Punjab Kings are set to lock horns with an already eliminated Mumbai Indians side on Thursday, with the Shreyas Iyer-led team desperate to halt a four-match slide and steer their IPL 2026 campaign back onto firmer ground. Punjab currently sit on 13 points from 11 outings, and to keep their hopes alive for a playoffs spot in the 2026 edition, they likely need to win at least two of their remaining matches. But the contest in Dharamsala is clouded by a significant weather risk, with the India Meteorological Department issuing an Orange Alert for multiple areas across North India.
Based on the latest conditions, Dharamsala is expected to remain under roughly 70 per cent cloud cover, raising the likelihood of a rain delay or even a full washout. Adding to the uncertainty, a heavy spell of rain on the eve of the game disrupted the pre-match preparation for both teams.
If the match is abandoned due to weather, Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians will each receive a point. While that outcome would lift PBKS to 14 points and keep them fractionally ahead of the chase that includes Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, it could simultaneously make it harder for them to finish inside the top two.
For Punjab, the scheduling is challenging as well. After Thursday’s fixture, they will go on to play defending champions RCB, who are already on 16 points, followed by a match against Lucknow Super Giants. With those two matches still to come, their points ceiling would cap at 18.
That ceiling matters because it would sharply limit Punjab’s ability to catch the leading positions. RCB and Gujarat Titans are both tied on 16 points, and for PBKS to overtake either of those teams, they would need results to go strongly in their favour.
There is also a reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in the IPL. Punjab have already experienced a washout this season, with their match versus Kolkata Knight Riders last month being called off due to rain at Eden Gardens.
Not long ago, PBKS were the only side standing unbeaten in the competition, but the nature of T20 cricket and the unpredictable flow of the league means momentum can swing rapidly, for better or worse.
After Punjab’s defeat to Delhi Capitals, captain Shreyas Iyer underlined that the team’s current predicament is ultimately down to their own performances, adding extra urgency to Thursday’s game as they look to recover in the points table.
