Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Match 66 Match Summary

Right then, what a few days we have had in the 2025 IPL. We got our four playoff teams sealed but Gujarat, Bengaluru and now Punjab have all dropped points. GT are still top with 18 points, RCB and PBKS both have 17 and MI have 16. With one game remaining for each of them, anyone can get in the top two, which allows that extra cushion of losing one game. Well, that is for later, for now, the spotlight turns to Super Sunday with a doubleheader lined up. First up, Gujarat Titans will take on Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad with the game beginning at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). This will be followed by the repeat of last year's final as Sunrisers Hyderabad lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), and as usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up of both those games. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

For his swashbuckling unbeaten 58 (25), SAMEER RIZVI HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Rizvi says that he is feeling very happy after working hard for the last 2-3 months, having also talked to his coaches. On his confidence from this knock, Sameer says that before this, he didn't have much confidence, but with one inning under his belt, he now has the confidence of doing well in the future. On being asked as to when did he feel that he could win the game for his side, SR says when he went in, The Capitals needed more than 100 runs in less than 50 balls (it was actually 114 from 59). So he just took his time, seeing off a few balls and assessing the wicket before playing his shots.

The victorious skipper of Delhi Capitals, FAF DU PLESSIS, believes that it was really important to finish 5th, if not in the top four. Calls it a fair reflection of how his side has played in the tournament. On being asked as to where the tournament went wrong for DC, du Plessis smiles and calls it a great mystery, which has not been solved after umpteen attempts in the dressing room. Details to a combination of loss of form and confidence. Adds further that they lost by small margins and in every game, there were small windows where they were not at their best. Ends by saying that in tournaments like these, they can cost you big. On Sameer Rizvi, du Plessis says that IPL is all about young boys and the talent that can come up. Calls Rizvi phenomenal, but is also impressed with Vipraj Nigam. Details that to be a leg spinner and also be a good hitter is terrific. Feels that there are quite a few batters that DC have discovered in this campaign.

The Presentation ceremony...

As we wait for the presentation ceremony, visuals show a sandstorm out there in Jaipur and with the wind picking up, one can really see the sand blowing around. Treacherous conditions, similar with the last game that DC played against MI, where the presentation ceremony was held under rain, with the umbrellas being brought out as well. Let's also talk about what happened earlier in the game a bit. Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to bowl first. Mustafizur Rahman gave DC the perfect start by getting rid of Priyansh Arya and breaking PBKS' touted opening stand. Punjab did fight back hard, with Josh Inglis playing a fiery cameo of 32 off just 12 balls. However, it was skipper Shreyas Iyer who provided stability in the middle order before DC started to make another comeback. The Fizz was the star for DC with his three wickets as Marcus Stoinis pulled off a stellar unbeaten cameo of 44 from just 16 balls which made the difference between a 190 score and the eventual 206 that Punjab got.

Delhi Capitals' KARUN NAIR is up for a chat now. On being asked about the feeling of winning, Nair calls it amazing, adding that they truly deserve this win. Admits that they have not been playing at their best for the past few games but is happy that this victory puts an end to their run of bad games. On him hitting the ball well, Karun says that he came into this tournament with a lot of runs, so the confidence was always there. Adds that he just wanted to give himself some time in the middle. Honestly admits that in the previous games, he felt that he was a bit hurried into playing his shots. Also says that the coaches too pointed that out to him and advised him to get himself set before going for his shots. On being asked as to how he found out that he was picked in India's Test squad for the tour of England, KN is, first of all, very grateful and humbled to be able to get back into the team. Calls himself very fortunate to find himself back in the national squad. Answers the question with a smile, saying that he found out just like everyone else - from the news and messages from close ones. On destiny giving him another shot at greatness, Karun Nair said that he will aim to make the most of this second opportunity. Details that he has been batting well for the last 12-16 months, so he just wants to focus on the processes and keep giving his best.

Punjab Kings' skipper, SHREYAS IYER, is called up for a chat. On being asked about his team's score of 206 at the halfway mark, Shreyas feels that it was a fantastic score on this wicket. Adds that it was helping the seamers with some variable bounce and calls the score over par. Then, being asked whether there was any one particular thing which his bowling group failed to execute, Iyer bluntly says that his bowlers weren't disciplined enough. Adds that at the innings break, it was decided that the bowlers should be bowling hard lengths but they went overboard with the short stuff. Further says that they tried hard to pick wickets but those couldn't come by. Calls it a big learning for his group. On the lucrative chance of finishing in the top 2, Shreyas says that every team is equally poised in this tournament. Is affirmed to stay positive and as calm as possible because there is always a sunrise the next day. Wants his team to stay in the present and not worry about what's going to come ahead. Agrees that the team will get back to the drawing board and come back with a better set of plans which will be executed. On his fitness, SI says that he just had an issue with his finger, but should be fine in the next game.

