NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals have made five alterations to their squad for the high-stakes IPL 2026 encounter against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Captain Axar Patel won the toss and chose to field first, looking to make early use of a fresh surface as both sides chase crucial points in a tight league race.
Key takeaways
- Axar Patel won the toss and elected to bowl against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala.
- Delhi Capitals introduced five changes, bringing in Porel, Sahil Parekh, David Miller, Madhav Tiwary and Aaquib Nabi.
- Punjab Kings made one XI change, with Ben Dwarshuis replacing Lockie Ferguson due to a minor niggle.
- Delhi Capitals currently sit eighth in the IPL 2026 standings and need a win to keep their playoff chances alive.
- Punjab Kings are fourth in the points table with 13 points from 10 games, and a victory would move them to the top.
Axar Patel’s toss call and Delhi’s squad reshuffle
Axar explained that the toss decision was aligned with Delhi’s mindset, stating that in previous matches they had not managed the key moments with bat, ball, or in the field. He said the team would stick to its style of cricket and not let pressure dictate how they play, emphasizing the value of executing on a wicket that is expected to behave freshly for the new ball.
Axar also confirmed the extent of the changes, naming Porel, Sahil Parekh, David Miller, Madhav Tiwary and Aaquib Nabi as the players coming into the XI. With Delhi placed eighth in the IPL 2026 points table, the match carries added pressure as the franchise looks to remain in the playoff conversation.
Shreyas Iyer’s one-change decision for PBKS
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, spoke about the difficulty of judging pitch conditions before the ball is actually played on the ground. He urged his side to focus on their own skills and instincts rather than overthinking the points situation, pointing out that they had not consistently backed themselves in recent outings under pressure.
Iyer noted that momentum in T20 cricket can swing quickly and stressed the need to move past setbacks swiftly. He then detailed the only adjustment to the Punjab Kings playing group: Ben Dwarshuis comes in for Lockie Ferguson, who is dealing with a slight niggle.
At the start of this clash, Punjab Kings sit fourth in the standings with 13 points—six wins and three defeats from 10 matches. Iyer’s team knows that beating Delhi Capitals would lift them to the top of the table.
Madhav Tiwary: the Delhi Capitals option in focus
The changes have placed Madhav Tiwary under the spotlight. Born in 2003, Tiwary is a young Indian fast-bowling all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh. He made his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals in 2025 and, so far, has played only one match for the franchise.
In his lone IPL appearance, he faced Mumbai Indians and scored three runs, before being dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. He did not bowl in that game, leaving his role in the team to take shape with further opportunities.
Tiwary is typically a lower middle-order batter who can also contribute with medium-fast pace. Delhi retained him for the 2026 season, and he is noted for raw speed as well as an aggressive approach when batting late in innings. Ahead of IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals acquired him for Rs 40 lakh.
Alongside franchise cricket, Tiwary has played for the Bhopal Leopards in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League in the last two seasons. He has also represented Madhya Pradesh at U-23 and U-19 level, and featured in the CK Nayudu Trophy (U-23) during the 2024-25 season.
During that CK Nayudu Trophy campaign, Tiwary delivered two half-centuries. One of his knocks came as he struck an 83 against Mumbai after MP were 183/6, and despite being put under pressure, his contribution helped the side avoid an innings defeat.
