Monday night delivered another setback for Punjab Kings, as they suffered a fourth straight defeat in IPL 2026. After dropping three consecutive games to Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shreyas Iyer’s team then went down to Delhi Capitals by three wickets in Dharamsala—despite putting up a competitive 210 for 5 and looking well placed after a bright start to the chase.
PBKS innings: 210/5, then a late surge
- Punjab began with real intent, with openers Priyansh Arya (56) and Prabhsimran Singh (18) combining for a 78-run partnership.
- From there, skipper Shreyas Iyer kept the scoreboard moving, finishing unbeaten on 59 to help PBKS stay on track.
- The innings’ momentum spike came from Suryansh Shedge, who struck 21 off only 8 balls after coming in at number 7.
- Shedge faced Mitchell Starc, who had already removed Marcus Stoinis (1) and Shashank Singh (0) and was looking at a hat-trick.
- Starc’s hat-trick moment was overturned when Shedge smashed a huge six off that delivery, sparking loud support from the crowd.
- That burst pushed Punjab from 187 to 210, with the team eventually posting 210/5 in their 20 overs.
DC chase: from 33/3 to the finish
Punjab’s total looked even more imposing after Delhi were restricted early. DC slipped to 33/3 in 4.3 overs, putting the match on a tight leash for the visitors. Yet Axar Patel and David Miller swung the contest back in DC’s favour with crucial half-century contributions, while Madhav Tiwari added an 18-run cameo that helped maintain the chase tempo.
In the end, Delhi Capitals chased the target with one over to spare, completing the three-wicket win.
Shedge’s impact isn’t new
The standout moment from Shedge in Dharamsala was not a one-off. Earlier in the season, against Gujarat Titans, the Mumbai-based batter had produced a fiery half-century that helped PBKS set a competitive total.
IPL 2026 turning point: a dominant start, a painful second half
PBKS had begun IPL 2026 with impressive momentum, winning six matches and seeing one washed out in their first seven outings. However, the second half has been far harsher—four successive losses have now placed their playoff chances under serious threat.
With another collapse appearing to loom, attention has turned to whether the team’s batting order decisions—particularly around Shedge—have been correct. While the top order and number three Cooper Connolly, along with number four Shreyas Iyer, have delivered encouraging displays, Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh have struggled to make consistent contributions.
Given Shedge’s aggressive approach and his knack for providing impact from the lower order, there is growing belief that moving him higher—potentially ahead of Stoinis at number 5—could change PBKS’s fortunes. With three key fixtures still to come against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants, Shedge’s batting position could become a crucial lever for the franchise as they try to reverse their slide.
Even though Punjab held the upper hand for much of the contest against DC, they faded during the closing phases as Delhi steadied themselves and completed the turnaround to keep their playoff hopes alive.
If PBKS are to avoid another repeat of the kind of collapse that previously defined their campaign in IPL 2018, they will need to adjust quickly—both in planning and in execution—to regain momentum and keep their season firmly on track.
