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DC vs PBKS, IPL 2026: The concussion substitution rule has raised eyebrows after Lungi Ngidi’s nasty head injury on April 25, Saturday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. With Ngidi, who is a pacer, forced out of the game following the injury, the Capitals surprisingly chose Vipraj Nigam as the substitute over Dushmantha Chameera, who is a like-for-like replacement. Find out why the Capitals didn’t bring in Chameera for the South Africa pacer.
DC vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Why didn’t the Delhi Capitals consider bringing in Dushmantha Chameera for Lungi Ngidi?
With Nigam coming in for the injured Ngidi, it did more harm than good for the home side as he conceded 24 runs in two overs, albeit with a vital breakthrough of Nehal Wadhera. However, the crucial catch of Shreyas Iyer was also dropped off the leg-spinner’s bowling. Ngidi’s absence did hurt the Capitals, given the 30-year-old’s ability to produce some wily variations across all phases of the contest. At the post-game presser, DC’s director of Cricket Venugopal Rao conceded that they already had four overseas players in Ngidi, Pathum Nissanka, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs and the rule doesn’t allow bringing in a fifth overseas player.
In Ngidi’s absence, the Punjab Kings hunted down a record 265 with seven balls to spare. Fans have argued that since Ngidi was out of the game due to the injury, the Capitals should have been allowed to have an overseas seamer in his absence.
DC vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Where does Punjab Kings’ run-chase stand in T20 history?
Having chased down 265 in Delhi, it is the highest successful run-chase in IPL history as the Punjab Kings beat their own record of gunning down 263 two years ago against the Kolkata Knight Riders. It also the highest successful run-chase in all T20 cricket. The two dropped catches by Iyer allowed the Punjab Kings captain to go hammer and tongs as he brought up a 26-ball fifty to eventually stay unbeaten on 71.
The tone for the run-chase was set by Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh as they thrashed 116 in the powerplay. After the first strategic time-out, the Capitals struck with three quick wickets, However, the dropped catches in the vital moments, including twice by Karun Nair off Iyer’s bat meant they suffered their fourth defeat. Meanwhile, the Punjab Kings are yet to suffer a loss this year. The Capitals got to 264 on the back of KL Rahul’s 152* but it ended up in a losing cause.
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