Punjab Kings in freefall after 6 defeats in a row. Can they still reach playoffs?
IPL 2026, PBKS vs RCB: Shreyas Iyer's Punjab Kings lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 17 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala and are now in serious trouble as far as qualifying for the playoffs is concerned.
For Punjab Kings, the situation has turned increasingly alarming in IPL 2026. Once table-toppers after a flying start, PBKS have now suffered a dramatic mid-season collapse, slipping out of momentum at the worst possible time. On Sunday, May 17, Shreyas Iyer’s men slumped to a 23-run defeat at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) officially booked their berth in the playoffs.
Their defeat has intensified the pressure further. The loss not only denied them crucial points but also pushed them into a scenario where qualification is no longer in their control. With only one league match remaining, PBKS are in all sorts of trouble. Their situation is even more shocking given that they began their campaign with a seven-match unbeaten run.
PBKS vs RCB: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
On Sunday, RCB posted a strong 222 for four, driven by a fluent top-order effort. Virat Kohli led the charge with 58 off 37 balls, setting the tempo early, while Devdutt Padikkal and Venkatesh Iyer ensured steady momentum through the middle overs. RCB maintained a healthy scoring rate throughout and finished strongly, crossing 220 despite disciplined spells from the PBKS bowlers.
In response, PBKS suffered an early setback as Priyansh Arya was dismissed for a duck in the first over, immediately putting them under pressure. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with RCB’s pace attack controlling the powerplay effectively. At one stage, PBKS were reduced to 38 for three in five overs, struggling to build any meaningful partnerships.
Brief resistance came from Cooper Connolly and Shashank Singh, but the increasing required rate forced risky shots. RCB’s bowling unit, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Suyash Sharma, kept things tight and struck at key moments. Despite some middle-order cameos, PBKS never recovered from the early collapse.
How can Punjab Kings reach the IPL 2026 playoffs?
PBKS will play their final league match against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 23, and they must win that game to keep their playoff hopes alive. If PBKS lose that game, they will finish on 13 points and be eliminated from the competition.
Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad can all push PBKS further down the points table even if they manage to win their last game.
Moreover, after their defeat to RCB, PBKS will not finish in the top two, a position that once seemed highly likely after their extraordinary run in the first half of the tournament.
But now, the maximum they can reach is 15 points, which means that even if they qualify for the playoffs, they would need to win three matches on the trot (Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final) to clinch the title.
If Rajasthan Royals beat the Delhi Capitals on Sunday, PBKS will also slip out of the top four and drop to fifth in the points table.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
For Punjab Kings, the situation has turned increasingly alarming in IPL 2026. Once table-toppers after a flying start, PBKS have now suffered a dramatic mid-season collapse, slipping out of momentum at the worst possible time. On Sunday, May 17, Shreyas Iyer’s men slumped to a 23-run defeat at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) officially booked their berth in the playoffs.
Their defeat has intensified the pressure further. The loss not only denied them crucial points but also pushed them into a scenario where qualification is no longer in their control. With only one league match remaining, PBKS are in all sorts of trouble. Their situation is even more shocking given that they began their campaign with a seven-match unbeaten run.
PBKS vs RCB: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
On Sunday, RCB posted a strong 222 for four, driven by a fluent top-order effort. Virat Kohli led the charge with 58 off 37 balls, setting the tempo early, while Devdutt Padikkal and Venkatesh Iyer ensured steady momentum through the middle overs. RCB maintained a healthy scoring rate throughout and finished strongly, crossing 220 despite disciplined spells from the PBKS bowlers.
In response, PBKS suffered an early setback as Priyansh Arya was dismissed for a duck in the first over, immediately putting them under pressure. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with RCB’s pace attack controlling the powerplay effectively. At one stage, PBKS were reduced to 38 for three in five overs, struggling to build any meaningful partnerships.
Brief resistance came from Cooper Connolly and Shashank Singh, but the increasing required rate forced risky shots. RCB’s bowling unit, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Suyash Sharma, kept things tight and struck at key moments. Despite some middle-order cameos, PBKS never recovered from the early collapse.
How can Punjab Kings reach the IPL 2026 playoffs?
PBKS will play their final league match against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 23, and they must win that game to keep their playoff hopes alive. If PBKS lose that game, they will finish on 13 points and be eliminated from the competition.
Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad can all push PBKS further down the points table even if they manage to win their last game.
Moreover, after their defeat to RCB, PBKS will not finish in the top two, a position that once seemed highly likely after their extraordinary run in the first half of the tournament.
But now, the maximum they can reach is 15 points, which means that even if they qualify for the playoffs, they would need to win three matches on the trot (Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final) to clinch the title.
If Rajasthan Royals beat the Delhi Capitals on Sunday, PBKS will also slip out of the top four and drop to fifth in the points table.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
