Halfway into IPL 2026, it seemed that Punjab Kings would be the first team to seal a spot in the playoffs. But that script has been flipped on its head with Shreyas Iyer’s team suffering five back-to-back losses.

When they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, Punjab will treat it as a do-
or-die game. While another loss may not knock them out of the playoffs race instantly, it will surely dent their chance severely.

The story is very different for RCB. The defending champions were trailing Punjab, last year’s runners-up, for most of the first phase. But while Punjab lost their footing, RCB firmed up theirs and now need just one more win to take their tally to 18 points and
with that a confirmed berth in the playoffs.

Dharamsala is Punjab’s second home, but their bowlers are struggling there. They have played their last two matches at the high-altitude venue and lost both, failing to defend 200 or more. Precisely, the onus is on the Punjab bowlers to arrest their free-fall.