DPL 2026: Jonty Sidhu's 106* and 3-25 fire Central Delhi Kings into final
Synopsis
Jonty Sidhu turned in a match-defining all-round display — a blistering unbeaten 106 off just 46 balls followed by 3 for 25 — to single-handedly drag Central Delhi Kings into the DPL 2026 final. It was his maiden T20 century, and he says months of deliberate reinvention from red-ball specialist to T20 finisher made it possible.
Key Takeaways
Jonty Sidhu smashed an unbeaten 106 off 46 balls and took 3 for 25 in DPL 2026 Qualifier 2 on 29 August .
Central Delhi Kings beat Purani Dilli 6 by 72 runs , restricting them to 146 in reply to 218 for 5 .
Money Grewal (2-27) and Tejas Baroka (2-19) supported Sidhu's bowling effort.
Aditya Bhandari contributed an unbeaten 24 off 12 balls in a key death-overs partnership with Sidhu.
Central Delhi Kings will face South Delhi Superstarz in the DPL 2026 final on Sunday .
The century was Sidhu's first in T20 cricket , achieved after 6–7 months of focused T20 batting development.
Central Delhi Kings captain Jonty Sidhu delivered one of the standout all-round performances of the 2026 Delhi Premier League (DPL), smashing an unbeaten 106 off 46 balls and then claiming 3 for 25 to power his side to a 72-run victory over Purani Dilli 6 in Qualifier 2 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on 29 August. The win books Central Delhi Kings a place in Sunday's final against South Delhi Superstarz.
Match Summary
Central Delhi Kings posted a commanding 218 for 5, a total that proved too steep for Purani Dilli 6. The chase unravelled quickly as the opposition slumped to 91 for 6 before being bowled out for 146, handing Central Delhi Kings a dominant passage into the title clash.
Alongside Sidhu's three wickets, Money Grewal took 2 for 27 and Tejas Baroka claimed 2 for 19, with all three bowlers executing disciplined spells to shut the innings down.
Sidhu on His Match-Winning Performance
'I am very happy. I contributed significantly for my team with both batting and bowling. At this stage, the team needed this kind of performance the most, so I'm glad it came at the right time,' Sidhu said ahead of the title clash.
The century was Sidhu's first in T20 cricket, and he marked the milestone with a pre-planned celebration. 'We had planned in the hotel that if we were in a winning position, I'd do a special celebration. Manni and I originally planned it, but since Bhandari was out there with me when I completed the hundred, I did it with him. I don't usually celebrate much, but for my first hundred in such a big match, it was necessary!' he said.
Death-Over Partnership That Changed the Game
Aditya Bhandari, who contributed an unbeaten 24 off 12 balls, partnered Sidhu in a decisive late assault. 'Bhandari and I discussed that if we just stayed out there, we would find that one big over to shift momentum. That's exactly what happened — I hit four sixes in an over, Bhandari hit two, and suddenly we were pushing close to 200,' Sidhu revealed.
Sidhu also explained how he read and countered the opposition's bowling plan. 'They were trying to execute wide yorkers against me, so I anticipated where the deliveries would land. I backed myself to counter their strategy, and by God's grace, I got clean hits,' he said.
From Red-Ball Specialist to T20 Finisher
Primarily regarded as a solid red-ball batter on the Ranji Trophy circuit, Sidhu spoke candidly about the work required to reinvent himself as a T20 power hitter. 'We practice red-ball cricket in academies from childhood, but adapting to T20 took me a year or two. I've worked extremely hard over the last 6–7 months to develop this aspect of my game because modern cricket demands it,' he added.
Central Delhi Kings now face South Delhi Superstarz in the DPL 2026 final on Sunday, with Sidhu's form and confidence at a peak heading into the summit clash.
Point of View
And that makes Sunday's final a genuine test of whether a team assembled around a red-ball core can sustain T20 intensity for one more match.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jonty Sidhu score in DPL 2026 Qualifier 2?
Jonty Sidhu scored an unbeaten 106 off 46 balls and also took 3 for 25 with the ball, producing a match-winning all-round performance that sent Central Delhi Kings into the DPL 2026 final.
Who will Central Delhi Kings face in the DPL 2026 final?
Central Delhi Kings will face South Delhi Superstarz in the DPL 2026 final, scheduled for Sunday. Central Delhi Kings qualified by beating Purani Dilli 6 by 72 runs in Qualifier 2.
How did Purani Dilli 6 fare in the chase?
Purani Dilli 6 were bowled out for 146 in pursuit of 219, collapsing to 91 for 6 before being dismissed entirely — falling 72 runs short of the target.
Who else contributed to Central Delhi Kings' bowling in Qualifier 2?
Money Grewal took 2 for 27 and Tejas Baroka claimed 2 for 19 alongside Sidhu's 3 for 25, with all three delivering disciplined spells to wrap up the innings.
How has Jonty Sidhu developed his T20 game?
Sidhu, primarily known as a Ranji Trophy red-ball batter, said he spent 6–7 months working intensively on his T20 hitting. He acknowledged that adapting from red-ball to T20 cricket took him one to two years of dedicated practice.
