New Delhi: Mitchell Starc was all set to open the bowling for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings in their crucial IPL 2026 clash in Dharamsala. But PBKS opener Priyansh Arya had other plans. On the very first ball of the match, Priyansh stepped out and hit Starc for a brilliant six at cover point, putting Delhi Capitals under immediate pressure and lighting up the crowd at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
This shot also helped Priyansh enter the list of elite batsmen of IPL for hitting a six off the very first ball of the match. Only a few players had achieved this rare feat before him – Naman Ojha against Brad Hodge in Durban in 2009; Virat Kohli Against Varun Arun in Bengaluru in 2019, Full Salt against Nuvan Thishara in Kolkata in 2024, and Priyansh himself against Khalil Ahmed in Milanpur in 2025.Interestingly, earlier this season Yashvi Jaiswal also hit Starc for a six off the opening ball in Jaipur.With this latest maximum, Yashasvi tops the chart for most sixes off the first ball of an IPL innings with four, while Priyansh moves to the second spot with three.Earlier, Delhi Capitals captain Akshar Patel won the toss and decided to field first. Delhi made five changes to their playing XI, including Abhishek Poral, Sahil Parekh, David Miller, Madhav Tiwary and Aqib Nabi.Meanwhile, Punjab Kings debuted Australian left-arm fast bowler Ben Dershuis, who replaced the injured Loki Ferguson.A six on the first ball of an IPL matchNaman Ojha (RR) off Brad Hodge (KKR), Durban, 2009Virat Kohli (RCB) Varun Aaron (RR), Bengaluru, 2019Full Salt (KKR) Nuvan Thishara (MI), Kolkata, 2024Priyansh Arya (PBKS) Khalil Ahmed (CSK), Milanpur, 2025Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) Mitchell Starc (DC), Jaipur, 2026Priyansh Arya (PBKS) Mitchell Starc (DC), Dharamsala, 2026*Most of the times, hitting a six on the first ball of an IPL innings4 – Yashvi Jaiswal3 – Priyansh AryaPBKS vs. DC: Playing XIsPunjab Kings: Prabhasmaran Singh (wicket), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryanesh Shedge, Marcus Stoins, Shashank Singh, Marco Johnson, Ben Drushuis, Arsdeep Singh, Yuzvinder Chahal.Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul (wicket), Abhishek Poral, Sahil Parikh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Aqib Nabi Dar, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi.
