Priyansh Arya (BCCI/IPL Photo) 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 up and smashed Starc for a stunning six over cover point, putting Delhi Capitals under immediate pressure and lighting up the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium crowd.
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Why Suryakumar Yadav Will Lose India T20I Captaincy: Everything You Need To KnowThe shot also helped Priyansh enter the elite list of IPL batsmen, hitting a six on the very first ball of the match. Only a handful of players have achieved the rare feat before him – Naman Ojha against Brad Hodge in Durban in 2009, Virat Kohli against Varun Aaron in Bengaluru in 2019, Phil Salt against Nuwan Thushar in Kolkata in 2024 and Priyansh himself against Khaleel Ahmed in Mullanpur in 2025.Interestingly, earlier this season, Yashasvi Jaiswal also smashed Starc for a six off the opening ball in Jaipur.With this latest maximum, Yashasvi continues to lead the chart for most sixes off the first ball of an IPL innings with four, while Priyansh has moved into second place with three.Earlier, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and opted to field first. Delhi made five changes to their playing XI, bringing in Abishek Porel, Sahil Parekh, David Miller, Madhav Tiwari and Aaquib Nabi.Punjab Kings, meanwhile, handed a debut to Australian left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis, who replaced the injured Lockie Ferguson.Six off the first ball of the IPL matchNaman Ojha (RR) off Brad Hodge (KKR), Durban, 2009Virat Kohli (RCB) off Varun Aaron (RR), Bengaluru, 2019Phil Salt (KKR) from Nuwan Thushara (MI), Kolkata, 2024Priyansh Arya (PBKS) from Khaleel Ahmed (CSK), Mullanpur, 2025Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) from Mitchell Starc (DC), Jaipur, 2026Priyansh Arya (PBKS) from Mitchell Starc (DC), Dharamsala, 2026*You mostly hit a six on the first ball of an IPL innings4 – Yashasvi Jaiswal3- Priyansh AryaPBKS vs DC: Playing XIPunjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Ben Dwarshuis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul (wk), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi Dar, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi.
