TATA IPL 2026, DC vs PBKS: Punjab achieved the largest chase in T20 history, as Delhi, despite scoring 264 runs, lost by 6 wickets.

Delhi : Punjab Kings scripted history at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, pulling off the highest successful run chase in IPL history to defeat Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in Match 35 of TATA IPL 2026, chasing down a staggering 265 with seven balls to spare.
Asked to bat first, DC produced what looked like a match-winning total. Their innings was headlined by a breathtaking knock from KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 152, anchoring a dominant batting effort. He found strong support from Nitish Rana (91 off 44 balls) as the duo stitched together a 220-run partnership that laid the foundation for DC’s imposing 264/2 in 20 overs.

Delhi were relentless right through the innings. The powerplay set the tone, the middle overs consolidated without losing momentum, and the death overs saw another surge as PBKS’ bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs. At 264/2, DC had seemingly batted PBKS out of the contest.
But Punjab Kings had other ideas. They came out with extraordinary intent, refusing to be intimidated by the steep target. The openers set the tone for what would become a record-breaking chase. Prabhsimran Singh led the charge with a blistering 76 off just 26 balls, taking the attack to DC from the outset, while Priyansh Arya complemented him with a rapid 43 off 17. The duo finished the powerplay at 116/0 – the second-highest powerplay score in the tournament’s history. The aggressive start ensured PBKS stayed ahead of the asking rate, turning scoreboard pressure back onto DC. Even as wickets fell at intervals, the intent never wavered. The middle order kept the momentum alive, ensuring the required rate never spiralled out of control.

The chase was defined by sustained attacking cricket rather than a single late surge. Boundaries came consistently, and PBKS capitalised on anything loose from the DC bowlers, who struggled to find control in the face of relentless pressure. As the innings entered its final phase, PBKS needed composure to go with their aggression—and they delivered. Smart strike rotation, coupled with timely big hits, brought the equation down steadily. The skipper Shreyas Iyer finished with another half-century in a run chase this season, amassing an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls.

Eventually, Punjab Kings crossed the finish line at 265/4 in 18.5 overs, sealing a famous victory with seven balls to spare and rewriting the IPL record books. For DC, it was a bitter pill to swallow. A total of 264/2 would win most T20 games comfortably, but their inability to hold on to their catches or stem the run flow proved costly on a night dominated by batting.

This remarkable chase now stands as the highest ever successfully achieved in IPL history, underlining Punjab Kings’ fearless approach and marking one of the most unforgettable games the tournament has witnessed.

KL Rahul (Player of the Match):
“It feels really good to contribute to the team and be part of a winning performance. I tried to assess the conditions early, stay clear in my approach and build the innings according to what the game demanded. The focus was on making the most of the powerplay and keeping the momentum going through partnerships. Credit goes to the team for the support and the bowlers for setting the game up for us. Awards are nice, but the satisfaction always comes from the team getting the result.”

Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings Captain):
“It was extremely hot out there and when bowlers start going for boundaries it can mess with your mindset, but we understood how the wicket was behaving and accepted that there was not much turn on offer. After the powerplay the ball held a little when Yuzi bowled but not enough to create a big impact, and full credit to KL because the way he played was outstanding and a pleasure to watch. During our innings the mindset was simple whatever they scored we just needed one more run, and watching KL improvise so effortlessly made me believe that if they can do it we can too. We spoke about how we had successfully chased two hundred and twenty plus earlier in the season and wanted to make maximum use of the powerplay, which gave the rest of us a strong platform. Right now the focus is to enjoy the moment, recover from a tough few days in the heat, and then regroup to plan better for the next challenges ahead.”

Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals Captain):
“We have been repeating the same mistakes and on a flat wicket if you do not support your bowlers with the fielding, you deserve to lose the game. Dropping four catches hurt us badly and along with that our fast bowlers were not up to the mark in the powerplay which added pressure later. When you put up a score like two hundred and sixty four you expect better backing from the field and tighter execution early on. These are areas both bowling and fielding units need to reflect on honestly. The positive is that we know winning key moments changes results, so we will go back, work on what needs fixing and look to grab momentum going ahead.”