IPL 2022 Highlights PBKS vs DC: Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings by 17 runs to claim fourth spot in points table

Jonny Bairstow blazed away to a 21-ball fifty in the last game before Liam Livingstone joined the fun. Livingstone has been known for his six-hitting prowess and the Englishman is the fourth-highest run-scorer in T20s since 2021. He has also smashed 119 sixes so far.

We are just 30 minutes away from the flip of coin. Will both camps alter their eleven in bid to notch up back-to-back wins? Stay tuned for live updates!

While Shikhar Dhawan remains key for Punjab at the start, the Capitals will expect runs from David Warner. The Australian has scored 427 runs including five fifties this season. He is 73 runs away from completing 500 runs and becoming the first player to score 500-plus runs in seven IPL editions.

Shikhar Dhawan has been Punjab's leading-run getter with 402 runs and he will be expected to rise to the occasion in this must-win contest. A proven performer in the IPL, the left-handed opener has scored 400-plus runs in last seven seasons of the league.

While Delhi Capitals have got a potent bowling attack, Shardul Thakur's form remains a big concern for the team. The bowling all-rounder has picked up just nine wickets in 12 games. With the bat, Shardul has managed to amass just 113 runs.

Kagiso Rabada is just three wickets away from completing 100 IPL wickets. He will be the quickest to reach the landmark in terms of matches played. He will be playing his 62nd IPL game tonight if he takes the field.

Mayank Agarwal has pushed himself down the batting order to accommodate Bairstow at the top. The Punjab leader has blown hot and cold with the bat but he's got an excellent record against Delhi. 

He's scored the most runs for Punjab against Delhi outfit. Mayank had scored unbeaten 99 versus Delhi last year in Ahmedabad.

"This is a do-or-die situation for us. We have performed well in the tournament, but we have lost some close games. We have to make sure that we don't repeat the mistakes we have committed in the competition so far," said Capitals wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav before the game.

Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (C), Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell.

Talking about the head-to-head record, Delhi hold a slight advantage, having registered 15 wins against Punjab in the 'Northern derby'. Punjab have 14 wins under their belt.

Sandeep Sharma has been tidy but could do with some wickets in the powerplay. He was replaced by Harpreet Brar in the last game it's yet to be seen if the Indian quick gets a chance against the Capitals. 

Sandeep has an experience of playing 100-plus IPL games with 54 wickets in the powerplay.

Punjab have a no-holds-barred approach when it comes to batting. In the last game against Bangalore, Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow produced blistering knocks to help Punjab amass 209 for nine in 20 overs. They also have Dhawan and Rajapaksa to produce some boundaries in the powerplay. A run-fest on the cards?

Kuldeep Yadav has also been in excellent touch during his fresh IPL spell with Delhi Capitals. The chinaman bowler is among the leading wicket-takers of the season with 18 plucks in 12 matches. He has a chance to inch closer to Yuzvendra Chahal, who is leading the panel with 24 wickets.

On the bowling front, Delhi Capitals are equipped with Chetan Sakariya, Anrich Nortje and Khaleel Ahmed. Sakariya and Nortje were right on the money and snared two wickets each against Rajasthan. Khaleel, however, missed the game, but he can return tonight and strengthen the bowling mix.

With very little update on Shaw's return and both KS Bharat and Mandeep Singh failing at the top, Delhi could combine Seifert with David Warner to open the innings.

Rahul Chahar has been expensive for Punjab and it remains to be seen whether they play Harpreet Brar as the second tweaker. Punjab have also got Sandeep Sharma, who can extract wickets in the powerplay.

Delhi batters, however, face a stiff challenge against Punjab bowling which features the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh. Rabada can wreak havoc at the start while Arshdeep has been exceptional at the death.

Delhi Capitals, still searching for their maiden Indian Premier League title, will expect some fireworks from Rovman Powell at the death. The power-hitter has been providing the team with some late blitz in final overs.

Mitchell Marsh also shone with the ball against Rajasthan Royals. He took the key wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, for 19, and Delhi top-scorer Ravichandran Ashwin. He returned 2/25 in three overs before slamming a 62-ball 89 at the same venue.

The Capitals will hope for Marsh to do an encore, especially when the playoffs berth is at stake.

In Rishabh Pant's words, Delhi's latest win over Rajasthan was close to a "perfect game".

"Very close to a perfect game. Always believe there's room for improvement. When you know the wicket is going to turn, little bit not much, there's an opportunity to both bowl first or bat first. In the toss I said anything around 140-160 would be good for us, and we got 160," said Pant in the post-match presentation.

Delhi will expect runs from skipper Rishabh Pant, who sealed the game against Rajasthan with his unbeaten four-ball stay at the crease. The left-handed dasher slammed two sixes to finish things off in style.

While David Warner remains Delhi's backbone at the top, the team management is struggling to find the ideal second opener. It remains to be seen if Delhi pick Mandeep Singh or Srikar Bharat at the top.

Prithvi Shaw, who was down with typhoid, has been discharged from the hospital. But there are doubts over his availability for the crucial game.

Rishabh Pant (C), Ashwin Hebbar, David Warner, Mandeep Singh, Prithvi Shaw,Rovman Powell, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kamlesh Nagarkoti,Lalit Yadav, Mitchell Marsh, Pravin Dubey, Ripal Patel, Sarfaraz Khan, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull, KS Bharat and Tim Seifert.

"My first two games of this IPL I came off my injury and COVID and felt pretty rusty to be fair. Over the last 18 months, I've just loved batting with Davey with him opening and me batting at 3, we've had some great partnerships and tonight was a very memorable one for the Delhi Capitals," said Marsh, who was named player of the match.

Mitchell Marsh was helped by compatriot David Warner at the other end, who finished with an unbeaten 52 to take his side home. The Australian pair's batting exploits will be crucial for Delhi as they look to squeeze into the top-4 list.