IPL 2026 Match 35 Preview (DC vs PBKS): The Delhi Capitals (DC) face the ultimate test today at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as they host the table-topping Punjab Kings (PBKS). Punjab remains the only unbeaten team in the tournament, coming off a massive 54-run win over LSG where they posted the season’s highest total of 254. Meanwhile, Delhi is struggling for consistency, having lost three of their last four matches, including a crushing 47-run defeat to SRH.
Match Details: IPL 2026 Match 35
- Fixture: Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings
- Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM IST (Afternoon Match)
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar & Star Sports Network
Pitch & Weather: The “No-Dew” Afternoon Factor
This is a critical afternoon fixture where the typical Delhi “toss and bowl” strategy might backfire.
- Weather: Extreme heat is expected, with temperatures soaring to 42°C.
- The Surface: The Kotla pitch is traditionally flat and hard, favoring aggressive batting with its short boundaries.
- No Dew: Since this is a 3:30 PM start, dew will not be a factor. Historically, batting is slightly easier in the first innings here (Avg 171) compared to the second (Avg 155) as the pitch tends to slow down and offer grip to spinners in the heat.
- Toss Prediction: Captains may break the trend and bat first to avoid bowling in the peak sun and to use the spin-friendly second-innings conditions.
Head-to-Head & Form Guide
- Overall Record: 35 Matches | DC (17) – PBKS (17) | 1 NR.
- At Arun Jaitley Stadium: Perfectly split with 6 wins each across 12 meetings.
- Winning Probability: PBKS: 55.2% | DC: 44.8%
- Recent Form: * PBKS: W, W, W, W, W (Unbeaten)
- DC: L, W, L, L, W (Struggling at 6th place)
DC vs PBKS Probable Playing XIs
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Punjab Kings (PBKS) |
| KL Rahul (wk) | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) |
| Pathum Nissanka | Priyansh Arya |
| Nitish Rana | Cooper Connolly |
| Sameer Rizvi | Shreyas Iyer (c) |
| Tristan Stubbs | Shashank Singh |
| Axar Patel (c) | Marcus Stoinis |
| David Miller | Marco Jansen |
| Ashutosh Sharma | Yuzvendra Chahal |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Arshdeep Singh |
| T Natarajan | Vijaykumar Vyshak |
| Vipraj Nigam | Xavier Bartlett |
| Impact: Jake Fraser-McGurk | Impact: Harpreet Brar |
Top Fantasy Picks: DC vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction
- Captain Choice: Priyansh Arya (PBKS) – The opener is in red-hot form after a match-winning 93 in the last game. On a small Delhi ground, he is a boundary machine.
- Vice-Captain Choice: KL Rahul (DC) – Despite the team’s form, Rahul has 205 runs at a 167 SR this season. He is a safe bet for a solid start.
- The X-Factor: Cooper Connolly (PBKS) – Fresh off a blistering 87, Connolly is the middle-over enforcer who can dismantle both pace and spin.
- Differential Pick: Sameer Rizvi (DC) – Rizvi has been DC’s top performer with 209 runs and two fifties. He often bats through collapses, making him a high-value fantasy asset.
Match Prediction: Who Will Win?
Punjab Kings enter as heavy favorites with a 59-63% implied win probability. Their depth is unmatched—even Marcus Stoinis barely gets to bat because the top order of Arya, Connolly, and Iyer is so dominant. Unless DC’s spin twins, Axar and Kuldeep, can trigger a massive middle-order collapse in the afternoon heat, the Kings are expected to go 6-0.
Win Probability: PBKS: 55.2% | DC: 44.8%
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