Shreyas Iyer is having a tough IPL 2026 season (Source: AFP Photos)
Cricket can be funny at times, and there is no room for overconfidence from anyone. Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings and their social media handle felt the heat in the latter half of IPL 2026 very well, and things went from bad to worse on Sunday after their high-octane clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
In the serene landscapes of Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamsala Stadium, Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab hosted Virat Kohli-starred RCB in Match 61 of IPL 2026. Eventually, it was Kohli and his boys who had the last laugh, extending last season's runner-up’s losing streak to six matches.
In case some might forget, Punjab Kings were unbeaten in the first seven matches of IPL 2026. The results included six victories and one washout, and most cricket fans and experts openly stated that there was no way they would miss the IPL 2026 playoffs.
And the unthinkable began to happen: Punjab, wherever they played or whoever they faced, kept losing match after match. Now, they are fourth on the IPL points table, having got six wins and as many defeats after 13 matches.
Punjab Kings Remaining Match In IPL 2026
Having already played 13 matches in the season, Punjab Kings only have one match left. The fixture will be at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, against Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Even though LSG are placed at the bottom of the IPL points table, with four wins and eight defeats, they were in complete control in their previous match, against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The LSG vs PBKS will be match no. 58 of IPL 2026.
| Match No. | Opposition | Date & Time (IST) | Venue |
| 68 | LSG | May 23, 7:30 PM | Lucknow |
Also Read: RCB Become First Team To Officially Qualify For IPL 2026 Playoffs
How Can Punjab Kings Qualify For IPL 2026 Playoffs?
Now, if Punjab Kings win against LSG, they will still only have 15 points in their bag. Now, given the fact that they still have a comparatively better net run rate (+0.227) than the others who are chasing for the spots, it will give them an outside chance to feel that things are yet to be done and dusted.
If Punjab win against LSG, that will be more than the Delhi Capitals' maximum number of points they can get, which is 14. Then they will hope CSK to lose against either SRH or Gujarat Titans, which will keep the five-time champions to 14 points as well.
Just to clear, a win for Punjab over Lucknow will take them to 15 points. Hence, their only challenge for the place would be KKR, who already have a poorer NRR than Punjab Kings. Even though KKR can get to 15 points, a defeat from either of the remaining two fixtures will guarantee their place in the IPL playoffs.
Therefore, it could be safe to say that Punjab Kings can well and truly qualify for the IPL playoffs even if almost everyone has written them off this season.
Also Read: Ricky Ponting Stops Himself From Abusing Arshdeep Singh After Latest Howler
