Punjab Kings (PBKS) began the IPL 2026 season with a statement of intent, remaining unbeaten in their opening seven matches. But the momentum has completely flipped, and after suffering a five-match losing streak, the franchise now finds itself fighting for survival in the playoff race. Their defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday has tightened the qualification picture, and PBKS must win both of their remaining fixtures to keep their campaign alive.
Quick facts
- PBKS were unbeaten in their first seven IPL 2026 games, with 6 wins and 1 no-result.
- The side has now lost five games in a row after the loss to MI on Thursday.
- PBKS need to win both remaining matches to qualify for the next round.
- Assistant coach Brad Haddin urged the squad to treat the situation as “no tomorrow”.
- PBKS next play Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday.
Earlier in the season, PBKS looked poised to secure a place in the top two, with their strong start putting them on a clear pathway to the business end of the tournament. However, the standings have swung dramatically, and the team that once appeared comfortably positioned is no longer guaranteed even a top-four finish. In the wake of the MI loss, the message from the coaching staff has been direct: focus exclusively on the remaining games and accept there is no room for slip-ups.
Brad Haddin, speaking to the media in the press conference after the match, acknowledged the disappointment of how the tournament has unfolded so far. He stressed that while there are still two matches left, PBKS cannot afford to treat anything lightly—every performance must come at full intensity because results are now the only thing that matters. His view was that qualification still remains within their control, but only if they deliver at the required level immediately.
“We’ve still got two games to go. And the one thing is that destiny is still in our hands. We have to find a way. And now, there’s no tomorrow. There’s no talking about anything else. We have to win our remaining games now. And that’s as simple as it is. We’re as disappointed as you guys with the way we started the tournament and where we are now. We have to find a way now to play our best cricket in the next couple of games to hopefully get the opportunity to play in the finals,” Haddin said.
Pressure is the IPL’s real test
Haddin also addressed the way PBKS have struggled when matches have turned tense. In his assessment, IPL cricket is built around handling high-pressure moments, and responding to those situations is not optional at this stage. He pointed out that the recent defeats have not reflected the team’s best cricket, and called for the players to arrest the slide by showing composure and clarity when it counts most.
He emphasised that pressure is present throughout the tournament, but becomes even more significant as the league phase reaches its decisive phase. The former Australia batter urged the squad not to overthink outcomes, but instead to stay locked into the process of finding ways to remain competitive in every phase of play.
“I think the whole tournament, it’s pressure the whole time. And especially this stage where we’re at the tournament, this is what IPL cricket is about. You’ve got to be able to handle the big moments, you’ve got to be able to handle pressure. We just haven’t been able to handle the pressure in the last few defeats. We haven’t played our best cricket when we need to, which has been disappointing. You’ve got to not think about the outcome. You’ve got to make sure you find a way to get yourself involved in the game,” he added.
Asked about the “outside noise” that has accompanied PBKS’s recent run of results, Haddin said the players are focused on what happens inside the camp. He suggested that social media chatter is not the priority, and that the dressing room environment has been steady despite the difficult stretch.
On the broader issue of criticism and attention beyond the ground, he framed it as part of being a professional sportsperson. His stance was that players must learn to manage distractions and arrive at the crease or wicket with the right mindset, ready to execute under match conditions.
“The dressing room has been good. I’m not up with social media, so I don’t know really what the situation is there. But from inside the camp, we’ve just got to find a way to win a cricket game. Whatever the external noise is, that’s part of playing a professional sport. It’s not always just about the field. You’ve got to deal with everything outside it and make sure when you get across that line, you’re in the right headspace to play,” Haddin asserted.
Punjab Kings will now turn their attention to their next encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, with both remaining matches holding the same level of urgency. With qualification effectively on a knife-edge, PBKS’s response in the upcoming fixture will define whether their season can still be pulled back from the brink.
