Match 58 of the IPL 2025 season sees Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals square off in an intense clash to be held in Dharamsala. PBKS remain well on course for a ticket to the playoffs. Shreyas Iyer’s men are 3rd with 15 points from 11 matches. A win will see them get to the top position for now. Meanwhile, DC’s season has seen a blip after the initial promise. A win for DC will see them enter the top 4. They have six wins and 4 defeats (1 NR) with 13 points collected. Notably, there is nothing much to separate the two teams. DC getting 2 points will see them go level with PBKS. There also isn’t much to separate the two teams on net run rate, as a win could see DC pip ahead of Punjab and go third.
DC, who have chopped and changed in their opening department and number three, need to be wary of PBKS pacers Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen. KL Rahul at number 4 is DC’s best bet, and they need him to be amongst the runs. For PBKS, their opening department is settled with skipper Iyer at number three. Marcus Stoinis has a massive role to play and is the finisher PBKS crave.
Both sides have a sturdy bowling arsenal, and the picturesque Dharamsala will witness a massive contest. Pacers will have a key role here with a swing available. Both sides have meat in this regard.
Ahead of a crunch contest between PBKS and DC, we present 5 key player battles that can govern this contest.
Yuzvendra Chahal vs Faf du Plessis
Punjab Kings spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will be aiming to find joy against the Capitals. It’s a side the former RCB and RR man has enjoyed bowling to. In 20 matches, Chahal has 23 scalps versus DC at 25.26. Faf du Plessis, who DC signed in the IPL 2025 mega auction, remains a valuable asset. He will be key for DC in terms of handing them a sound start. Chahal can come up against the veteran batter. Across 12 T20 innings, Chahal has dismissed du Plessis 3 times. The batter averages 14.66 and owns 44 runs from 50 balls. His strike rate is 88. Chahal has bowled 13 dot balls in this contest with du Plessis yet to smash a six.
Mitchell Starc vs Marcus Stoinis
Mitchell Starc has done an able job for the Capitals this season, owning 14 scalps at 26.14. The 2024 IPL champion with KKR will be a pivotal force at the death. Notably, Marcus Stoinis is PBKS’ answer at this stage. He is one of the fiercest hitters, especially in the 20th over of the IPL. In what promises to be an exciting contest, Stoinis will aim to maximise if an opportunity comes. Across 1 T20 inning, Starc has conceded 12 runs off 5 balls to Stoinis without earning a dismissal. Stoinis has struck at 240.
Kuldeep Yadav vs Shreyas Iyer
DC’s Kuldeep Yadav has gone a bit quiet, unable to pick wickets in his last three outings after earlier having made a sound start this season. The left-arm spinner owns 12 scalps in IPL 2025 at a fine economy rate. Kuldeep, who is one shy of 100 IPL scalps, will need to be wary of an in-form Shreyas Iyer. Across 7 IPL innings, Kuldeep has dismissed Iyer twice, with the latter striking at 152,38. Iyer has smashed 64 runs from 42 balls. He has slammed 4 sixes and 2 fours. Kuldeep has bowled 8 dot balls.
Axar Patel vs Prabhsimran Singh
DC’s skipper and left-arm spinner Axar Patel will be keen to pick himself up with the ball, managing just 5 wickets this season. Axar, who is often found bowling a couple of overs in the power play, will need to stop PBKS’ in-form opener Prabhsimran Singh. The Punjab dasher has been in prime form this season and carries a lot of threat. In 11 matches this season, he has 437 runs at 39.72 with the help of 4 fifties. Versus Axar in the IPL. Singh has scored 24 runs from 26 balls (1 dismissal). His strike rate is 92.30. Notably, Axar has bowled 14 dot balls in this contest.
Arshdeep Singh vs KL Rahul
Here are two T20 stars, and a crunch battle could light up Dharamsala. DC’s KL Rahul will be up against Arshdeep Sing,h and the left-arm pacer knows he will have a chance to inflict a wound on Rahul. Across 3 IPL innings, Rahul has fallen to Arshdeep 2 times from 3 innings. He averages 15.50 and his strike rate is 124. Rahul owns 35 runs from 21 balls in this contest with a staggering 13 dot balls faced. In IPL 2025, Arshdeep has picked 16 scalps at 18.18.