Punjab Kings are one of the few sides in the IPL that are happy to bat first and they are also a team that just finds ways to put a big score on the board and defend it. However, in this game, after a couple of quiet overs, both Arshdeep Singh and Azmatullah Omarzai conceded a few too many boundaries in the next two overs which got them on the back foot. The pacers bowled decently but the boundaries just didn't seem to stop, with Harpreet Brar being the standout bowler once again. Praveen Dubey, who was playing his first game of the season, did get a wicket but was taken down by Nair in his second over, which eventually turned out to be his final one. Bowled just 2 overs which went for 20.

The score was 93/3 in 10.1 overs when Sameer Rizvi joined Nair and the pair added 62 runs in just less than five overs, all but landing the knockout blow. Harpreet Brar struck gold again as he dismissed Nair for 44, and PBKS had an opening. They bowled a couple of decent overs, but Rizvi soon came into his own and just took down the PBKS bowlers single-handedly. It was a great mix of power hitting along with some cheeky strokeplay as he finished unbeaten on 58 off just 25 balls and even hit the winning six.

Harpreet Brar has been Punjab's Impact Player in the second half of the league stage and has done pretty well, but in this game, he was in the playing XI and still managed to make an impact. Got rid of Faf du Plessis and just like that, DC were 65/2. Karun Nair then took charge of the chase as Sediqullah Atal blasted his way to 22 off 16 balls on his IPL debut before Praveen Dubey got him out.

207 needed for the win, but with how the pitch was playing, DC were always going to be in with a shot and with nothing to lose anymore, they went hard up top. DC got the perfect start in the Powerplay, notching up 50 runs in the first 5 overs without losing a wicket. KL Rahul did get out in the final over of the Powerplay, allowing Punjab to just regain a bit of lost momentum.

Sameer Rizvi is the hero in Jaipur as Delhi Capitals end their campaign on a high, but it will be a bittersweet moment and if only they had one more win, what could have been! On the other hand, Punjab Kings suffer a huge blow in their pursuit of a top-two finish and for a third game running, a team in the top 3 of the points table has lost. Looks like nobody wants the added perks of a top-two finish.

SIX! What a way to finish the game! That is some stroke. Full and straight, Sameer Rizvi gets down on a knee and sweeps it magnificently over backward square leg! DELHI CAPITALS WIN BY 6 WICKETS AND 3 BALLS TO SPARE, finishing 5th in IPL 2025!

Good yorker, tailing down the leg side, Tristan Stubbs works it through mid-wicket for a run. 5 needed from 4 balls.

Outside off, slapped down to extra cover for a single. 6 needed from 5 now.

WIDE. Poor start. Full and down the leg side, with the only saving grace for Stoinis being that Sameer Rizvi did not connect with his paddle. 7 needed from 6 balls.

Should be Marcus Stoinis to bowl the final over. Went for 12 in his opener. Gets only 7 to defend.

FOUR! That's why he is called a Finisher! A length ball, around leg stump, Tristan Stubbs gets inside the line of the ball and reverse-pulls it over short third for a boundary! Is that the winning deal? 14 from the over, 40 in the last 3 overs! Arshdeep Singh finishes with bowling figures of 4-0-35-0.

Slower ball, around off, 135.3 kph, Sameer Rizvi gives himself a bit of room to the leg side. Gets under the ball and powers it down to long off for a run. The stand moves to 40 (23).

Low full toss, around off, dipping in, Stubbs reaches out and works it towards long on for a single.

FIFTY FOR RIZVI! Good length around off, Sameer Rizvi cuts this through point for one. Brings up his half century in just 22 balls and what a time to play such a knock.

SIX! RIZVI ON THE ROLL! Top-notch stroke from Sameer Rizvi. Short pitched, angling across the batter, Sameer Rizvi quickly steps a long way across and hooks this up and over the fence towards fine leg for six.

Back of a length on the pads, Stubbs gently tucks this through mid-wicket for one. Keeps the scorecard ticking.

19th over - Arshdeep or Stoinis? The former. 3-0-21-0 so far for Arshdeep Singh.

FOUR! CLOUT! This is a wonderful innings from Sameer Rizvi and it is his highest in the IPL! Moves to 43 (20). A short ball, around off, Rizvi gets on top of the bounce and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary! 12 from the over, 26 in the last 2! 4-0-46-0 for Azmatullah Omarzai in this match.

Slower ball, into the deck, 124.7 kph, Tristan Stubbs looks to punch it down the ground but the ball holds onto the surface a touch. Is surprised and ends up chipping it towards long on for a run.

A slower ball, 129.8 kph, short in length outside off, Sameer Rizvi leaps and punches it through point for a single.

FOUR! Azmatullah Omarzai nails the yorker around the toes of Rizvi but the batter does well to lean inside and just tickle this past the left of short fine leg for four. Rizvi moves to 38 (18).

On a length, around middle and leg. Tristan Stubbs powerfully thumps this towards long on for a single.

Back of a length around off, Sameer Rizvi pulls this flat and right out of the middle of his bat but straight at the fielder on the fence towards deep square leg. Single taken.