PBKS IPL 2026 review: From table-toppers to playoff exit — how Punjab Kings’ season unravelled | Cricket News

Punjab Kings players (ANI Photo)

Punjab Kings entered IPL 2026 carrying massive expectations after finishing runners-up the previous season under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. For nearly half the tournament, PBKS looked like the most complete and fearless side in the competition. They won six of their opening seven matches, while one game ended in a no-result, and spent 22 days at the top of the table looking destined for a top-two finish.Their campaign even produced one of the greatest chases in T20 history when they stunned Delhi Capitals by successfully chasing 265, leaving KL Rahul’s 152 in vain. It genuinely felt like Punjab had finally built a side capable of winning the IPL title.What followed was one of the most dramatic collapses in the IPL history. Punjab lost six consecutive matches in the second half of the season, completely losing momentum at the worst possible time. Despite winning their final league game, PBKS eventually finished fifth on the table, just one point short of qualification.Heading into the final league day, PBKS still had a playoff chance alive. Punjab needed Rajasthan Royals to lose against Mumbai Indians to sneak into the top four. But RR held their nerves, sealed qualification, and Punjab’s campaign officially came to an end.A side that once looked untouchable somehow managed to get eliminated in the league stage.

Main reasons behind Punjab Kings missing the IPL 2026 playoffs

1. Bowling collapse completely derailed their campaignPunjab’s biggest weakness throughout IPL 2026 was unquestionably their bowling attack. While the batting unit consistently posted competitive totals, the bowlers simply failed to defend them.Statistically, PBKS had one of the weakest bowling seasons in the tournament:

These numbers reflected a bowling unit that neither created pressure nor consistently took wickets.PBKS crossed the 200-run mark 10 times during the season, yet still lost multiple games from winning positions. They failed to defend 200-plus totals on various occasions, exposing their inability to close out matches under pressure.Their death bowling became a recurring nightmare. Punjab lost three matches in the final over itself, including games against Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals where they looked firmly in control. Those narrow defeats ultimately became the difference between qualification and elimination.

Arshdeep Singh (BCCI/IPL Photo)

2. Overdependence on pace and underuse of spinPunjab’s bowling strategy itself appeared flawed throughout the season. The management leaned heavily towards seam bowling and barely trusted their spin attack, even on dry surfaces where spinners usually dominate.PBKS spinners bowled only 59 overs all season, the fewest by any team in IPL 2026. That tactical decision hurt them badly in the middle overs where opposition batters often attacked freely without scoreboard pressure.Much of the responsibility rested on Yuzvendra Chahal, but the veteran leg-spinner endured a frustrating season. Chahal picked up 12 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 9.39, but the numbers only told part of the story.There were several matches where Iyer surprisingly did not even allow Chahal to complete his full quota of four overs, reflecting the management’s lack of trust in their lead spinner during pressure situations. Chahal also suffered because of poor fielding support. A staggering eight catches were dropped off his bowling across the season, severely hurting his wicket tally and rhythm.Punjab’s refusal to consistently back spin became one of the major tactical errors of their campaign.Ironically, the most economical spinner in the squad, Harpreet Brar, featured in only two games despite maintaining an economy of 7.50.3. Arshdeep and the pace attack failed to dominateArshdeep Singh finished as Punjab’s highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 14 games, but even his campaign reflected the struggles of the bowling unit. The left-arm pacer conceded runs at an economy of 10.20 and failed to provide regular breakthroughs in the powerplay.For large parts of the season, Arshdeep looked like a shadow of the bowler who has become one of India’s premier T20 pacers.Marco Jansen also failed to justify expectations. The South African all-rounder managed only nine wickets in 13 games while conceding at 10.20 per over. His contributions with the bat were minimal too, scoring just 51 runs at an average of 12.75 and strike rate of 113.33.Vijayakumar Vyshak struggled for consistency, while Lockie Ferguson lost the confidence of the management after repeated expensive spells.The lack of a reliable wicket-taking bowler and dependable death specialist completely exposed Punjab during the business end of the tournament.4. Fielding errors shattered momentumIf bowling was Punjab’s biggest technical weakness, fielding was their biggest psychological problem.PBKS dropped 16 catches from 56 opportunities, one of the worst records in the league. Several of those mistakes directly cost them matches.Coach Ricky Ponting admitted that the poor catching spread through the dressing room “like a virus,” while Iyer described it as the “biggest setback of the season.”The mistakes kept repeating across venues and conditions, creating a nervous atmosphere inside the squad during crunch moments.5. Middle-order inconsistency hurt them badlyWhile Punjab’s top order performed strongly, their middle and lower order failed to consistently deliver under pressure.Apart from Iyer, no middle-order batter regularly stepped up during difficult situations. Once early wickets fell, PBKS often looked vulnerable.The management expected players like Marcus Stoinis and others to provide finishing stability, but those contributions came only in patches. During the second half of the season, Punjab repeatedly lost momentum in the middle overs after strong starts from the top order.This is one area PBKS are expected to address aggressively in the next auction. Punjab will likely target an experienced middle-order batter capable of batting between No.5 and No.7 and finishing games calmly under pressure.6. Change in home venues disrupted momentumAnother underrated factor behind Punjab’s collapse was the decision to split their home games between Mullanpur and Dharamsala during the season.PBKS looked settled and dominant while playing in Mullanpur, where their aggressive batting approach perfectly suited the conditions. But once the tournament entered the business end and the team shifted base to Dharamsala, their momentum completely disappeared. Punjab lost all three matches at the venue, which effectively ended their playoff hopes.Ravichandran Ashwin heavily criticised the Punjab Kings management for changing home venues mid-season, calling it one of the major reasons behind their late collapse. Ashwin pointed out that successful IPL teams usually build consistency around one venue and one set of conditions, something PBKS failed to do.The shift also exposed Punjab’s bowling weaknesses further. Dharamsala offered different conditions, but PBKS continued with the same combinations and tactics despite already struggling badly with the ball.At a stage where momentum and familiarity became crucial, Punjab’s venue switch only added more instability to a campaign that was already beginning to unravel.

