IPL 2026 Playoffs: મુંબઇ ઇન્ડિયન્સ સામેની હાર બાદ પંજાબ કિંગ્સ માટે હ…

પંજાબ કિંગ્સ પર મુંબઈ ઈન્ડિયન્સની શાનદાર જીતે IPL 2026 પોઈન્ટ ટેબલમાં મોટો ઉલટફેર કર્યો. IPL 2026ની 58મી મેચ ગુરુવારે (14 મે) ના રોજ ધર્મશાળામાં પંજાબ કિંગ્સ અને મુંબઈ ઇન્ડિયન્સ વચ્ચે રમાઈ હતી. જેમાં મુંબઇ ઇન્ડિયન્સ સામે પંજાબે કારમી હારનો સામનો કરવો પડયો. PBKS ટીમના પોઈન્ટ ટેબલમાં કુલ 13 પોઈન્ટ (+0.355) છે અને તે હાલમાં ચોથા સ્થાન પર છે. પંજાબ કિગ્સને સિઝનમાં સતત પાંચમી હાર સાથે જ તેમની પ્લેઓફની તકોના સમીકરણો બદલાયા. goldparty.lat

મુંબઈ સામેની હારે પંજાબની બાજી બગાડી

ઇન્ડિયન પ્રીમિયર લીગ 2026 ની 58મી મેચમાં પંજાબ કિંગ્સ (PBKS) ને મુંબઈ ઇન્ડિયન્સ (MI) સામે પરાજયનો સામનો કરવો પડ્યો છે. 14 મેના રોજ ધર્મશાળાના મેદાન પર રમાયેલી આ મેચમાં પંજાબની હાર બાદ હવે પ્લેઓફના ગણિત જટિલ બન્યા છે. એક સમયે જે ટીમ પ્લેઓફમાં સરળતાથી પહોંચશે તેવું લાગતું હતું, તે હવે સંઘર્ષ કરી રહી છે. પંજાબ કિંગ્સે આ સિઝનમાં સતત 5મી હારનો સામનો કર્યો છે.

પંજાબ કિંગ્સની વર્તમાન સ્થિતિ

• ટીમે અત્યાર સુધી 12 મેચ રમી છે.
• 12 મેચમાંથી ટીમે 6માં વિજય મેળવ્યો છે અને 5માં હારનો સામનો કર્યો છે.
• હાલમાં ટીમ 13 પોઈન્ટ અને +0.355 ના નેટ રન રેટ સાથે ચોથા સ્થાને છે.

શું પંજાબ IPL 2026 ના પ્લેઓફ માટે ક્વોલિફાય થઈ શકશે?

પંજાબ માટે પ્લેઓફના દરવાજા હજુ સંપૂર્ણપણે બંધ થયા નથી, પરંતુ હવે ભૂલની કોઈ ગુંજાઈશ નથી. હવે પંજાબ કિંગ્સ માટે કરો યા મરોની સ્થિતિ છે. વર્તમાન સિઝનમાં એક સમય એવો પણ આવ્યો હતો જ્યારે એવું લાગતું હતું કે પંજાબ લીગ સ્ટેજમાં એક પણ હારનો સામનો કર્યા વિના પ્લેઓફ માટે સરળતાથી ક્વોલિફાય થઈ જશે. જોકે, એકવાર હાર શરૂ થઈ ગયા પછી, તે અણનમ લાગી રહી હતી. હાલમાં, ટીમ પ્લેઓફમાં પહોંચવા માટે સંઘર્ષ કરી રહી હોય તેવું લાગે છે. જો ટીમ બીજી હારનો સામનો કરે છે, તો તેના પ્લેઓફના સપના ચકનાચૂર થઈ શકે છે.

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પોઈન્ટ ટેબલમાં પ્લેઓફના સમીકરણો

એવું નથી કે પંજાબની પ્લેઓફમાં પહોંચવાની આશા ખતમ થઈ ગઈ છે. ટીમ પાસે ટુર્નામેન્ટમાં હજુ બે મેચ બાકી છે. જો તેઓ બંને જીતી જાય, તો તેમની પાસે પ્લેઓફમાં પહોંચવાની તક છે. પંજાબની ટીમ માટે સૌથી મોટો ખતરો ચેન્નાઈ સુપર કિંગ્સ અને રાજસ્થાન રોયલ્સથી છે. બંને ટીમોના ટુર્નામેન્ટમાં ત્રણ મેચ બાકી છે અને હાલમાં તેમના દરેકના 12 પોઈન્ટ છે. જો આ ટીમો તેમની બાકીની બધી મેચ જીતી જાય, તો પંજાબ તેમની બંને મેચ જીત્યા પછી પણ પ્લેઓફની દોડમાંથી બહાર થઈ જશે, કારણ કે ત્યારબાદ તેમના દરેકના 18 પોઈન્ટ થશે.

પંજાબ કિંગ્સ માટે આ 'કરો અથવા મરો' જેવી સ્થિતિ છે. હવે જોવાનું એ રહેશે કે શું ટીમ આ દબાણ હેઠળ વાપસી કરીને ટોપ-4માં પોતાનું સ્થાન જાળવી રાખે છે કે નહીં.

