In a Wednesday showdown, Delhi Capitals managed to secure a hard-fought 15-run victory over Punjab Kings, with Liam Livingstone’s impressive knock of 94 ending in vain. This defeat has left Punjab Kings teetering on the edge of IPL elimination.

Punjab’s Rilee Rossouw, hailing from South Africa, displayed his prowess with an unbeaten 82, propelling his team to a formidable total of 213-2. However, their commanding position was momentarily threatened by Liam Livingstone’s explosive 48-ball innings in the scenic setting of Dharamsala.

Livingstone formed a formidable 78-run partnership with Atharva Taide before Taide retired out after scoring 55 runs. Unfortunately for Punjab, the remaining batting lineup failed to make a significant impact. Despite Livingstone’s impressive display, including nine sixes, and Delhi’s sloppy fielding, which saw two dropped catches, the Capitals managed to limit the opposition to a final score of 198-8. It’s worth noting that Delhi had already been eliminated from the playoff race, making this victory a consolation prize for them.
“Despite our shortcomings in the field, we’ll gladly accept the victory,” expressed Delhi’s captain David Warner.

Remaining in the eighth position on the 10-team table, Punjab finds themselves in a crucial situation, needing a win in their final group match and relying on other results and net run rate to secure a spot in the playoffs. “It was quite frustrating,” admitted Punjab’s captain Shikhar Dhawan. “Our bowling performance in the initial overs wasn’t up to par, and we missed opportunities to claim wickets despite the swinging conditions.”

In the T20 tournament, there are seven teams, including IPL powerhouses Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, competing for the three remaining playoff berths. Gujarat Titans, the reigning champions, were the first team to secure their place in the playoffs earlier this week, guaranteeing themselves a top-two finish in the group stage.

Delhi’s opening batsmen, David Warner (46) and Prithvi Shaw (54) built a solid foundation with a partnership of 94 runs, setting the stage for their team’s formidable total. In an impressive display of left-handed power, David Warner took charge with a rapid innings of 31 balls, unleashing two sixes against former Delhi pacer Kagiso Rabada.

Sam Curran, the Punjab left-arm quick and notable acquisition, prevented Warner from reaching his fifty. However, it was Rilee Rossouw, also a left-handed batsman, who arrived with an attacking approach, launching sixes and fours. Prithvi Shaw reached his fifty before falling victim to Curran’s bowling. Rossouw, in partnership with England’s Phil Salt, concluded the innings in a destructive manner.
Rossouw, who achieved his maiden IPL half-century and earned the well-deserved title of the man of the match, along with Salt, who contributed a brisk 26 runs off just 14 balls, dismantled the opposition attack. In the final two overs, they amassed an impressive 41 runs, showcasing their dominance.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings will face each other at 8:00 pm (BST). The match will be played at Kolkata’s home ground Eden Gardens.

There is no way to say that the home ground is close to Kolkata. Kolkata has lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings here this season. Today’s match against Punjab is also revenge for Kolkata. KKR started this season with a loss against Punjab. Punjab Kings defeated Kolkata by 7 runs in Mohali on April 1.

For KKR, all the remaining matches are now ‘finals’. Today’s match between Punjab Kings is no exception. Knight Riders have won only four out of 10 matches so far this season. You have to get at least 16 points to play in the playoffs. In that case, there is no option but to win the remaining matches in Kolkata. For Kolkata, three of the remaining four matches will be at home. The first was against Punjab today.

Bangladesh’s Liton Kumar Das has also played for Kolkata. He played only one match for Kolkata Knight Riders. He also had to spend the rest of his time on the bench. Liton has left the IPL due to family reasons and Bangladesh’s tour of England. Shah Rukh Khan’s team has brought in two-time World Cup-winning batsman Johnson Charles for the West Indies as a replacement. Charles has already joined the KKR camp.

Lucknow started well at home. Kyle Meyers and skipper KL Rahul got off to a great start. But suddenly the team that is in second place in the points list collapses. In the end, even though they could not make a challenging score, the power of the bowlers was quite good in the match. In the end, Lucknow lost in the last over. Punjab Kings secured a last-over victory against hosts Lucknow Super Giants at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday (April 15). Punjab passed the target of 160 runs given by Lucknow with 2 wickets and 3 balls in hand. Losing the toss and batting first, Lucknow scored 53 runs in the partnership of captain Lokesh Rahul and Kyle Meyers. Even if they got runs, they still couldn’t open their hands to play. Deepak Hooda also failed with the bat when Meyers departed after scoring 29 runs off 23 balls. Krunal Pandya scored 18 runs off 17 balls. After that, Lucknow’s innings collapsed. Niklas Puran also departed after Krunaler in the same over of Rabada. Marcus Stoinis was the victim of Sam Curran’s 15 off 11 balls. It is Rahul, the captain who survives as Sabedhan Neelmani, who tries a little. But Lucknow’s innings did not go far when Rahul got out after scoring 74 runs off 56 balls with 8 fours and 1 six. In the end, Lucknow scored 159 runs after losing 8 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs. Sam Curran took 3 wickets for 31 runs in 4 overs for Punjab. Rabada also took 2 wickets for 34 runs. Arshdeep Singh, Sikandar Raja, and Harpreet Brar took 1 wicket each. Chasing a target of 160 runs, Punjab lost the wicket of Atharva Tair early on. Another opener Pravsimran Singh could not score more than 4 runs. Losing 2 wickets for 17 runs, Punjab also lost the wicket of the in-form Matthew Short before settling down. Short scored 34 runs off 5 fours and 1 six off 22 balls. Harpreet Singh, who scored 22 runs off 22 balls, also departed as the fourth wicket after 75 runs. Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma failed but Sikandar Raja took the reins of Punjab. When Raja got out after scoring 57 off 41 balls and 4 fours and 3 sixes, Punjab still needed 20 runs off 13 balls.