Shreyas Iyer (ANI Photo)

IPL 2026: PBKS’ Report Card

Batting: 8/10Punjab’s batting remained one of the strongest units in IPL 2026 and was the primary reason they stayed in playoff contention for so long.Prabhsimran Singh emerged as their highest run-scorer, smashing 510 runs in 14 matches at an average of 42.50 and strike rate of 168.87. His aggressive starts regularly put opposition bowlers under pressure.Iyer himself enjoyed an outstanding season at No.4, scoring 498 runs at an average of 55.33 and strike rate of 168.81 while also handling captaincy responsibilities impressively.Connolly enjoyed a breakthrough debut season, scoring 491 runs at an average of 44.64 and strike rate of 163.12, becoming one of Punjab’s most reliable batters.Priyansh Arya showed flashes of brilliance and finished with 364 runs at a staggering strike rate of 211. However, his inconsistency became visible in the second half of the season when his returns dropped significantly.Overall, Punjab’s batting remained strong enough to challenge for the playoffs. The real problem was that their bowling unit consistently let them down.Bowling: 3.5/10Punjab arguably had the weakest bowling attack in IPL 2026.The lack of wicket-taking ability, poor economy rates, absence of control in the middle overs, and inability to execute plans at the death completely derailed their campaign.Fielding: 3/10Fielding errors repeatedly cost PBKS crucial moments and eventually valuable points.Dropped catches, missed opportunities, and nervous body language became a recurring theme during their losing streak.For a team chasing a title, their standards in the field simply were not acceptable.Captaincy and coaching: 7.5/10Iyer and Ponting deserve credit for transforming Punjab into an aggressive and entertaining side. The fearless batting approach and confidence within the group during the first half of the season were major positives.However, tactical concerns around bowling combinations, spin usage, and game management under pressure eventually became costly.

What next for Punjab Kings?

Despite the painful collapse, Punjab still possess a strong foundation moving forward.Their top order looks settled, Iyer has brought leadership stability, and young players like Prabhsimran, Priyansh Arya, and Connolly showed that PBKS have an exciting batting core for the future.But if Punjab genuinely want to challenge for the IPL title in 2027, they must rebuild their bowling attack almost entirely.Expect PBKS to aggressively target: