Delhi Capitals take on Punjab Kings in Match 35 of IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, April 25.
Punjab Kings enter this match as the clear favorites, and for good reason. PBKS are the only unbeaten team in IPL 2026 history through six games, sitting at the top of the points table with five wins and a washout, collecting 11 points. Delhi Capitals, captained by Axar Patel, sit fifth with three wins and three losses in six games, picking up six points.
DC are coming into this game on the back of a 47-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Abhishek Sharma’s 135* completely blew their bowling away. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, are riding a wave of momentum that has made them the most feared batting side in this edition of the IPL. Their last outing saw them chase down 254 against Lucknow Super Giants, and before that, a 220-run chase against SRH with ease.
The subplot of Shreyas Iyer facing his former franchise adds a personal edge to what is already a high-voltage fixture.
DC vs PBKS Match 35 Direct Odds
PBKS are heavy favorites coming into this game. Their unbeaten record, a top order that has terrorized every bowling attack this season, and an NRR of +1.420, the best in the tournament, all point in their direction.
| Team | Win Probability | Decimal Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | 40–45% | 2.10 – 2.30 |
| Punjab Kings | 55–60% | 1.70 – 1.85 |
DC are backed in the 2.10–2.30 range, with their home advantage, a strong spin attack led by Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, and the advantage of knowing this pitch better than most. A competitive DC side at Arun Jaitley is never easy to beat.
PBKS are favorites at 1.70–1.85. Their opening pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh has been devastating in the powerplay throughout this season. Arya scored a 16-ball fifty in their last match. Shreyas Iyer has provided solidity in the middle. Their bowling, led by Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, gives them the tools to defend or chase on any surface.
DC vs PBKS Match 35 Info Table
| Match | Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings |
|---|---|
| Match Number | IPL 2026 Match 35 |
| Date & Time | Saturday, April 25, 2026, 3:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| DC Captain | Axar Patel |
| PBKS Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar App & Website |
| TV Telecast | Star Sports Network |
| Points Table | DC: 5th (6 pts, 3W–3L) / PBKS: 1st (11 pts, 5W–0L–1NR) |
DC vs PBKS Toss Prediction Odds
The Arun Jaitley Stadium has transformed into one of the most batting-friendly venues in recent IPL seasons. The square boundaries of 60–65 meters leave very little room for error from bowlers. The pitch has moved away from its old slow-and-low reputation and now offers true, consistent bounce that allows batters to play their shots confidently.
This match has a 3:30 PM IST start, which is an afternoon game rather than an evening one. Dew is less of a factor at this time of day compared to night games. The surface in the afternoon can be firmer and offer slightly more to seamers early on, but it flattens out quickly as the innings progress.
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Average First Innings Score (Arun Jaitley, recent IPL) | ~170–190 |
| Surface Character | Flat, true bounce, short boundaries |
| Dew Factor | Low impact, afternoon start |
| Seam Movement | Useful in the first 4–5 overs only |
| Spinner Influence | Moderate in both innings |
| Weather Forecast | Warm, ~30–36°C; no rain expected |
| Expected Toss Decision | Likely to bat first (afternoon conditions) |
Toss Prediction: With an afternoon start, reducing the dew factor significantly, this toss is less predictable than an evening game. The surface tends to behave well throughout both innings under afternoon conditions. Both captains may lean toward batting first to post a target, which is less common at this venue in evening games. In IPL 2025, teams batting first at Arun Jaitley won four of seven matches. An afternoon pitch at Delhi is a different beast from an evening one, expect at least one captain to consider setting a total.
DC vs PBKS Players Odds
Every individual duel in this game carries weight. Arshdeep Singh versus KL Rahul, a battle that has already played out multiple times in IPL history. Yuzvendra Chahal versus Axar Patel, two players who know each other’s games inside out from the India camps. Kuldeep Yadav versus Shreyas Iyer, a left-arm wrist spin matchup that could be the difference in the middle overs. These contests will settle the game before the death overs arrive.
Delhi Capitals Key Players
| Player | Role | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | Wicketkeeper / Opening Batsman | Rahul has been DC’s most consistent batter this season, scoring two half-centuries, including a crucial 57 in the win over RCB. He averages 71.1 and strikes at 144 against RCB, and brings similar composure at home. |
| Axar Patel | Captain / Left-arm Spinner / Batsman | Axar has been DC’s most impactful all-rounder this season. He took two wickets against RCB and scored a key 24 to stabilize the chase. |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Wrist Spinner | Kuldeep took two wickets in the win over RCB and has been DC’s most threatening spinner this season. Against a PBKS middle order that relies on big hitting from Cooper Connolly and Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep’s variations at a venue where spinners have bowled at 9.55 runs per over could prove decisive. |
| Tristan Stubbs | Middle-Order Batsman | Stubbs scored an unbeaten 60 in the RCB win and has been DC’s most reliable finisher. When DC’s top order runs into trouble. |
| Mitchell Starc | Pacer | One of the most dangerous new-ball bowlers in T20 cricket, Starc can swing the ball early and take wickets in the powerplay. Against an aggressive PBKS opening pair, a wicket in the first over changes the entire complexion of the innings. |
Punjab Kings Key Players
| Player | Role | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Priyansh Arya | Opening Batsman | The most destructive powerplay batter in IPL 2026. Arya scored a 16-ball fifty against SRH and a 20-ball 57 in that same match before being dismissed. He has hit the joint second-fastest fifty for PBKS. |
| Shreyas Iyer | Captain / Middle-Order Batsman | Iyer has scored 208 runs in five games with three half-centuries in IPL 2026. He returned to his former franchise today armed with runs and confidence. His unbeaten 69 against SRH showed his ability to finish off chases under pressure. |
| Arshdeep Singh | Lead Pacer | PBKS’s best new-ball option and one of the most skilled left-arm pacers in T20 cricket. Arshdeep’s ability to swing the ball and bowl yorkers at the death makes him a threat in all phases. |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | Leg Spinner | Chahal has been in fine form for PBKS this season, picking up regular wickets in the middle overs with his leg-spin and googlies. On an Arun Jaitley surface that aids spinners moderately. |
| Prabhsimran Singh | Opening Wicketkeeper / Batsman | Prabhsimran scored a 24-ball fifty against SRH and combined with Arya for a 93-run opening stand. |
Player to Watch: Priyansh Arya versus Mitchell Starc is the individual battle that defines how this game plays out in the powerplay. Starc has the pace and swing to trouble even the most aggressive openers. Arya, though, has shown no fear against quality fast bowling this season. He took on Arshdeep Singh himself in the last match and dominated. If Starc dismisses Arya early, PBKS lose their primary source of explosive runs in the first six overs. If Arya gets going against Starc, Delhi’s entire bowling plan unravels at a ground with short square boundaries.
