Sarpanch Shreyas is trying to keep the Punjab Kings alive in the IPL playoff race

Stop the clock. After losing 6 back-to-back matches, Punjab Kings have finally found a way to win again in the Indian Premier League. Almost a month after their last win, the Kings dug deep and pulled off a crucial win to keep themselves alive in the playoff race.

Playing against Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow Super Giants, Shreyas Iyer, the legendary ‘Sarpanch’ of the Punjab Kings, led the team to a much-needed win, snapping their six-match losing streak in IPL 2026.

With the win, Punjab completed their league run with 15 points from 14 matches, keeping them in contention for the playoffs.

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Three spots are already sealed this season, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and SunRisers Hyderabad finishing with 18 points. The battle for the last remaining playoff spot is now between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Punjab’s win on Saturday also officially eliminated Delhi Capitals from the race. DC have 12 points from 13 games and can no longer reach the minimum number of points needed to break into the top four this season.

CLUTCH SHREYAS SHUT IT OFF LUCKILY

And the victory came after great renunciation. Riddled with controversies on and off the field, Punjab looked a tough sport at the start of the match.

And like any good leader, Shreyas has led from the front so that Punjab can come out of that limbo today. Firstly, Shreyas has been brilliant with his captaincy. With his prime minister Arshdeep Singh spraying runs all over the park at the Ekana Stadium on Saturday, Shreyas turned things around and relied heavily on bowling changes to pull the match back.

Then came the chase.

In the second innings, Shreyas took matters into his own hands and led Punjab over the line in a tricky 197-run chase. The skipper had to trudge through the early stages of his innings after the Punjab openers struggled again in the power bowl.

PRIYANSH CONTINUES TO FIGHT

Priyansh Arya fell to a golden duck to Mohammed Shami in the very first over, while Prabhsimran Singh struggled to get going in the opening exchanges.

Alarm bells were already ringing in the Punjab dome when Shreyas walked out to bat. It felt like the lessons of previous losses had not been learned and Punjab once again looked vulnerable to a collapse.

But Shreyas was not willing to let this slip away.

The Punjab captain, who himself had struggled for fluency in the previous few matches, initially shielded Prabhsimran during the tougher phase of the chase, allowing the youngster to settle on the slightly tricky Ekan surface.

As the pitch cleared in the lights, Prabhsimran began to free his hands and eventually brought up his fifty in just 28 balls, briefly taking the spotlight off his captain.

But the last act belonged entirely to Shreyas.

SHREYAS hit 1st IPL HUNDRED

The Punjab skipper exploded in the final overs of the chase, attacking sixes with utter disdain, almost as if to remind everyone that his slim patch was just a temporary blip in form.

Batting on 95 not out in the 18th over with just three runs needed to win, Shreyas bounced back to finish in style. Mohsin Khan narrowly misses his length and Shreyas smacks the pacer high over the cow horn to bring up his maiden IPL century.

The Punjabi ground erupted in relief.

Not only did the Kings manage to stay alive in the playoff race, but they also found a way to win on a night when a few things didn’t go according to plan.

Punjab Kings will now turn their attention to Rajasthan Royals’ clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday afternoon. If Rajasthan win, they will directly seal the fourth place in the playoffs.

But if Rajasthan lose, Punjab Kings will thank their lucky stars and fly back to Mullanpur for a virtual knockout clash against SunRisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 27.

Full match report to follow…

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

23 May 2026 23:22 IST

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