Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel-led PBKS vs DC game creates bizarre IPL record

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) clash at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Monday produced one of the strangest records in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. In an era where teams routinely use multiple spin options in T20 cricket, not a single over of spin was bowled across the entire match. Yes, you heard that right.

Fans would’ve come to see the formation of ‘KulCha’ back on the field but neither of them rolled their arm over. Axar Patel himself played as a specialist batter, with Kuldeep Yadav making way for Auqib Nabi in the conditions that offered enough seam.

Yes, all 39 overs in the contest were delivered by pace bowlers as captains Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel independently arrived at the same tactical conclusion to trust the seamers completely on a lively Dharamsala surface offering bounce and movement. DC first did it in the first innings before PBKS replicated the same. Delhi eventually chased down 211 with an over to spare to win by three wickets, but the bigger talking point from the game turned out to be the astonishing bowling statistic.

Most overs of pace in an IPL match

Highest successful chases for Delhi Capitals in IPL

This was also the first-ever successful 200-plus chase in Dharamsala IPL history. Before this, the highest successful chase at the venue was Chennai Super Kings’ pursuit of 193 against Kings XI Punjab in 2010.

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