Punjab Kings: The Uncrowned Kings of IPL 2025

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been one of the most fascinating stories of IPL 2025 so far. After a decade-long wait, they finally broke their playoff drought, making it to the top competition stage for the first time since 2014. What’s more exciting is how they’ve done it — powered largely by a bunch of young, uncapped Indian batters who’ve been lighting up the tournament with explosive performances. And now, the big showdown with Delhi Capitals (DC) at Jaipur might just push PBKS to the summit of the points table if they manage a win.

The Road So Far: A Season of Surprises and Revival

PBKS’s journey this season has been a breath of fresh air. Their pre-season camp at Dharamsala, their second home ground, was aimed at getting the players comfortable with conditions, but fate had other plans. The game against DC at Dharamsala on May 8 was abruptly called off when PBKS were cruising at 122/1 in just 10.1 overs. That match is now rescheduled for Jaipur, a neutral venue, which adds a fresh twist. Interestingly, PBKS had already played their last match here against Rajasthan Royals, giving them a slight edge, while DC will be stepping onto Jaipur’s pitch for the first time this season.

Why This Match Matters: Top of the Table on the Line

With playoffs already confirmed, PBKS’s real fight is for that coveted top-two finish — a spot that guarantees a bigger advantage in the knockout stage. Thanks to recent losses by Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab’s path to the summit looks promising. If they can seal wins in their last two games, they will finish number one in the league standings. That’s a huge leap for a team that was once struggling to find consistency.

The Uncapped Stars Stealing the Show

One of the most thrilling aspects of PBKS’s season has been the rise of young Indian talent. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have consistently provided explosive starts, setting the tone early. Nehal Wadhera has anchored the middle overs with classy, impactful innings, while Shashank Singh has been a reliable finisher, expertly closing out games. Add captain Shreyas Iyer’s brilliance to this mix, and you get an extraordinary feat — five players with over 250 runs at a strike rate exceeding 150, a first in IPL history!

Delhi Capitals: Early Promise, Later Struggles

On the other hand, Delhi Capitals began the season looking like serious contenders, winning five of their first six matches. But momentum slipped away badly afterward, managing just a single win in their next seven games. This collapse has knocked them out of playoff contention. Still, DC is a team that never gives up easily, and despite their predicament, they will pose a stern challenge to PBKS, especially knowing how crucial this fixture is for the opposition.

The Form Guide: PBKS Riding High, DC Looking to End on a High

• Punjab Kings: WWWLW

• Delhi Capitals: LLLLW

Punjab has been on a winning roll recently, whereas Delhi is desperate to end their campaign positively.

In the Spotlight: Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul

Let’s talk about two big names — Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul — both pivotal to their teams’ fortunes this season.

Shreyas Iyer, PBKS captain, has now joined an elite list of captains leading three different IPL teams to playoffs success. He achieved this with Delhi Capitals in 2019 and 2020 and then won the IPL title with Kolkata Knight Riders last year. This season, he’s smashed 435 runs at a blistering strike rate of 174.69 — nearly 30 points higher than last year. His strike rate of 182.19 in the non-powerplay overs is second only to Nicholas Pooran this season, showing his ability to accelerate at will.

KL Rahul, DC’s star opener and former captain of Lucknow Super Giants, has also reinvented himself. Though out of the Indian T20I squad for a while, Rahul has upped his strike rate dramatically, scoring 504 runs at 148.67 with one match left. Unlike Shreyas, the absence of captaincy pressure seems to have unleashed his best batting form. Can he help DC finish strong with a good personal performance?

Team News and Probable XIs

Injuries and squad rotations always spice up IPL contests, and this match is no different.

• Shreyas Iyer missed the last game due to a finger injury and might play as an impact player if not fully fit.

• Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, and Kyle Jamieson have returned to the PBKS squad, potentially replacing Mitchell Owen and Xavier Bartlett.

• Choosing between Marcus Stoinis and Azmatullah Omarzai could be a tactical call, depending on the pitch and opposition.

Punjab Kings (likely XI):
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis/Azmatullah Omarzai, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Kyle Jamieson, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal (12th man option)

On the Delhi Capitals side:

• Axar Patel is still recovering from illness and missed training before the last match.

• Madhav Tiwari, a seam-bowling allrounder, could get another chance if Axar remains unavailable.

Delhi Capitals (likely XI):
KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel (capt)/Madhav Tiwari, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Mustafizur Rahman, Mukesh Kumar

Pitch and Weather Conditions: A Run-Fest in the Making?

The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur has been a batting paradise this IPL. The average first-innings score here is around 200, so expect a high-scoring thriller. However, the weather is a factor. While the daytime could be scorching with temperatures hitting 40°C or more, the evening will cool down but still hover around 36°C — hot enough to test players’ stamina and concentration.

Key Matchups and Stats to Watch Out For

• Axar Patel vs Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis: Axar has a solid record against these two. In IPL, he’s conceded just 24 runs in 26 balls against Prabhsimran, with one dismissal. Against Inglis, he has taken two wickets in 13 balls while giving away only ten runs in all T20 matches. If fit, Axar could be a crucial opening bowler.

• Shreyas Iyer vs Mustafizur Rahman: Shreyas’s strike rate against Mustafizur is surprisingly low at 110.00, scoring 33 off 30 balls with one dismissal. A challenge for him to up the ante here.

• KL Rahul vs Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal: Rahul has found Arshdeep tough, scoring 31 runs off 25 balls with two dismissals in the IPL. But against Chahal, he has a strike rate of 150.60 (125 runs off 83 balls, one dismissal). This battle will be fascinating to watch.

• Yuzvendra Chahal vs Faf du Plessis: Chahal has the edge, having dismissed Faf three times while conceding 44 runs in 50 balls.

The Big Question: Which Uncapped PBKS Batter Has Impressed You the Most?

• Priyansh Arya

• Prabhsimran Singh

• Nehal Wadhera

• Shashank Singh

Feel free to pick your favourite emerging star who’s made the biggest impact this season!

Quotes from the PBKS Camp

Reflecting the team’s mindset, Shreyas Iyer recently said:
“I'm not on the selection panel but I would expect that we're going to pick our best team to win tomorrow. I think it’s important for us as a group to finish well and put ourselves in a position to win the match. I would have thought if it’s a lineball decision, that [trying new players] may happen, but generally speaking we’ll look at their team, look at the wicket today, which looks an absolute belter, and pick our best team to win the match and finish strongly, which is what all of our group wants.”

This sums up their hunger and focus to close the league on a high.

To Wrap Up

This clash at Jaipur between PBKS and DC is more than just a match — it’s a pivotal moment in the IPL 2025 season. Punjab Kings are riding a wave of momentum and confidence, backed by an exciting mix of young talent and experienced campaigners. Delhi Capitals, despite their struggles, will fight tooth and nail to spoil the party. For cricket fans, this game promises fireworks, drama, and top-class T20 action. Don’t miss it!