Madhav Tiwari Shines on Debut as Delhi Capitals Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

Madhav Tiwari announced himself in style with a match-winning all-round performance for Delhi Capitals as they defeated Punjab Kings in a high-scoring IPL 2026 clash in Dharamsala.

Playing only his second official IPL game, the 22-year-old delivered with both bat and ball to help Delhi stay alive in the playoff race. Tiwari claimed two crucial wickets before smashing an unbeaten 18 off just eight deliveries during Delhi’s successful chase of 211 — the highest successful T20 chase at Dharamsala.

After receiving the Player-of-the-Match award, Tiwari credited the Delhi coaching staff for helping him improve while waiting for his opportunity.

“First of all, I would like to thank the management for giving me this opportunity and I’m lucky enough I was able to be on the winning side,” Tiwari said after the match. “If things are not in your hand, you just try to get better in every practice session.”

The young allrounder revealed he spent considerable time working on his bowling with DC bowling coach Munaf Patel and sharpening his power-hitting under batting coach Ian Bell.

Tiwari first made his IPL debut against Punjab Kings in May 2025, but that match was abandoned midway because of cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. He bowled only one expensive over in that game and was left out when the fixture was replayed later.

On Monday, however, he made full use of his chance. Bowling on a seam-friendly surface where all 39 overs were delivered by pacers, Tiwari struck in his very first over by dismissing the dangerous Priyansh Arya for 56 off 33 balls. He later removed Cooper Connolly with a clever slower bouncer to finish with figures of 2 for 40 in four overs.

“The wicket was helping the length ball,” Tiwari explained. “So I was trying to stick to that and mix it with wide balls and short balls.”

His confidence with the bat was equally evident during Delhi’s tense chase. One of the highlights of his innings was a crisp boundary off a near-yorker from Yash Thakur.

Tiwari described himself as a complete allrounder, saying, “I would like to say I’m 100% bowler and 100% batsman.”

Delhi Capitals made five changes to their playing XI for the match, and Tiwari’s emergence could provide the balance the franchise has been searching for throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer blamed poor bowling and sloppy fielding for his side’s fourth consecutive defeat.

“I wouldn’t have to beat around the bush,” Iyer admitted. “I would say fielding and bowling again. 210 was 30 runs more on this wicket considering how the ball was seaming and there was variable bounce.”

Punjab also came under scrutiny for not using veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal during Delhi’s chase despite the conditions offering assistance.

“There was absolutely a thought of bowling him,” Iyer said. “But the way the ball was seaming, we felt the pacers could extract wickets if they executed properly. Unfortunately, we didn’t.”