Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings have hit a rough patch, losing three consecutive matches after a stellar start of six wins in their first seven games. This slide has dented their early title contender aura, and Monday’s clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala provides a crucial opportunity to regain momentum before their playoff aspirations suffer further damage.
For Delhi Capitals, the scenario is far more dire. With four wins and seven losses from 11 matches, their maximum possible points tally stands at 14. To reach that, they need to win every remaining game while relying on other results to go their way—a tall order given they have lost five of their last six matches. Confidence within the camp is understandably low, and a defeat on Monday could virtually confirm their exit from the IPL 2026 playoffs.
**PBKS vs DC: Predicted Playing XI and Starting Lineups**
**PBKS predicted XI:** Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Barlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
*Impact Player:* Vijaykumar Vyshak.
**DC predicted XI:** KL Rahul (wk), Prithvi Shaw, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Abhishek Porel, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, T Natarajan.
*Impact Player:* Sameer Rizvi.
**Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: Pitch Report**
The HPCA New Cricket Stadium offers a balanced surface that aids both bowlers and batters. Fast bowlers can extract early swing, but if batsmen survive the initial spell, they can score freely.
**PBKS vs DC: Dream11 Fantasy XI**
– **Wicket-keepers:** Prabhsimran Singh (vc), KL Rahul
– **Batters:** Shreyas Iyer (c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, T Stubbs
– **All-rounders:** Marco Jansen, Axar Patel
– **Bowlers:** Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, Arshdeep Singh
**Score Prediction and Winner**
– If PBKS bats first: 210-215 runs
– If DC bats first: 200-210 runs
– **Match winner prediction:** PBKS to win.