Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer did not shy away from hiding his disappointment after the side slumped to its fifth consecutive defeat in IPL 2026. Iyer said that the latest loss to the Mumbai Indians was 'a tough pill to swallow'.
Mumbai Indians, already out of the playoff race, chased a target of 201 with six wickets remaining in Dharamsala on Thursday, leaving Punjab Kings stranded on 13 points from 12 matches and under severe playoff pressure.
Shreyas said, "Well, absolutely a tough pill to swallow, but I don't want to pinpoint any situation over here because it was a great game of cricket. Well fought game. "
Tilak's Blistering 75!
At the halfway point, PBKS looked in control after the side posted 200/8. However, Tilak Varma had something else in mind and proved
to be the difference between the sides. Tilak's blistering innings even attracted plaudits from the PBKS skipper who acknowledged the left-hander's role in the chase, praising the way he controlled the innings under pressure.
"He played amazingly. He was selecting his shots pretty well, and he maneuvered the field nicely, so credit to him," he added.
Tilak anchored the chase after a rapid start from Ryan Rickelton, who smashed 48 off 23. Later, Will Jacks's 25 off 10 helped Mumbai finish the chase with one ball to spare.
Omarzai's Late Burst
Earlier, Punjab had seemed on course for a modest score after a sharp downturn. The innings slipped from a strong base when the middle order fell apart. Shardul Thakur removed key batters, claiming four wickets and stalling progress, despite Prabhsimran Singh top-scoring with a composed 57.
Shreyas pointed to Azmatullah Omarzai's late assault as the spark that lifted PBKS. "At one point, we were looking at around 170 to 180, and from there, he simply changed the momentum. Getting those scoops for sixes, from the 16th or 17th over, we gained momentum. Getting to 200 was a commendable performance from him," he said.
The late surge now offers Punjab a template as the must-win phase begins.
What Next For PBKS?
Punjab now sits on the edge of the playoff race, with two must-win fixtures left. The first comes against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in an afternoon clash. After briefly leading the table this season, PBKS now stand just one defeat away from a steep slide.
Shreyas remains upbeat despite the pressure on Punjab. "Definitely excited for the next opportunity. It's an afternoon game, and we've got to win two out of two. It's going to be exciting. Can't wait to play them," Shreyas said, stressing belief in another strong response