આ પણ વાંચો : PBKS Vs MI: મુંબઈ ઈન્ડિયન્સે પંજાબને 6 વિકેટે હરાવ્યું, તિલક વર્માની ધમાકેદાર ઈનિંગ

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 15 (ANI): Following his side’s win over Punjab Kings (PBKS), Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder Shardul Thakur said that his team’s regular captain Hardik Pandya has been injured, but expects him to be back for the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) next Wednesday.

With Hardik missing since the clash against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Suryakumar Yadav sitting out from the PBKS clash after the birth of his child, Jasprit Bumrah led the five-time champions for the first time and what an outing it was for MI, with Shardul’s four-fer and Tilak Varma’s ice-cold being the brightest part of MI’s fourth win of the season.

Speaking after the match in the post-match presser, Shardul said, “Hardik is injured, so he could not travel for a couple of games. He went to Raipur [for the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 10], but could not play. He is training in Mumbai now, and I expect him to be back in Kolkata and play against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) next Wednesday. Players like them, we always miss the quality."

On the chatter about Hardik being traded to another franchise, Shardul rubbished it, saying that “chatter always keeps going on social media.

Hardik has had a mediocre season as a captain and player. Not only his team is sitting in the bottom half of the table despite its star power, he has also made just 146 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.85, with a strike rate of over 136 and a best score of 40. He has also taken just four wickets at an average of 61.50, with an economy rate of almost 12.

He also hailed Tilak Varma’s knock of 75* in 33, which guided MI to a win, saying, “Tilak selected his areas and selected his balls to hit the shots really well. (Ryan) Rickelton also supported Tilak with his big hits."

The all-rounder also said that “there were too many ups and downs during the match.

“In the powerplay we started really well but the backend of the powerplay and the start of the middle overs, there were a few runs flowing. We were able to pull them back then after that. And then there were some runs scored in the death overs," he said.

“Same with our batting, we had a good start in the power play, then we struggled, and then we picked up pace. The tempo was constantly changing. As bowlers, it is very difficult to keep coming back because suddenly there is a shift in tempo, and you have to think about what your shut down options are. Then suddenly when one or two wickets fall, you are looking for wickets."

“There were too many switches in the game. Bowlers had to shift their mindset quite a lot. For batters, it was a patience game where they wait for loose deliveries and then try and convert," he continued.

MI said that they ended up giving 20 runs more runs than they intended to. Speaking on having played under Rohit Sharma, Hardik and now Bumrah, Shardul said that they are all different to rate as captains.

“Different to rate, because all of them have different ideas. There is no particular mantra in cricket that will give you success. As a player and a captain, you need to be proactive. As players, we make a captain successful. As players, there were games we did well, and some games where we fell short. They all bring a lot of experience and have been match-winners for this side and Team India," he said.

Coming to the match, MI opted to bowl first. A 50-run stand between Priyansh Arya (22 in 17 balls, with four boundaries) and Prabhsimran Singh started off things well for PBKS. Prabhsimran had some struggles with his tempo, but managed to score 57 in 32 balls, with six fours and four sixes and put on a 57-run stand with Cooper Connolly (21). From 107/1, PBKS collapsed to 140/7.

Cameos from Azmatullah Omarzai (38 in 17 balls, with two fours and four sixes), Vishnu Vinod (15*), and Xavier Bartlett (18*) took PBKS to a competitive 200/8 in 20 overs. Shardul Thakur (4/39) and Deepak Chahar (2/36) were the pick of the bowlers for MI.

During the run-chase, Ryan Rickelton (48 in 23 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and Rohit Sharma (25 in 26 balls, with two sixes put on a 61-run stand. But PBKS lost wickets at regular intervals after that, and at 149/4 in the 17th over, the match looked balanced. Tilak (75* in 33 balls, with six fours and six sixes) and Will Jacks (25* in 10 balls, with two fours and two sixes) put on an explosive 56-run stand, chasing down the target with a ball left.

Omarzai (2/36 in four overs), Yuzi Chahal (1/32 in four overs) and Arshdeep Singh (0/29 in four overs) bowled well for PBKS, but other than that, their foreign quicks, Marco Jansen (1/55) and Xavier Bartlett (0/53) continued to leak runs.

MI is at the eighth spot in the points table, with four wins and eight losses, giving them eight points. PBKS stays in the top four with six wins, five losses and a no result, giving them 13 points. If Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, they would be out of the top four. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are in danger of missing out on the playoffs after a dramatic collapse in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign. The Shreyas Iyer-led side started the ongoing season on a positive note and stayed unbeaten in their first seven matches, but they have suffered five consecutive defeats.

PBKS faced the Mumbai Indians (MI) in their 12th match of the IPL 2026 season at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday, May 14. Mumbai chased down the 201-run target with one ball remaining. The Kings suffered a six-wicket defeat despite scoring 200/8 in the first innings.

