The biggest worry for DC remains their batting unit. Karun Nair has failed to capitalise on his return, KL Rahul's form has dipped, and explosive starts from Abhishek Porel have often gone unconverted. Faf du Plessis has also battled injury concerns, further destabilising the top order. In their loss to SRH, a collapse on a bowling-friendly track exposed the fragility of the middle order, with only a gritty effort from the lower half pushing them to a respectable but below-par total.

In contrast, Punjab Kings are riding high on the back of their top-order firepower. Prabhsimran Singh (437 runs) and youngster Priyansh Arya (347) have provided brisk starts, while captain Shreyas Iyer (405) has anchored the innings with composure. Finishing touches from Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh have bolstered their totals. In the batting-friendly conditions of Dharamsala, their depth could once again prove decisive.

The venue has already witnessed a run-fest this season, with PBKS posting 236 against Lucknow Super Giants-marking their first win at the ground since 2013. A similar performance against an out-of-form DC side could effectively seal a playoff berth for them and strengthen their case for a top-two finish.

PBKS vs DC: Head-to-Head

Punjab Kings hold a slight edge over Delhi Capitals in their overall IPL head-to-head record, leading 17-16. However, since the 2021 season, DC have dominated the matchup with a 5-2 record. At the current venue, both teams have won twice each, making it an even contest.

PBKS vs DC: Team news

Both Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals head into the match without any injury hiccups. There are no reported injury concerns in either camp, giving both teams the full strength of their squads to choose from.

PBKS Predicted Playing XI

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (C), Josh Inglis (wk), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Suryansh Shedge.

Impact Sub: Vijaykumar Vyshak

DC Predicted Playing XI

Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel (C), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav

Impact Sub: T Natarajan

PBKS vs DC: Pitch and weather conditions

Rain disrupted practice sessions in Dharamsala ahead of the match, and more showers are expected on game day. Despite the closure of the local airport amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, the match is set to proceed as planned.

In the season's first game at the venue, seamers made the most of the swing on offer, while spinners found little assistance. The pitch has favoured stroke-makers in IPL 2025, with its consistent bounce and carry. Batters have averaged 31.5 at a strike rate of over 145, with a scoring rate of 9.2 per over-pointing to another high-scoring affair.

PBKS vs DC: Fantasy picks

PBKS: Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera

DC: Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Kuldeep Yadav