Brathwaite Urges Delhi Capitals to Be More Proactive After Record Chase by Punjab Kings

In a stunning turnaround on Saturday, Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off the highest successful run chase in T20 history, hunting down a massive 264 against Delhi Capitals (DC) with seven balls to spare.

The foundation for this remarkable victory was laid in a blistering powerplay, where Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya hammered 116 runs in the first six overs—marking the second-highest powerplay total in IPL history. Their aggressive start reduced the required run rate dramatically, putting PBKS firmly in control early in the chase.

Speaking on a post-match show, former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite criticized DC’s bowling approach, suggesting a lack of proactiveness during the crucial early overs. DC captain Axar Patel opted to open the bowling with Auqib Nabi and Mukesh Kumar, who together conceded 87 runs in five overs at an expensive rate. Axar himself gave away 20 runs in his only powerplay over.

In contrast, T Natarajan was economical, conceding just nine runs in his lone over during the powerplay, while star spinner Kuldeep Yadav was introduced only in the eighth over—by which time PBKS had already surged to 127.

Brathwaite argued that DC should have deployed their stronger bowlers earlier to contain the scoring. He suggested that using Natarajan and Kuldeep for at least half of the powerplay overs could have limited PBKS to around 65, significantly increasing the pressure during the chase.

The explosive opening also allowed Shreyas Iyer to settle in comfortably at No. 4. With the required rate already under control, Iyer paced his innings smartly, finishing unbeaten on 71 off 36 balls and steering PBKS to victory.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta praised the PBKS openers, emphasizing their technique over brute force. He noted that their innings was built on classical cricket shots rather than reckless hitting, making their dominance look effortless.

Brathwaite further highlighted Prabhsimran’s adaptability, pointing out his ability to anticipate bowlers’ variations and respond with a wide range of scoring options. This versatility, he said, put DC’s bowlers under immense pressure and left them second-guessing their plans.

Ultimately, DC’s inability to control the powerplay proved decisive, as PBKS capitalized on the early momentum to script a historic chase.