Shreyas Iyer To Make Tough Calls? PBKS' Strongest XI vs DC- IPL 2026, Match 55

PBKS XI vs DC [Source: AP]

The IPL is set to return to the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, on Monday night as the Punjab Kings face the Delhi Capitals in Match 55 of IPL 2026 at 7:30 PM (IST).

The two sides are on opposite ends of the points table currently, with the Punjab Kings having a shot at going number 1 if they win this. They have 13 points in 10 matches played, while DC, who are 8th, could see their playoff aspirations come crashing down in case of another loss after having 8 points in 11 matches.

PBKS are coming off three losses in a row, where any team would have liked to capitalise on the opportunity; however, even DC have only won once in their last 6 games. So, as PBKS looks to find some rhythm at the back-end of the season, we take a look at their best playing XI for the match.

PBKS Playing XI vs DC- IPL 2026, Match 55

Top-Order: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly

Despite the three losses on the bounce, the Punjab Kings top-order is set to remain intact with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya's pair opening the batting. The duo has given them consistently high-flying starts, led by Prabhsimran Singh's 364 runs at 172.51, while Arya is IPL 2026's batter with the best scoring rate at 242/37 for his 386 runs.

Cooper Connolly scored a 107*(59) in the last match to avoid an embarrassing defeat in Hyderabad and is their leading run-getter with 377 runs in 9 innings at 171.36.

Middle-Order and All-rounders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen

Captain Shreyas Iyer's form has taken a hit in the last three matches, scoring 54 runs in 53 balls. As they play at their second home, he would like to go get back into the groove after 333 runs at 164.03 this season. He will be paired with a fellow Mumbai player, Suryansh Shedge, who has 85 runs in three innings at 177.08, including a 57(29) this season.

The finishers of the team will be Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis. Shashank has only faced 39 balls this season, scoring 74 runs while also spending time off the field with injury. Marcus Stoinis has already played a couple of impactful knocks, including a 62*(22) and has 178 runs in 7 innings at 191.39.

Also Read: Punjab Kings Qualification Scenario For IPL 2026 After Loss vs SRH

Both Stoinis and Shashank could also chip in with the medium pace in case they are needed.

The long batting lineup will end with Marco Jansen, who can swing the long handle at the death and bowl across phases of the innings. He has only picked 6 wickets this season, but would be raring to create an impact again.

Bowlers: Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Lockie Ferguson's express pace will be at Iyer's disposal after his 1/41 vs SRH. He will operate as their middle-overs enforcer and chip in during the death overs to use his experience and fix a leaking bowling lineup.

Despite being expensive throughout the season, Arshdeep Singh remains central to PBKS' chances to turn around their poor form after being their leading wicket-taker with 11 scalps in 10 innings, conceding at 10.42 runs per over.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who has 8 wickets this year, has seen a lot of chances go down on his bowling, including a stumping in the last match. He has bowled some outstanding spells in 9 innings and will lead the spin-attack.

With the impact player, PBKS might try to experiment a bit, considering Vijaykumar Vyshak has gone for 10.85 runs per over this season. The other options include Harpreet Brar or Yash Thakur, according to the pitch.

PBKS Playing XI vs DC- Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal