Punjab Kings’ IPL season has swung sharply from celebration to concern after a blistering start that looked almost untouchable. The franchise began the campaign with real authority, going unbeaten in the first stretch of the league phase—winning six matches and drawing one—before their form completely evaporated in the final phase. Instead of building toward the playoffs, Punjab have slid into a difficult stretch, losing five straight games, and their chances of finishing in the top four are now hanging by a thread. Even a win in their last league match is unlikely to guarantee progress on its own. If Punjab beat Lucknow Super Giants in their final fixture on Saturday, they will still need help from elsewhere, with the results involving Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders determining whether their playoff hopes survive. What once looked like a comfortable qualification path has become a tense waiting game for favourable outcomes across the league.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag, who has previously been linked with Punjab Kings as both a player and a coach, drew a comparison between the current situation and the kind of self-inflicted problems that can derail a team at the business end of a tournament. He suggested that Punjab’s recent collapse has largely come from errors made by the side itself. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag said Punjab have essentially “taken the axe” on their own foot, arguing that in several of the matches from that stretch, they should have closed out games but failed to do so due to significant mistakes.
Former India batter Manoj Tiwary believes Punjab Kings need to look closely at how they structure their bowling group after the run of disappointing results. In his view, the slump has coincided with certain selection calls, particularly the impact of Lockie Ferguson’s inclusion. Tiwary also pointed toward Marco Jansen’s return as a potential fix, while insisting that Arshdeep Singh must raise his level during the most crucial part of the league. He said he expects Harpreet Brar to hold his place, but feels that Marco Jansen should come back into the XI instead of Lockie Ferguson, claiming that the latter has been costly in the matches he played. Tiwary added that the momentum began to slip when the bowling change involving Lockie was made, and he stressed that Arshdeep has also struggled with costliness since then, making it essential for him to deliver in the decisive period of the season.
With their position currently sitting in fifth place, Punjab Kings face a two-step task to keep their playoff dream alive. First, they must defeat Lucknow Super Giants in their last league match on Saturday. Even if they succeed, qualification will still depend on outcomes from Sunday’s schedule, which features a double-header: Mumbai Indians against Rajasthan Royals, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Delhi Capitals. Punjab, led by Shreyas Iyer, will be hoping for slips from both Mumbai and Kolkata in those contests, because a favourable combination of results is what could open the door for a top-four finish now that their control over qualification is no longer complete.
