In the 58th match of IPL 2026, Punjab Kings (PBKS) faced a 6-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians (MI). This marks PBKS’s fifth consecutive loss. The team must win both of their remaining matches to secure a playoff spot. Assistant coach Brad Haddin stated that the team’s fate is still in their hands.
After 12 matches, Punjab Kings have accumulated 13 points and currently sit fourth in the standings. During a press conference, Haddin emphasized, “We have only two matches left, and our fate is still in our hands. There’s no point discussing anything else. The bottom line is we need to win our remaining matches.”
Haddin highlighted the team’s ability to post significant totals. He remarked, “I believe we performed well to set a competitive total. Mumbai bowled well initially, but we showcased excellent batting in the final overs to reach this score.” He praised MI’s Tilak Varma for his outstanding innings, saying, “We felt we were in control for a long time, but Tilak played a remarkable innings to secure the win for Mumbai. His performance was exceptional and deserves credit.”
Discussing the atmosphere in the camp and the pressure of the tournament’s final stages, Haddin noted, “The entire tournament is always under pressure, especially at this stage. IPL cricket is about handling big moments and enduring pressure. The result is disappointing, but there were positive signs from this match. Now, it’s crucial for us to respond well.”
On the technical aspects of the game, Haddin acknowledged that the scoring levels have changed this season. “We have great faith in every player on our team. What you see in this tournament is immense power. It’s different from what we are used to. Where a score of 200 used to be excellent, now it’s a total that teams don’t fear. We just need to find a way out of this tough situation and regain the form we had at the start of the season.” Punjab Kings will face Royal Challengers Bangalore next in Dharamshala at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium this Sunday.