In the Dharamsala match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings on Monday, a unique occurrence took place where pacers bowled all 20 overs in an IPL innings for the first time in a decade. The last time this happened was during the 2016 season when Sunrisers Hyderabad used five pacers in a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In the game against Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals opted for an all-pace attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Madhav Tiwari, and Mukesh Kumar. Surprisingly, DC captain Axar Patel, the only spinner in the lineup, did not bowl a single over. This strategy did not quite work out as Punjab Kings managed to score over 200 runs.
This unusual tactic of using only pacers may have been a bold move by Delhi Capitals, but it did not yield the desired results. Despite the pacers bowling all 20 overs, Punjab Kings were able to put up a formidable total on the scoreboard. It will be interesting to see if this trend of using an all-pace attack continues in future IPL matches.
The match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings on May 11, 2026, will be remembered for the rare occurrence of pacers bowling all 20 overs in an IPL innings after a long gap of ten years.
Follow Franchise Cricket for more IPL news.