Key Points

• Punjab Kings suffered their fifth straight defeat after losing to the Mumbai Indians in Dharamsala.
• PBKS have now slipped into a dangerous position in the IPL 2026 playoff race.
• Shreyas Iyer’s side can still qualify directly if they win their remaining two matches.
• Another defeat could leave Punjab Kings depending on other teams’ results.

The Shreyas Iyer-led side lost their winning momentum at a crucial stage of the tournament. Punjab Kings’ top-order batters gave the team a strong platform in the first innings, but the middle order failed to build on the start and missed the chance to post a bigger total.

Prabhsimran Singh scored 57 off 32 balls at the top of the order. Azmatullah Omarzai, who was playing his first match of the season, chipped in with 38 off 17 balls. Shardul Thakur picked up four wickets and helped restrict the Punjab Kings to 200 runs in Dharamsala.

Punjab’s bowlers kept Mumbai Indians under pressure for most of the chase. MI needed 51 runs from the final three overs, but Tilak Varma smashed an unbeaten 75 and guided his side to victory in the last over.

Also Read: LSG vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today Match, Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update- IPL 2026, Match 59

Punjab Kings’ Chances of Finishing in the Top Four Are Now in Danger

The recent poor results have made the playoff race very difficult for Punjab Kings. The team enjoyed a strong position after their excellent start to the season, but they are at risk of missing out on qualification with all four playoff spots still open.

Punjab Kings are currently at fourth place on the points table with 13 points from 12 matches. The side recorded six wins and one draw in the first half of the tournament before losing their last five matches under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.

Punjab Kings will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday. Their final league match will take place against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on May 23. PBKS have already beaten LSG once this season.

Punjab Kings’ Qualification Will No Longer Be in Their Hands

The qualification scenarios show that Punjab Kings still control their playoff hopes in the final two league matches. A top-four finish remains possible, but another defeat could leave the team depending on results from other matches.

If Punjab Kings win both remaining games against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants, they will finish the league stage with 17 points and qualify directly for the playoffs. If they win one match and lose one, they will end with 15 points and may need to rely on other results.

If Punjab Kings lose both remaining matches, they will finish with 13 points and miss out on playoff qualification. No team has reached the top four with 13 or fewer points in a ten-team IPL format so far.

Also read: ‘Astonished’ Virat Kohli engages in banter with Manish Pandey during RCB vs KKR clash (Watch video)

India legend Sunil Gavaskar hailed Virat Kohli for producing yet another masterclass under pressure after the former India skipper struck an unbeaten 105 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a six-wicket victory in their IPL 2026 clash in Raipur.

Kohli’s unbeaten 60-ball century, his ninth hundred in IPL history and 10th overall in T20 cricket, powered RCB to a successful chase of 193 with five balls to spare and lifted the side back to the top of the points table.

Reflecting on Kohli’s chase-defining knock, Gavaskar said the veteran batter once again showed why he remains among the game’s greatest performers despite the growing spotlight on younger stars this season.

“Virat Kohli was absolutely outstanding against KKR. He knows how to construct a chase better than most. When it comes to T20 centuries, he is third on the list with 10, behind Chris Gayle and Babar Azam. But he is the fastest to 14,000 T20 runs and has nine IPL hundreds. Records are there to be broken, but it will take a very long time for anyone to match what Kohli keeps delivering, game after game, season after season.

“While everyone was talking about this being the season of ‘Gen Next’, Kohli showed he is still around. He silenced the doubters with a century and moved to third in the Orange Cap race. He proved that the old generation is still the best. Even though the young stars are taking centre stage, the experienced greats are not done yet. This hundred from Virat Kohli was one of those special moments that remind us of his greatness,” Gavaskar told JioStar.

Kohli’s innings was built with trademark control and precision. After Jacob Bethell’s early dismissal, the former RCB captain steadied the chase and gradually accelerated, stitching a crucial 92-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal. He reached his fifty in 32 deliveries before shifting gears in the latter half of the innings, eventually bringing up his century in the 19th over to a thunderous reception from the Raipur crowd.

Gavaskar also pointed to a key turning point in the match, Rovman Powell’s dropped catch when Kohli was still settling into his innings. The missed opportunity proved costly as Kohli made KKR pay with a match-winning hundred.

“Before this RCB-KKR game, KKR’s efficiency with catches was still the best in the IPL this season, even after dropping a few catches. They were at the top of that table. But this one hurt badly. Rovman Powell, who has taken some stunning catches this season, was fielding inside the 30-yard circle. He had the chance to dismiss Virat Kohli early. He went up high, timed his jump well, but the ball slipped out.

“You cannot drop Kohli early in his innings. He will make you pay every single time. LSG learned that lesson the hard way. Give him an early lifeline, and he grabs it with both hands. He scored a hundred and made KKR regret that drop. That is what great players do. They don’t give you a second chance. They punish your mistakes and turn the game on its head,” Gavaskar stated.

10
No. of centuries for Kohli in T20s — the most by an Indian

279
No. of IPL matches played by Kohli —joint-most alongside Rohit Sharma

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