch. He fell awkwardly and hit the back of his head on the ground. The medical team attended to him before he was stretchered off and taken away for further treatment. Dushmantha Chameera came in as a concussion substitute.
Despite the injury break and the pressure of a huge target, Punjab continued to bat with confidence. Shreyas Iyer reached his half-century during a crucial phase of the chase and attacked Kuldeep Yadav in a game-changing over. With Shashank Singh and other finishers still available, Punjab always looked capable of completing the chase once they crossed 200.
By the final few overs, the match had slipped away from Delhi Capitals. Punjab needed 23 runs from 18 balls after another expensive over from T Natarajan. They completed the chase in 18.5 overs, reaching 265 for 4 and sealing a six-wicket victory.
This match will be remembered not only for Punjab’s record chase but also for KL Rahul’s historic innings. Usually, a team scoring 264 in a T20 match expects to win comfortably. But Punjab Kings turned the contest into a reminder of how unpredictable modern T20 cricket has become.
For Delhi Capitals, the defeat will be painful. They had two outstanding batting performances from Rahul and Rana, but poor fielding, missed catches and expensive bowling in the Powerplay cost them the game. For Punjab Kings, the win strengthens their unbeaten run in IPL 2026 and confirms them as one of the most dangerous batting sides of the season.
