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Shreyas Iyer continued his superb run against Delhi Capitals as Punjab Kings posted a strong total in their IPL 2026 clash at Dharamshala. PBKS began at breakneck speed, racing to 50 in just 2.4 overs, with the thin air at the high-altitude venue helping even mis-hits travel.

Delhi's pacers found some early assistance in the air and off the surface, but their execution was not sharp enough in the powerplay. Once both openers fell, Punjab needed calm, and Iyer provided exactly that. His latest fifty did not just steady the innings; it also placed him alongside Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid in a special IPL record list.

PBKS vs DC: Shreyas Iyer enters elite list against Delhi franchise

With another 50-plus score against Delhi Capitals, Shreyas Iyer became only the third player after Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli to register three successive 50-plus scores against the Delhi franchise in the IPL.

Most successive 50-plus scores vs DD/DC in IPL:

3 - Rahul Dravid, RR, 2012-13
3 - Virat Kohli, RCB, 2012-13
3 - Virat Kohli, RCB, 2016-17
3* - Shreyas Iyer, PBKS, 2025-26

The streak is still active, which makes it even more impressive. Since his record-breaking Rs 26.75 crore move to Punjab Kings in the 2025 mega auction, Iyer has repeatedly hurt his former team. After scoring 604 runs in IPL 2025, he has carried that consistency into 2026 and turned the DC fixture into one of his favourite match-ups.

PBKS vs DC: Shreyas Iyer and Cooper Connolly rebuild after powerplay rush

Punjab’s innings started explosively, but it needed rebuilding after the openers fell. The ball was still moving around when Iyer walked in at No. 3 ahead of Cooper Connolly, possibly to split Punjab’s left-handers. Mukesh Kumar beat Iyer’s outside edge early with a length ball, showing that batting was not completely straightforward.

Connolly took time to settle and was 8 off nine balls at one stage, but Iyer kept PBKS going. He moved to 27 off 17 and then produced one of the stranger sixes of the innings against Lungi Ngidi. It was a slower ball that deceived him in the air, and Iyer was early into the shot with his bottom hand coming off. But the extension still carried the ball straight over the rope. The boundary was 72 metres; the six measured 73.

That shot summed up Dharamshala perfectly. Timing mattered, but the altitude helped too. Even balls that were not struck perfectly had a chance of sailing away.

PBKS vs DC: Punjab Kings finish strong despite Delhi Capitals' pace-only plan

Iyer and Connolly added 83 runs to stabilise the innings after the powerplay burst. Once the platform was rebuilt, PBKS found another late push through Suryansh Shedge, who struck a valuable unbeaten 21 off just eight balls. His cameo gave Punjab the finish they needed after a quieter middle phase.

Delhi used only fast bowlers for all 20 overs, a rare IPL occurrence. The last time a team bowled all 20 overs with pace in an IPL innings was in 2016, when Sunrisers Hyderabad did it against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The plan made sense in patches because change of pace was effective and some slower balls held in the surface.

Lungi Ngidi's final over was a good example. Because of Delhi's slow over rate, DC were allowed only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the 20th over. Even then, Ngidi nailed his dipping slower balls and gave away only three singles from the first five deliveries before Shedge put away a full toss for four.

Also READ: Why Punjab Kings players are wearing black armbands in PBKS vs DC IPL 2026 clash

PBKS have runs but dew could test them

Punjab will be pleased with the total because they had different phases of control: a flying powerplay, a steady rebuilding stand, and a useful death-overs cameo. But defending in Dharamshala may not be simple. There is expected to be some dew, and that could make gripping the ball harder later in the evening.

For DC, the chase will depend on how well they handle Punjab's pace and whether the ball skids on under lights. For PBKS, the bowling and fielding will need to be sharp.

But from a batting point of view, this was another strong statement from Shreyas Iyer. He joined Kohli and Dravid in the record books, kept Punjab steady when the innings could have drifted, and once again reminded Delhi Capitals what they lost.