“Sunrisers Hyderabad showed us how to win,” grunted Shreyas Iyer after Punjab Kings’ third straight loss in the Indian Premier League. The Kings, who had run through opponents in the first half of the 2026 season, are now struggling to do anything right on the pitch.
After a fairytale beginning, where everything fell in place, the reality is now catching up to them. The little errors – a length bowled wrong, a forced shot, a catch misjudged – have started to compound on Punjab at a crucial stage of the season. These were the same moments that went in their favour earlier in the tournament. Now, they are not.
SRH vs PBKS: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
The Kings have lost to Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, and now Sunrisers Hyderabad, giving up their place at the top of the table. The runs are not coming, and to make things worse, the team is not able to keep hold of the majority of their catches in a game. What once looked like a well-rounded side is now showing signs of strain.
“Their biggest problem is that their bowlers are not being backed by their fielders,” said Saba Karim after Punjab’s loss to SRH.
Their lead spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, has created 17 chances this season. Out of those, Punjab have dropped eight. Earlier in the season, those chances stuck and helped Punjab control games. Over the last three matches, they haven’t. On May 6, Punjab dropped Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen – two players who went on to play match-defining innings.
“I feel we got a fairytale start. Everyone was in a great space, the mindset was top notch. It is easy to get diverted. If we are going to continue with the same form, it won’t help. But we have to go back and reflect on what we did not do well in the last three games. We have to come back strong,” Iyer told the broadcaster after the game.
One of the main reasons behind Punjab’s defeats can be attributed to the loss of form of their top three, but even that reflects how their campaign has shifted over the last week.
TOP BATTERS FAIL FOR PBKS
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Iyer – three of Punjab’s main batters this season – have failed to go past the 20-run mark in the last two games. The openers form Punjab’s foundation of aggressive cricket, much like SRH’s Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. When that foundation held, Punjab could dictate terms. Over the last two matches, it hasn’t, and the rest of the batting has not been able to absorb that pressure.
The bulk of runs has not come from any other batter either. Punjab have repeatedly found themselves playing catch up against totals that should have been limited to lesser scores. That is a shift from how their season began.
If Punjab had held on to their chances in the last three games, they might not have had to concede 228 against Rajasthan Royals and 235 against SRH. Earlier in the season, their fielding helped cover up these phases. Now, those same phases are deciding matches.
But in a long tournament, phases like these also offer a reset.
Punjab’s final stretch of games could work in their favour, especially with the team returning to home conditions. A three-game run in Dharamsala gives them a chance to settle after a difficult period and regain some control over their campaign.
The Iyer-led side is still well placed in the table, with 13 points from 10 matches. Considering they face three of the bottom ranked teams in their last four games, they have the opportunity to hold on to a top two spot.
The fairytale start has given them that cushion. What happens next will depend on how quickly they respond now that things are no longer falling into place as easily.
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