Punjab Kings locked horns with Mumbai Indians in a must-win game for the reds on May 14th at HPCA stadium. The pressure was entirely on PBKS to perform at their best and gain the two points, but their loss against MI pushed them further out of the ‘qualification scenario’ with 5 consecutive losses. The game oscillated like a pendulum, but MI had the last laugh as they had nothing to lose while Punjab fumbled under pressure in the last three overs of the game. Although they had a shaky powerplay start, PBKS reached 200, but it was once again their bowlers who couldn’t deliver. At a point, MI was 88/3, but they couldn’t bank on this as Tilak Verma and Rutheford’s partnership took the game away from the fangs of Punjab. Marcho Jansen went for 22 runs in the 18th over, Arshdeep for 13, and finally Xavier Bartlett couldn’t defend 15 in the final over.
Shreyas Iyer, the losing captain, said that the loss is a tough one to swallow with qualification on the shoulders, but he appreciated Tilak Verma’s great innings and also said PBKS is ready to take on RCB next and is motivated to win the next two games.
“A tough pill to swallow, but I don’t want to pinpoint any situation over here because it was a great game of cricket”, said Iyer i post match presentation.
🚨 SHREYAS IYER ON TOP 4 QUALIFICATION CHANCES 🚨 Shreyas Iyer Said 🗣️, "We still have a very good chance of qualifying. Even after losing five matches in a row, our qualification is still in our own hands. Because earlier we played outstanding cricket, and that is now… pic.twitter.com/zDDninqRsI
— lndian Sports Netwrk (@IS_Netwrk29) May 14, 2026
SHREYAS IYER AFTER PUNJAB KINGS LOSS AGAINST MUMBAI INDIANS He said : It's a tough pill to swallow, but i don't want to pinpoint at any situation over here because it was a great game of cricket. We got the momentum at the end & getting to 200 was a commendable performance by… pic.twitter.com/S6F4krB0uR
— Akshat (@Akshatgoel1408) May 14, 2026
PBKS IPL 2026 Qualification scenario after loss against MI
Yes, PBKS can still very well qualify for the playoffs in 2026. They currently have 13 points, with two games remaining. The equation is simple: they have to win both games to reach 17 points and qualify, which also depends on the permutations and combinations of other teams. CSK and RR are already on the shoulders to take over PBKS’ position at the table.
Punjab Kings started the IPL 2026 season exceptionally, winning six of their first seven games (with one washout match against KKR at Eden Gardens). It was the strongest start in the league’s history. But the tables turned in the second phase of the tournament, the team have now lost five games in a row, leaving them in a risky position as the group stage wraps up.
