Punjab Kings could not be stopped during the opening phase of IPL 2026. Led by Shreyas Iyer, the franchise went through the first half of the season without losing a game, collecting 13 points from their opening seven matches and establishing themselves as early title favourites. However, his campaign unraveled just as quickly as it gained momentum. Punjab suffered six consecutive defeats during the second half of the league stage and, despite ending the season with a victory, failed to recover enough to secure a place in the play-offs. It was a stunning turnaround for a team coached by Ricky Ponting and a team that looked set to finish in the top four. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted the trophy for the second consecutive season under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, Gujarat Titans once again showed their consistency by finishing as runners-up. Rajasthan Royals reached Qualifier 2 on the back of another impressive season from teenage sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi, while Sunrisers Hyderabad completed the play-off line-up after putting in a number of strong performances throughout the campaign. Considering the weather, Sachin Tendulkar Presents his assessment of the dramatic decline of Punjab and highlights how a change in mentality has contributed to its decline. “Punjab Kings brought great energy to the tournament. Their cricket was positive, brave and often game-changing. Momentum plays an important role in long tournaments. After all, in a fast-paced tournament like this it boils down to action and not results. Punjab focused more on action in the first half,” he added in a post on RedEdit. Tendulkar also had special praise for the Gujarat Titans, who once again proved to be one of the most reliable teams in the competition. Despite falling short in the finals, GT maintained the consistency that has become a hallmark of the franchise since its debut season in 2022. Over the course of a long tournament, that ability to overcome uncertainty is often more valuable than the occasional spectacular performance or isolated match-winning performance.” The brilliant batting also reflected how quickly fortunes can change over the course of a long IPL season, pointing out that early standings often provide little indication of where teams will ultimately finish. “Looking ahead to IPL 2026, I am reminded that tournaments rarely define how they begin. More than once this season, the table told a very different story at the halfway mark than it did at the end. Teams adjusted, players improved, and new solutions emerged as the competition progressed. The game demands constant evolution, and that’s part of what makes it so fascinating to watch.” پنجاب کنگز کی مہم بالآخر آئی پی ایل 2026 کے سب سے بڑے ٹاکنگ پوائنٹس میں سے ایک بن گئی۔ From setting the pace during the first half of the tournament to missing out on the playoffs entirely, their season served as a reminder of how quickly momentum can change in the IPL.
