Dharamsala erupted in sheer pandemonium as Delhi Capitals scripted one of the most audacious come-from-behind victories in recent IPL history, hunting down Punjab Kings’ imposing 210 for 5 with three wickets and an over to spare.
What started as a stuttering chase turned into a masterclass in controlled aggression, with DC racing to 216 for 7 in just 19 overs — the highest successful run chase ever recorded at this scenic Himachal Pradesh venue.
Punjab Kings had every reason to feel confident after posting a formidable total. Priyansh Arya set the tone with a blistering 56 off 33 balls, peppering the boundary with six towering sixes.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer played the perfect anchor, remaining unbeaten on 59 off 36 deliveries, while Cooper Connolly’s handy 38 and Suryansh Shedge’s late fireworks pushed the score past 200. The 17 extras conceded by Delhi only added salt to the wound for the bowling side.
Yet Delhi refused to lie down. The chase got off to a nightmare start — 33 for 3 inside five overs — but Axar Patel flipped the script with a commanding 56 off just 30 balls, launching the counterattack with clean striking and smart rotation. David Miller then brought his trademark power to the party, smashing an unbeaten 51 off 28 deliveries that kept the asking rate firmly under control even as wickets tumbled around him.
Ashutosh Sharma injected explosive late momentum with a quickfire 24 off 10, before Madhav Tiwari and Auqib Nabi held their nerve to finish the job in style. The duo ensured Delhi surged past the 200-mark in the 19th over and crossed the line with six balls to spare, maintaining a staggering run rate of over 11 an over throughout the second half of the innings.
The win not only breathed fresh life into Delhi Capitals’ playoff campaign but also served a stern reminder that no total is safe when this batting unit finds its rhythm.
