New Delhi: Punjab Kings continued their strong start in IPL 2026 with a five-wicket win. Chennai Super KingsThanks to the captain’s knock Shreyas Iyer And a solid team effort. Chasing a mammoth target of 210, PBKS remained calm under pressure and got over the line with eight balls to spare, handing CSK their second straight defeat.CSK posted 209/5 after coming into bat first. Youngster Ayush Mahatre led the charge with an impressive 73, while Sarfraz Khan and Shivm Dubey added quick runs towards the end to take the total past 200.
A key partnership between Mahatre and Rituraj Gaikwad helped build the innings, although PBKS pulled things back with timely wickets.In reply, Punjab got off to a brilliant start with Priyansh Arya scoring 39 off just 11 balls. Prabhasmaran Singh and Cooper Connolly played a useful partnership keeping the chase on track. When the pressure mounted, skipper Shreyas Iyer stepped up to score a half-century and controlled the game with smart shot selection. Later, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoins finished the job comfortably.
‘Playing to impress each other’
After the match, Iyer revealed the team’s mindset, adding, “Well, it’s not planned, to be honest, but we just decided in the dressing room that whatever happens, we’re going to play a brand of cricket that’s meant to inspire each other, not others outside.”He praised the strong start, saying, “Priyansh and Prab are working at the start… It’s amazing to see them give us that start and it stabilizes the rhythm for us.”On Arya’s explosive innings, he added, “Absolutely. I mean, getting 39 in 11 balls, that’s the start we need, especially when you’re chasing 208.”Explaining his bowling choices, Iyer said, “And generally we know how impressive he has been over the years. And he is probably one of the best bowlers in the world. IPL So whenever I’m in doubt, I do.Punjab’s clear mentality and teamwork have now put them at the top of the table.