DC vs PBKS Match Prediction — Who Will Win
Punjab Kings are predicted to win this encounter.
PBKS are the form team of this IPL season by a significant margin. Five wins from five completed matches, an NRR of +1.420, and a batting lineup that has chased down totals of 220 and 254 in recent weeks. No team in this season has come close to matching their consistency.
That said, the Delhi Capitals are a difficult team to beat at Arun Jaitley. They have home conditions and a spin combination that can exploit any surface offering turn. DC’s win over RCB at Bengaluru showed that they can pull off tough chases, and their bowling attack is more disciplined than most teams PBKS have faced.
Why PBKS Holds the Edge
PBKS’s opening partnership is the most dangerous in this IPL season. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have set up every single PBKS win with aggressive powerplay batting. At a venue with short square boundaries, their pull shots and sweeps will find the gaps even more comfortably than at other grounds. DC’s best chance is to remove both of them in the first six overs, and that is not easy to do.
Shreyas Iyer returning to face DC adds to the narrative, but more importantly, he adds to the result. His record against DC in IPL is strong, and his unbeaten cameos have closed out three games this season. A middle-order anchor is exactly what PBKS need when Arya and Prabhsimran inevitably perish after blazing starts.
Yuzvendra Chahal is a spinning threat that DC have not faced yet this season. DC’s batters are used to Axar and Kuldeep, but Chahal’s leg-break trajectories are different from both. At a venue where spinners have been effective in both innings this season, Chahal could disrupt DC’s middle-order batting badly.
DC’s Challenges
DC’s top order has been inconsistent. Three wins from six games is a modest record for a side with batting talent like KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, and David Miller. When the powerplay goes poorly, DC has struggled to recover. Against Arshdeep Singh on a pitch with morning freshness, this concern becomes even more relevant.
The afternoon conditions at Arun Jaitley slightly neutralize DC’s spin advantage. Kuldeep and Axar are most effective under lights when the dew is absent and the ball grips. In afternoon heat, the pitch behaves differently; it stays truer and allows batters to play the spinners more confidently. PBKS’s experienced batting lineup knows how to take on quality spin in these conditions.
DC have only won 26 of 57 IPL matches at their home ground. A 45% win rate at home is not the fortress-like record that teams like RCB or CSK have historically enjoyed at their venues. PBKS will not be intimidated by this ground.
DC vs PBKS Head to Head (Overall Head to Head Data)
DC and PBKS have faced each other 35 times in the IPL, with DC winning 17 matches and PBKS securing 17 victories, and one match ending without a result. It is one of the most perfectly balanced rivalries in IPL history, and no team has managed to build lasting dominance over the other.
DC’s highest team total in this fixture stands at 231, while PBKS’s best is 206. The rivalry has produced some of the most unpredictable results in the tournament; teams that look comfortable in the first innings have been undone in the second, and vice versa.
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 35 |
| DC Wins | 17 |
| PBKS Wins | 17 |
| No Result | 1 |
| DC Highest Total in Rivalry | 231 |
| PBKS’s Highest Total in Rivalry | 206 |
| Most Recent Meeting (IPL 2025) | DC won by 6 wickets |
| PBKS Best IPL 2026 Season Record | 5W–0L–1NR (11 pts, NRR +1.420) |
In their most recent IPL 2025 encounter, DC chased down PBKS’s 206 with six wickets and three balls to spare. The pattern of close games, successful chases, and unpredictable results runs through this rivalry at every level. No team ever runs away with it, it always goes to the wire.
The perfectly level head-to-head record means the form coming into this game matters more than history. And in that context, PBKS are far ahead of where DC currently sit.
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Final Verdict
DC vs PBKS Match 35 at Arun Jaitley is a contest between a home team fighting to stay in the top four and the most in-form side in this IPL season.
PBKS hold the advantage because their batting lineup is operating at a level none of their opponents have handled so far. Their opening partnership is historically good, their captain is scoring runs consistently, and their bowling has enough variety to stay competitive on any surface. They have not lost a game all season, and nothing about DC’s current form suggests they can change that.
Expect a high-scoring afternoon game with both teams pushing above 180. A par score at Arun Jaitley in an afternoon match sits around 170–190. The team batting first needs to make use of the firmer pitch and set a total that the spinners can defend. The team chasing will back their power hitters to accelerate once they get their eye in, especially as the pitch flattens further in the second innings. Back PBKS to maintain their unbeaten record, with the caution that DC at home with quality spin is always capable of pulling off an upset.
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