Madhav Tiwari delivered a match-winning display in his maiden appearance of IPL 2026 and his second competitive outing in the league overall, helping Delhi Capitals edge Punjab Kings to keep their play-off hopes very much alive. The 22-year-old allrounder was named Player of the Match after contributing with both bat and ball, and he credited extra time in the nets for helping him stay ready when the opportunity arrived.
Key takeaways
- Tiwari’s two-way impact earned him the Player of the Match award as Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings in IPL 2026.
- He dismissed Priyansh Arya (56 off 33) in his opening spell, then struck again in his last over to finish with figures of 4-0-40-2.
- With 18* off eight balls, including two fours and a six, Tiwari helped DC successfully chase 211 in Dharamsala.
- Delhi’s chase of 211 was the highest successful T20 run chase by any team in Dharamsala.
- Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said poor execution in bowling and fielding proved costly after PBKS made 210 for 5.
From a halted debut to a breakthrough in IPL 2026
Tiwari’s first IPL outing dates back to last May against Punjab Kings, but that match never reached a conclusion after play was called off in the middle of the first innings due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan at the time. When the game was later replayed, Tiwari had managed only one over in the original contest, giving away 14 runs, and he was not included in the team for the rescheduled match.
After DC’s win over PBKS, Tiwari expressed gratitude to the management for backing him and said he approached his preparation with the mindset that practice could bridge what wasn’t in his control. He also highlighted the work he has done with Munaf Patel, the DC bowling coach, focusing on bowling improvements, along with range-hitting support from the batting coach. “It was fun,” he added, while describing how he felt happy to contribute for the team.
Seam-friendly conditions, key wickets, and a finishing cameo
On a pitch that provided plenty of seam assistance, fast bowlers handled all 39 overs of the match. Introduced as Delhi’s fifth bowling option, Tiwari struck immediately in the ninth over. He removed Priyansh Arya, who was well set on 56 off 33 balls, with the dismissal arriving as DC looked to keep Punjab’s scoring under pressure.
In his final over, Tiwari then outthought Cooper Connolly using a slower bouncer, wrapping up his spell with figures of 4-0-40-2. He explained that the wicket was helping the length ball, saying he tried to stick with that plan early and then varied the deliveries using wider and shorter balls at different moments.
With the bat, Tiwari ensured DC didn’t lose momentum during the chase. His unbeaten contribution of 18 off eight deliveries—powered by two fours and a six—proved decisive as Delhi chased 211. The victory also marked a record of sorts: it was the highest successful T20 chase by any side in Dharamsala.
Coming into the tournament, Tiwari’s background is rooted in the Madhya Pradesh T20 circuit, and he views himself as a true allrounder. He summed up his role by insisting he is “100% bowler and 100% batsman.” He also showed flashes of his batting ability by cutting a near-yorker from Yash Thakur to the boundary.
He further revealed that batting coach Ian Bell had encouraged him to commit to his natural mechanics rather than trying to play anything extravagant—emphasising staying in shape and responding to the ball.
Changes for DC and PBKS’ costly misses
Delhi made five changes on Monday, and Tiwari’s inclusion quickly looked like a move that could deliver the balance the franchise had been searching for. His performance offered evidence that he can contribute in multiple phases—taking wickets when needed and finishing chases with quick, clean striking.
For Punjab Kings, the loss extended a worrying trend, with it becoming their fourth consecutive defeat. Captain Shreyas Iyer pointed to bowling and fielding as the main reasons they slipped up after posting 210 for 5. He noted that DC were given two chances and that Punjab ended up dropping 19 catches or chances in total—an IPL-high this season.
Iyer was direct in his assessment, saying that the wicket demanded more control because it offered seam movement and variable bounce. He argued that 210 should have been a stronger total under those conditions, but Punjab’s execution didn’t match what the pitch allowed.
When asked why Yuzvendra Chahal—IPL’s leading wicket-taker in terms of all-time wickets—did not bowl a single delivery during PBKS’ defence, Iyer said there had been a thought to use him. However, he added that the ball was seaming and helping spinners, and if PBKS had been able to execute their lines and lengths precisely, they could have produced wickets. In the end, that plan didn’t deliver as expected, and Punjab paid the price.
