A month ago, hardly anyone would have believed that PBKS eliminated from IPL 2026 would become one of the season’s biggest headlines. Punjab Kings looked settled, confident, and genuinely capable of going all the way. Then suddenly, everything unravelled. From sloppy fielding to confused team selections and a dramatic dip in form from key players, PBKS’ collapse became impossible to ignore. By the time fans realised what was happening, the playoff dream had already slipped away.
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When the Fielding Started Falling Apart
The worrying signs really began during the second half of the campaign. Early in the season, PBKS looked sharp in the field and full of energy, but that intensity slowly disappeared. Catches went down at the worst possible moments, simple chances were missed, and pressure began building on the bowlers every single match.
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It almost felt like the whole squad lost confidence together. One dropped catch turned into another, and suddenly every close opportunity looked nervy. The numbers told the story as well. PBKS dropped far too many chances across the tournament, and in T20 cricket that is basically asking for trouble.
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What made PBKS’ collapse even more frustrating for supporters was that the problems were clearly visible for weeks. The coaching staff spoke about it openly, and even the captain admitted the fielding standards simply were not good enough. Yet the mistakes kept happening. In such a short format, one missed opportunity can swing an entire game, and PBKS kept handing opponents second chances.
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Bowling Problems Made Things Worse
Of course, the fielding issues were only part of the disaster. The bowling attack also completely lost rhythm during the business end of the tournament. Arshdeep Singh, usually one of the most dependable bowlers in the side, suddenly started leaking runs at an alarming rate.
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Opposition batters targeted him aggressively, especially at the death, and PBKS struggled to recover. Marco Jansen showed flashes of quality, while Vijaykumar Vyshak had decent moments, but nothing really felt stable. The combinations changed constantly, and that only added more confusion.
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In many ways, PBKS’ collapse came from a side trying too many fixes at once. Earlier in the season, they barely changed the XI and everything clicked naturally. Later on, the constant chopping and changing destroyed momentum completely. Players never seemed fully settled into their roles, and the team looked unsure of its own identity. Even the handling of experienced bowlers raised eyebrows. Yuzvendra Chahal, one of the most reliable spinners in IPL history, was strangely underused at times. For a team desperately needing control in the middle overs, it felt like a bizarre decision.
The Captain’s Form Vanished Too
Shreyas Iyer deserves credit for being honest about the team’s issues, but unfortunately his own batting also faded badly during the second half of the season. Earlier in the tournament, he was playing fearless cricket, scoring quickly and controlling chases with real authority. Then suddenly the runs dried up.
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As the defeats piled up, the pressure clearly grew heavier. His strike rate dropped, his timing looked inconsistent, and PBKS lost the calming influence they depended on at the top of the order. When your captain struggles at the same time as the bowling attack and fielding unit, things can unravel very quickly.
Punjab Kings have failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 16th time in 19 IPL seasons! 💔
They have qualified for the playoffs only three times in their IPL history. 😱#IPL2026 #PBKS #ShreyasIyer #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/AzGUQYWtF4
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) May 24, 2026
That is exactly why the phrase PBKS eliminated from IPL 2026 ended up sounding so shocking. This was not a weak squad lacking talent. On paper, they had enough quality to finish comfortably in the top four. But cricket seasons are often decided by confidence and momentum, and PBKS lost both at exactly the wrong time.
LSG vs PBKS Match Highlights：One Final Bright Spot
At least the season ended with one genuinely entertaining night. The LSG vs PBKS match highlights gave supporters something positive to remember after weeks of frustration. Lucknow Super Giants posted a challenging total close to 200, thanks largely to Josh Inglis and Ayush Badoni playing some aggressive shots through the middle overs. PBKS still looked nervous during the chase after losing early wickets, and it briefly felt like another collapse was coming.
𝑷𝒖𝒏𝒋𝒂𝒃 𝒅𝒊 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏! 🎶 pic.twitter.com/kgyjs3C1fg
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 23, 2026
But then came the partnership that finally reminded everyone what this side could actually do. Prabhsimran Singh attacked from the start, while Iyer played with far more freedom than he had shown in weeks. The captain’s timing returned beautifully, especially square of the wicket, and suddenly the chase gathered serious momentum.
It was a 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 from Sarpanch Saab last night! 😉🌟 pic.twitter.com/zd0l4rTscF
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 24, 2026
The LSG vs PBKS match highlights were dominated by Iyer’s magnificent unbeaten century. He accelerated brilliantly towards the end, smashing boundaries against both pace and spin while guiding Punjab home with confidence.
Back to the WINNING ways! 🌟#PBKS end their losing streak with a 7️⃣-wicket win 👊❤️
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/2ADKr4dqhi#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #LSGvPBKS pic.twitter.com/YP0tImLNYv
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2026
It was his first IPL hundred, and although it arrived too late to rescue the campaign, it at least gave fans one memorable moment before the curtain closed. Ironically, the final result only made PBKS eliminated from IPL 2026 feel even more painful. The talent had clearly been there all along.
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A Season Full of “What Ifs”
In the end, Punjab Kings will probably look back on IPL 2026 as a massive missed opportunity. The first half of the season suggested they were genuine contenders, but poor fielding, unsettled bowling plans, and the dramatic dip in form from key players triggered one of the league’s most surprising downturns.
🚨PUNJAB KINGS IN THE HISTORY OF IPL
🔸League Stage in 2009 ❌
🔸League Stage in 2010 ❌
🔸League Stage in 2011 ❌
🔸League Stage in 2012 ❌
🔸League Stage in 2013 ❌
🔸Played Final in 2014 ✅
🔸League Stage in 2015 ❌
🔸League Stage in 2016 ❌
🔸League Stage in 2017 ❌… pic.twitter.com/NAW8WcYxzn— Indian Cricket (@IPL2025Auction) May 24, 2026
Still, the LSG vs PBKS match highlights offered a reminder that this squad is far from hopeless. If they can fix the basics and regain some consistency next season, they may not stay down for long. But for now, supporters are left replaying PBKS’ collapse in their minds and wondering how a side with so much promise ended up watching the playoffs from home.
