Why is Punjab Kings wearing black armbands against Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala? Reason will melt your heart

In the match against Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala on May 11, Punjab Kings wore the black armband while walking out to bat first, losing the toss. The armbands were meant to give tribute to Andrew Leipus's mother's demise.

Leipus serves on the side as the lead of the sport science and sports medicine departments. Even though the franchise didn't release the reason of his mother's demise, it's confirmed that she passed away on May 10.

Notably, Punjab Kings signed Andrew Leipus ahead of the 2021 IPL season. He has been with the side for the past six seasons. 

Before joining Punjab Kings (then known as Kings XI Punjab), Leipus had a long-standing association with the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he served as their head physio for 12 seasons from the league's inception in 2008 until 2019.

From 1999 to 2004, he served as a physiotherapist for the Indian national team, where he is credited with modernizing the team's fitness and medical protocols.

Read also: Watch Tim David caught making offensive gestures from dugout after RCB knocked out MI from IPL 2026

PBKS posts 210 after twin 50s from Priyansh and Shreyas

Punjab Kings piled up a commanding 210/5 in 20 overs against Delhi Capitals after being asked to bat first. Priyansh Arya provided a blazing start with 56 off just 33 balls, smashing six sixes and reaching his fifty in only 24 deliveries. Alongside Prabhsimran Singh’s 18, Punjab raced to 72 without loss in the powerplay and brought up the team fifty in just 2.4 overs.

After the openers departed at 78 and 97 respectively, skipper Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings brilliantly with an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls at a strike rate of 163.88. Cooper Connolly added further momentum through a 38-run knock from 27 deliveries, and the pair stitched together a crucial 83-run stand for the third wicket. Punjab crossed 150 in 15.1 overs before Delhi briefly pulled things back through Mitchell Starc’s double strike in the 19th over.

However, Suryansh Shedge’s explosive unbeaten 21 off only eight balls, including two fours and two sixes, ensured a massive finish as Punjab collected 61 runs in the last five overs. Delhi conceded 17 extras, while Starc ended with expensive figures of 2/57.