Punjab Kings lost to Mumbai Indians by 6 wickets. Courtesy: Reuters

Shoddy PBKS lose 5 in a row. Can Shreyas Iyer's men qualify for playoffs?

IPL 2026, PBKS vs MI: Punjab Kings have now lost five matches in a row and find themselves in a tricky position heading into their final two league games, with the race for the playoffs intensifying with every passing match.

14 May 2026, 18:28 by Sabyasachi Chowdhury · India Today

In Short

MI beat PBKS by 6 wickets on Thursday
PBKS failed to defend 200 in Dharamsala
PBKS are currently placed fourth in the table

Punjab Kings are in all sorts of trouble in IPL 2026. They began their campaign in stunning fashion, remaining unbeaten through their first seven matches and comfortably sitting at the top of the points table. However, their season has taken a dramatic turn, and they are now in serious danger of losing their place in the top four.

Shreyas Iyer’s men have completely lost momentum at a crucial stage of the tournament and now face the real possibility of crashing out of the competition. On Thursday, May 14, PBKS suffered a heartbreaking six-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.

IPL 2026, PBKS vs MI | Highlights | Scorecard

After being asked to bat first, Punjab managed to post a competitive total of 200 for eight. Prabhsimran Singh once again provided a strong foundation with a fluent 57-run knock at the top, but PBKS struggled to maintain the same momentum through the middle overs, where Shardul Thakur turned the game with a brilliant four-wicket haul.

Azmatullah Omarzai, playing his first match of the season, injected much-needed energy into the innings with a quickfire 38, ensuring Punjab touched the 200-run mark and finished with a total that looked highly competitive on the Dharamsala surface.

For a large part of the chase, the Punjab bowlers kept Mumbai under pressure and firmly in check. At one stage, MI still required 51 runs from the final three overs, leaving PBKS in a commanding position. However, Tilak Varma produced a sensational unbeaten 75, guiding Mumbai over the line with just one ball remaining.

PBKS enjoyed plenty of breathing space after their dream start, but the situation has now become extremely tense heading into their final two league matches. They will have everything to play for when they take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 17, with all four playoff spots still very much up for grabs.

Here’s how the scenario looks for Punjab Kings

Scenario 1: 2 wins

If Punjab Kings win both of their remaining matches, they will move to 17 points and secure qualification for the playoffs.

Scenario 2: 1 win, 1 defeat

If Punjab Kings win one match and lose the other, they will finish on 15 points, meaning qualification will no longer be in their hands. They would then have to rely on other results and net run rate to secure a playoff spot.

Scenario 3: 2 defeats

If Punjab Kings lose both of their remaining matches, they will finish on 13 points and fall short of a playoff berth. No team with 13 or fewer points has managed to finish in the top four in a 10-team IPL season so far.

- Ends