Punjab Kings finally snapped a long losing run, sealing a crucial win after dropping six straight. The victory has kept their playoff hopes firmly alive, with the team now able to hold that final qualification spot in their own hands. Their next step is to wait for results elsewhere—most importantly from Mumbai Indians. Welcome to Cricbuzz Pulse, your quick two-minute tour through the latest IPL talking points.
Last night in five key moments
- Josh Inglis got Punjab Kings off to a brisk start, striking four fours in the opening over as he went on to make 72.
- Ayush Badoni responded in the powerplay after early setbacks, launching a counter-attack.
- Abdul Samad provided the late push that helped LSG post 196.
- Prabhsimran and Shreyas Iyer steadied the chase after LSG’s early breakthroughs.
- Prabhsimran made 69, but it was Iyer’s maiden IPL hundred—hit when it mattered most—that delivered the win for Punjab Kings.
Replacement drama across the league
With just about a week left in the tournament, the IPL saw plenty of last-minute reshuffling—an unusual sight so close to the finish line. Ahead of a must-win showdown against Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals brought in Emanjot Chahal as a replacement for the injured Ravi Singh.
Mumbai Indians, however, made their own surprise call by naming Mahipal Lomror and Ruchit Ahir as replacement options despite the fact that they have only one match remaining in their IPL 2026 campaign. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru did not publicly frame their move as a replacement in the same way, but they did confirm that Jacob Bethell will miss the playoffs because of a finger injury. The English all-rounder is expected to return to his home country to recover.
Pulse Awards
LSG’s team management picked up the “party-pooper award” for the way they handled information leaving fantasy managers blindsided. Even if it wasn’t strictly a on-field issue, the franchise’s decision to keep Mitchell Marsh’s departure under wraps created major damage for fantasy sides that had already slotted him into their XI.
Suryansh Shedge then earned the “accidental-villain award” for almost stealing that same spotlight from LSG. As Shreyas Iyer moved towards his century, Shedge briefly tried to force the issue by hitting rather than rotating strike. Fortunately for the skipper, Iyer still completed the milestone.
There was also recognition for LSG off the field, with the “gentle-reminder award” after Arjun Tendulkar finally got a game in the final match of their season. The message was clear: Tendulkar will no longer be part of Mumbai Indians going forward.
Josh Inglis received the “last-seen-in-2025 award” after his 2025 success with Punjab Kings came with a familiar backstory. Following their bitter split after that earlier stint, the franchise spent months wondering whether he would be available for 2026—only for him to appear at the worst possible time, smashing a match-defining 72. Inglis won the day, but Punjab Kings also came out on top.
Finally, Mumbai Indians were handed the “fighting-for-relevance award” for naming injury replacements less than 24 hours before their last IPL 2026 game, including the choices of Mahipal Lomror and Ruchit Ahir.
Talking point: Shreyas Iyer’s breakthrough
The long wait for Shreyas Iyer finally ended during his 11th IPL campaign. Having never scored a century in the league before, he arrived at the perfect time — taking advantage of the chase despite early wickets to steady things before accelerating into the hundred. Only Shikhar Dhawan (167) has reached a maiden IPL century in more innings than Iyer (145), underlining how significant this moment is for the batter.
Chatter from the dressing room
After the win, Shreyas Iyer praised Prabhsimran for the way he went after bowlers, saying, “Prabh, the way he took on the bowlers, it takes two to tango. He seriously showed us what he’s capable of.”
In another revealing comment, Iyer said he had told Ricky not to overcomplicate things with meetings: “Today I literally told Ricky that let’s not do any team meetings.”
Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting backed his skipper with high praise, stating that, “there’s a bigger, brighter future for him in the Indian T20 team.” Ponting also added, “Even if he was 25, I think we’d be talking about him. I think age hasn’t come into it.”
Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Trevor Penney spoke about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, describing him as a “boy wonder” and saying, “He’s broken quite a few limbs in this tournament already.”
KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar, meanwhile, was full of admiration for Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of the must-win match against Delhi Capitals, expressing that he was “in awe” of the spinner.
Stat snack
Prabhsimran Singh became the first uncapped Indian to reach over 500 runs across multiple IPL seasons—an outcome that reflects the franchise’s long-term belief in him.
Gossip column: pink-ball talk and a surprise twist
Word is spreading that the IPL batting fraternity is set to hold an emergency meeting soon. The initial plan for their next discussion was tied to the debate around the Impact Player rule being removed, but the agenda appears to have shifted dramatically within the past 24 hours.
The new buzz is about the potential for teams to use a pink ball in a traditional Test match. And yes, the chatter is specifically concerned about the prospect of that same ball turning pink in an IPL game—something they clearly do not want.
Tonight’s watchlist
IPL 2026 finishes with a double header. Mumbai Indians will complete their league campaign after their afternoon match against Rajasthan Royals. If the Royals win, then the final league clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals could become a dead rubber.
If Rajasthan fail to win, then several qualification possibilities will return to the spotlight, including scenarios that could leave Punjab Kings hoping for specific results—particularly wins involving Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, alongside a large result from KKR.
Reckless prediction
Ricky Ponting is expected to throw his cap in frustration inside his hotel room at around 7:30 in the evening. And if that happens, it’s hard not to think of Rahul Dravid—2014 all over again.
