NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings produced one of the most memorable chapters of IPL 2026 on Saturday, pulling off a record-setting chase against Delhi Capitals. Yet the buzz after the match was not limited to the scoreboard—an entertaining moment involving co-owner Preity Zinta and young batter Priyansh Arya quickly became the talking point. As Zinta stepped onto the ground for the celebration, she delivered a playful punch to Arya’s stomach, catching the youngster off guard. Arya’s instant reaction—surprised and amused at the same time—spread rapidly across social media. Even from the commentary box, Ravi Shastri chimed in, remarking, “Oh, that was a good punch.”
The game itself turned into a spectacle. Delhi Capitals appeared to be steering the contest comfortably after building a commanding total of 264/2. KL Rahul was the headline act, smashing an unbeaten 152 off 67 deliveries and punishing the bowling with a relentless stream of boundaries. He received strong backing from Nitish Rana, who struck 91 in a controlled yet fluent innings. Together, Rahul and Rana forged a massive 220-run stand, placing Delhi in a commanding position as the innings reached its halfway point.
Punjab Kings, however, responded with fearless aggression. Their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Arya, set the tone immediately, combining to add 126 runs in just 6.5 overs and swinging the match momentum decisively in their favour.
Once the foundation was laid, captain Shreyas Iyer took over with calm and authority. He finished unbeaten on 71, ensuring Punjab avoided any late wobble while steering the chase to completion. Punjab got to the target with seven balls remaining, and the victory was officially marked as the highest successful chase in IPL history.
Though the result kept Punjab Kings unbeaten in the tournament, it was the laughter and warmth of the celebrations that truly defined the night’s atmosphere.
