Punjab Kings won their first match of IPL 2024 at their new home ground in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, beating Delhi Capitals by four wickets on Saturday (March 23). Sam Curran’s 63 eclipsed Rishabh Pant’s return to cricket as the home side emerged victorious in the first of the two matches on Saturday.

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Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and sent the touring Delhi Capitals into bat first. The dynamite Australian pair of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh opened the innings, smashing the Punjab bowlers with disdain. 

Following Marsh’s wicket on 20, who hit two sixes and as many fours during his brief stay, debutant Shai Hope joined Warner in the middle. The pair added 35 for the second wicket before Harshal Patel removed Warner, caught on 29.

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His wicket brought Delhi’s captain and India’s to-be-poster-boy, Rishabh Pant, at the crease, with the Chandigarh crowd welcoming him with loud cheers. Though Pant’s first run off the bat in over a year was applauded, the home crowd backed Punjab to break the steady stand swiftly.

Punjab pulled back the momentum with two quick wickets, including Pant on 18. While Axar Patel’s little cameo of 21 off 13 kept DC afloat. 

However, it was a stunning show from keeper-batter Abhishek Porel in the end overs, who hit an unbeaten 32 off 10 balls, whacking two biggies and four fours, propelling DC to 174 for nine in 20 overs.

Curran leads PBKS charge

Bought for INR 18 crores at the last mega auction, England’s Sam Curran delivered big time for the home team in the side’s opener in IPL 2024. The left-handed batter led the charge during the chase, registering a mature yet impactful knock of 63, coming in at number four.

Although Captain Dhawan provided PBKS with a quick start, hitting four fours upfront, Prabhsimran Singh carried the momentum forward with a 17-ball 26. 

However, a fifth-wicket stand with compatriot Liam Livingstone saw Curran complete his first fifty of the tournament and put Punjab in the winning position.

DC’s Khaleel Ahmed did tense up the situation for Punjab with two wickets in the penultimate over, which could have been three had Warner not dropped Harpreet Brar in deep; Livingstone smoked his third six of the day in the last over to complete the formalities. 

While Delhi next face Rajasthan Royals in an away clash on March 28, Punjab will travel to Bengaluru for their second game of the season scheduled on March 25. 

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