But pbks

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone played starring roles with the bat as Punjab Kings got their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign off to a flying start with a four-wicket win over Delhi Capitals at their new home ground, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

It was a seesaw battle between the two teams with base in North India on a solid black soil pitch bereft of grass. But PBKS always had their noses ahead in the chase, especially with Ishant Sharma going off the field after twisting his right ankle while fielding in the sixth over.

It meant DC’s bowlers, barring a superb Kuldeep Yadav, didn’t come well, apart from dropped catches adding more misery to their woes in a game which was also their captain Rishabh Pant’s first competitive cricket game after a 14-month layoff to recover from injuries suffered in a near-fatal car accident in December 2022.