Punjab Kings started their IPL 2026 campaign in brilliant fashion. They won six of their first seven matches and looked set for a comfortable playoff spot. However, things changed quickly as the team lost six matches in a row and slipped down the points table.
Punjab will now face Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, May 23, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in a must-win game. PBKS are currently fifth in the standings with 13 points from 13 matches.
Shreyas Iyer and his team need a victory, preferably by a big margin, to keep their playoff hopes alive. Their qualification also depends on results involving Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Ricky Ponting backs PBKS to bounce back
PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting said his side failed to handle small moments well in recent matches.
“We were exceptional for our first seven or six games,” Ponting said, “then we had that washout against Kolkata Knight Riders, and I think from that moment on we’ve just been a little bit off and as I said they’re small things. They’re one or two balls or they’re an over here and there that quite conceivably, we could have won another three or four games, but we’ve only got ourselves to blame for that.”
Ponting also warned his players not to take LSG lightly despite them being out of the playoff race.
“I mean they, Lucknow, going into tomorrow. Apart from probably personal pride and pride for the franchise’s performance, they’ve really got nothing else to lose, so teams can be dangerous in that way,” Ponting opined.
The former Australia captain added that the mood in the PBKS dressing room remains calm and positive.
“The atmosphere remains very positive and very relaxed. I think the worst thing you can do in a situation like this is panic and worry about what tomorrow brings,” Ponting said.
ALSO READ Former Indian cricketer slams CSK for ‘deceiving fans’ over MS Dhoni’s availability in IPL 2026
