IPL 2026: Yuzvendra Chahal makes Bold Claim after Punjab Kings' Historic 265 Chase

Punjab Kings (PBKS) scripted history at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on saturday, chasing down a mammoth target of 265 to defeat Delhi Capitals (DC) by 6 wickets with 7 balls to spare.

It was the highest successful chase in the history of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL), breaking their own record of chasing 262 against the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024.

The Kings were ferocious from ball one. Prabhsimran Singh set the tone with a stunning 76 off 26 deliveries at a strike rate of 292.3, while Priyansh Arya complemented him with a blistering 43 off 17 at 252.9. Together, they put on a powerplay for the ages, scoring 116 runs without loss in the first six overs and turning what appeared to be a daunting target into a statement pursuit.

After their dismissals, captain Shreyas Iyer took charge with a composed 71 off 36, guiding the side home with the assurance of a team that never doubted itself. The innings featured 20 fours and 20 sixes, with 200 runs coming from boundaries alone.

Reflecting on the start provided by the openers, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal said: "Prabhsimran and Priyansh gave us the momentum needed in the first 6 overs to chase such a big total. This helped our batters in the middle overs and put the bowlers under pressure. It will be hard for any team to face our batting line-up."

On the mindset in the dressing room before the chase, Chahal added: "We accepted the total and we were all feeling very positive before the innings. We know the quality we possess with the bat. It was a batting friendly wicket. We needed an excellent start if we wanted to chase this total, and we got just that and more from Prabhsimran and Priyansh. After the first 6 overs, we knew we were in the driving seat."

Chahal also pointed to the influence of Head Coach Ricky Ponting on Prabhsimran's development. "Ricky has had a massive influence on him. I've faced him in the nets and it is really difficult to bowl to him, especially in the powerplay because of his fearless batting. Before the innings, he was thinking: if they can score 264, why can't we do the same. The performances you see today are the result of the hard work he has put into his batting over the past few years. I am happy that he is on my team so that I don't have to bowl to him in a competitive setting."

The 35-year-old spinner also spoke about the challenges of dealing with the impact sub rule and explained, "I can understand why dealing with the impact sub rule can be a bit challenging, but you simply have to adapt because that is what the tournament requires. This is the direction that the format is headed in and we have to find solutions because we cannot change it. Today, it was even more challenging than usual because of how small the ground is."

The victory extends Punjab Kings' unbeaten streak to seven games. With 13 points from seven matches, they sit firmly at the top of the Tata IPL 2026 standings. The Kings will come back to the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh to take on Rajasthan Royals on April 28, 2026.

(An Excerpt from Agency)