Punjab Kings (PBKS) finally broke their losing streak, as they sealed their first win after six consecutive losses. This was a must-win game for PBKS as their hopes for a playoff place in the tournament was hanging in the balance, especially after their string of recent losses.
However, with their win against LSG by xx wickets, they finally solidified their chancesof qualifying for the final four stage. However, two other teams – Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – are also well in the race for qualifying for playoffs.
How RR, PBKS, KKR Can Qualify For Playoffs
Rajasthan Royals are in pole position to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs. They are on 14 points from 14 games, and if they win their final game of the tournament against Mumbai Indians, they would reach the business end of the tournament with 16 points.
Punjab Kings are on 15 points with a Net Run Rate of +0.31, which is far greater than KKR’s +0.11. Hence, PBKS would be primarily looking for RR to lose the game against MI. If KKR lose against DC as well in the final league game of the tournament, then PBKS will qualify straight.
If KKR win the match vs DC, they would be level on points with PBKS. They would need to cross PBKS’s NRR in order to overtake them and qualify for the final four. KKR would also hope that MI defeat RR.
Shreyas Iyer Century Guides PBKS To Massive Win
Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bat in the first innings of the crucial match, that would decide their fate in the IPL 2026 playoffs. They got off to a disastrous start, as they lost the wickets of Arshin Kulkarni and Nicholas Pooran. Ayush Badoni then looked good, but was dismissed for 43 runs from just 18 deliveries.
After these early wickets, Rishabh Pant and Josh Inglis went on to stitch a 65-run stand to stabilize the mid-innings. Even after Pant got out, Inglis continued the onslaught. He ultimately went on to score 72 from 44 balls, in an innings studded with 9 fours and two sixes.
Abdul Samad then played a whirlwind cameo at the end, slamming 37 runs from 20 balls, as they hit 196/6 at the end of the 20 overs.
Coming in to bat in the second innings, PBKS got off to a disastrous start as they lost the early wickets of Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly. After that, Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh stitched a massive stand of 140 from 76 deliveries.
Prabhsimran Singh departed for 69, but Shreyas continued the great form. He went on to hit 101 runs and remained unbeaten, thus hitting his maiden IPL century. He played a captain’s knock to guide PBKS to a 7-wicket win with two overs remaining.