For a team to not lose 7 matches in a season, and yet not qualify for the IPL playoffs, is criminal. That unfortunate side was PBKS in IPL 2026, who won 6 without putting a foot wrong, only to lose momentum in the latter half. Post that, they went on to lose six on the trot, ending their hopes of going through the next round. And in a way, the culprit was also was the washed out match against KKR on April 12 at the Eden Gardens, where despite being on the top, they couldn’t get the 2 points; in hindsight, holding utmost value.
No excuses for non-qualification to IPL 2026 playoffs
In an exclusive interview with InsideSport, Punjab Kings’ keeper-opener Prabhsimran Singh opened up about, what went wrong for them in the second half of the tournament, and what difference that KKR match would have made. The youngster was also quick to clarify, that he wasn’t offering any excuses for the non-qualification, but only stating the facts.
“The only little that comes to mind about that match (vs KKR) is, the way our team was playing at that time, we were just winning every match. So, if the full match had happened, we would have won that one as well. In the end, some might think, that it is an excuse, but far from it. We were in the sort of situation, had we won any two matches after that, we would have qualified; that too in top 2. But then it would be incorrect to believe, that we were ousted because of that one match.”
Top 2 berth was on mind
Actually, there was really nothing wrong with what PBKS had planned. All they were looking at is, a top 2 berth, which would have given them an additional chance to make it to the final. “The entire team and the management was targeting the top spot in the points table, but unfortunately for us, things did not go as planned.” Prabhsimran added.
For the unversed, in that fateful KKR vs PBKS encounter, only 3.4 overs could be bowled, where the hosts were struggling at 25/2. Finn Allen and Cameron Green were removed cheaply, while Xavier Bartlett picked up both the wickets.
(Insidesport exclusive)
Cricket
Exclusive: PBKS ouster from IPL 2026 not due to KKR washed out match, says Prabhsimran Singh