After that, Harpreet Brar returned with 6 runs, but Shahrukh Khan left the field after confirming the team’s victory. He scored 23 runs off 10 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes. Harpreet Singh, who scored 22 runs off 22 balls, also departed as the fourth wicket after 75 runs. Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma failed but Sikandar Raja took the reins of Punjab. When Raja got out after scoring 57 off 41 balls and 4 fours and 3 sixes, Punjab still needed 20 runs off 13 balls. After that, Harpreet Brar returned with 6 runs, but Shahrukh Khan left the field after confirming the team’s victory. He scored 23 runs off 10 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes.

Sunrisers Hyderabad got their first win of the current IPL. They got their first win by defeating Punjab Kings by 8 wickets. Shikhar Dhawan fought alone for Punjab. They could not make a big collection due to the batting failure of the rest of the batters. Sunrisers Hyderabad easily reached the port of victory with 17 balls in hand. After losing the toss and batting first, Punjab lost 9 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs and collected 143 runs. In response, Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram’s great batting saw Hyderabad win in 17 overs. Batting first, Punjab stumbled in the beginning. They lost the wicket of Prabsimran Singh on the first ball. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan continued to fight by keeping one end. A struggling Dhawan completed his fifty off 42 balls. He returned to the pavilion just 1 run away from the century. Dhawan scored 99 runs with 5 sixes and 12 fours.

Besides, 22 runs came from the bat of Sam Karen. In response to Punjab’s 144 runs, Hyderabad’s two openers Harry Brook and Mayank Agarwal started slowly. Brook returned to the pavilion with 13 runs. Mayank also could not increase his innings on this day. He also returned to the pavilion with 21 runs. After the departure of these two batsmen, Hyderabad did not have to look back. Tripathi and Markram’s century partnership helped the team reach the port of victory easily. Tripathi remained unbeaten with 74 runs off 48 balls. Markram scored an unbeaten 37 off 21 balls. Arshdeep Singh and Rahul Chahar took one wicket each for Punjab.

Man-of-the-match from the losing team is rare. However, in the 14th match of the current season of IPL, that exceptional picture was seen. Even after the loss, Punjab Kings’ opener and captain Shikhar Dhawan became a man of the match. Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet in IPL on Sunday (April 9) at 8 pm. Batting first in the match, Punjab lost 9 wickets and scored 143 runs in the allotted 20 overs. In response, Hyderabad won by 8 wickets with 17 balls remaining. Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan gave memorable innings on the day of defeat. This kind of inning is the first in Dhawan’s IPL career. Dhawan has played in all the Indian tournaments since 2008. Out of the 209 matches he has played so far, Sunday’s match was different.

Dhawan was unbeaten in Punjab’s opener. But he had to leave the field with the regret of 1 run. Because of that one run, he missed the third century of his IPL career. On a day when the team’s batting failed, he single-handedly took the lead and scored 99 runs from 66 balls with 12 fours and 5 sixes. Although his team did not win the match, he was awarded the Man of the Match award for this run. In this year’s IPL, Punjab tasted its first loss after playing three matches. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad got their first win by playing an even match.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Punjab Kings in the second match of the ongoing 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Punjab scored 191 for 5 against KKR in the second match of the season in Mohali on April 1. The team won by 7 runs in the rain-interrupted match.

After winning the match that day, Preeti, the franchise owner of Punjab Kings, went to Guwahati to visit the temple of Kamakhya Devi. After reaching there, after seeing Kamakhya Devi, Preeti posted a picture on social media, ‘All the fatigue was gone. One of my reasons for visiting Guwahati was to worship at the Kamakhya temple. I was awake all night. The plane was late. But when I went to the temple and offered puja, all the fatigue disappeared. I feel a power in myself. The mind was filled with peace.’

Preeti also said that whoever goes to Guwahati will visit Kamakhya Devi once. After going you will understand what she said.

Joshi will join the support staff of World Cup winner Trevor Bayliss. Punjab has roped in the 60-year-old Australian tactician as Anil Kumble’s successor this season.

Joshi played 15 Tests and 69 ODIs for India from 1996 to 2001. The left-arm spinner took 110 international wickets before retiring from all forms of cricket in 2012. Besides, he played with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural season of IPL in 2008. Joshi was the chief selector of the Indian men’s senior team before being replaced by Chetan Sharma in 2022.

Earlier, Punjab appointed former Indian batsman Wasim Zafar as its batting coach for this season. It announced Charles Langeveldt as head bowling coach.