Well begun is half done — but for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, a dream start was far from securing their destiny.
The first qualifier between RCB and GT is being played at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala today. The Eliminator and Qualifier 2 will follow at Mullanpur, New Chandigarh — both home venues of Punjab Kings, yet both will host playoff matches without them.
The irony is painful: the playoffs are being staged in the Kings’ own backyard, in front of their supporters, while the team watches from the sidelines. Their descent marks one of the most dramatic collapses in IPL history.
IPL 2026: A Dream Start for PBKS
Punjab Kings opened the season looking like a side finally ready to shed two decades of near‑misses. They remained unbeaten through the first seven matches, tasting defeat only in the eighth game against Rajasthan Royals. Their victories were emphatic, highlighted by a record‑breaking run chase of 265 against Delhi Capitals on 25 April 2026.
During this period, their Powerplay strike rate of 180.67 was the best in the tournament, and they smashed 40 sixes in those overs. Opening partners Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya were in relentless rhythm.
After seven games, PBKS’ probability of reaching the playoffs stood at 97 percent — not merely a top‑four contender but a genuine title favorite.
The Slide Begins: Punjab vs Rajasthan
The downturn started on 28 April when Rajasthan Royals chased down PBKS’ total at New Chandigarh, aided by a 77‑run, 32‑ball fifth‑wicket stand from Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey. What seemed a single setback quickly proved to be the opening act of a collapse.
Over the next weeks, Punjab Kings lost six consecutive matches before salvaging a win against Lucknow Super Giants on 23 May. Their playoff odds plummeted from 97 percent to 23 percent after the thirteenth game, a stark illustration of a freefall.
Why the Collapse Happened
The primary issue was death‑over bowling. PBKS claimed only 17 wickets in the final overs across ten innings, at an economy of 11.71 — the worst in the league — and conceded the second‑most sixes overall.
While their top order had masked early vulnerabilities, the second half exposed them. Frequent top‑order collapses, unfavorable tosses (batting first in three of their last four games), and a loss of confidence eroded their sharpness. Dropped catches proved costly, such as Shashank Singh’s miss of KL Rahul, who went on to score an unbeaten 152.
The Final Twist
In the last league match, Shreyas Iyer produced a stunning unbeaten 101 off 51 balls, guiding PBKS to chase 200 in just 18 overs and win by seven wickets. The innings showcased the team’s potential, but it arrived too late.
Punjab Kings finished fifth with 15 points, one point shy of Rajasthan Royals, who claimed the final playoff berth. Starting 6‑0 and ending 7‑7, the campaign has been labeled a “generational choke” by many fans.
A Season That Will Haunt Punjab Kings
For Punjab Kings, IPL 2026 was their strongest shot at ending an 18‑year drought. After a league‑stage triumph in 2025 that led to a narrow final loss, they entered 2026 with record‑breaking performances, a solid batting framework, and a capable captain.
Yet the season ended in disappointment. Head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer face tough questions in the off‑season. While the batting blueprint is solid, a death‑over attack conceding 11.71 runs cannot win an IPL, regardless of how many 265‑run chases the top order pulls off.
The upcoming playoffs in Dharamsala and Mullanpur will be staged on grounds the Kings built, but another team will claim the spotlight.