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Punjab Kings Match Performance Trend
Showing the contrast between the first six wins and subsequent six losses in IPL 2026.
Primary Sources
Ricky Ponting's Bizarre Excuse Behind Poor Form As Punjab Kings Stare ...
File image of Ricky Ponting© BCCI As Punjab Kings gear up for their final league-stage clash of IPL 2026 against Lucknow Super Giants, a remark from head coach Ricky Ponting has caught everyone's attention. Shreyas Iyer and Co. began the season on a dominant note, registering six consecutive victories, but their campaign has since derailed, with the team suffering six straight defeats in the latter half of the tournament. With three teams already securing playoff berths, PBKS now face a must-win encounter against LSG at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday to keep their hopes alive. Ahead of the crucial match, Ponting suggested that the washed-out game against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the season may have played a role in disrupting the team's momentum. In that fixture at Eden Gardens, both sides were forced to share points due to rain."We were exceptional for our first seven or six games. Then we had that washout against Kolkata Knight Riders, and I think from that moment on we've just been a little bit off and as I said they're small things. They're one or two balls or they're an over here and there that quite conceivably, we could have won another three or four games, but we've only got ourselves to blame for that," Ponting said on ESPNCricinfo."We're in the situation that we're in as a result of not playing at our best over the last few weeks, but we've also got a very good idea of what our best cricket looks like and what it is and what we have to do to win tomorrow, and that's all we can focus on," he added.Meanwhile, LSG, already out of playoff contention, will be eager to play spoilsport and could hand Punjab Kings their seventh consecutive defeat."I mean they, Lucknow, going into tomorrow. Apart from probably personal pride and pride for the franchise's performance, they've really got nothing else to lose, so teams can be dangerous in that way. But we understand that, we know that, and that's the way that I want my boys to play as well," said Ponting."I want us to be fearless and I want us to be daring, I want us to take the game on and not be worried about what might happen, the negative things that might happen in the game," he added. Featured Video Of The Day IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi Topics mentioned in this article
Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting admitted his side has only ...
13 hours ago ... ... Kings head coach Ricky Ponting admitted his side has only itself to blame for its current predicament in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as ...
IPL 2026: Ponting rues missed opportunities ahead of Punjab Kings ...
After a seven-game unbeaten start to the season, the Kings have lost six in a row and are under threat of failing to qualify for the IPL 2026 Playoffs.Updated : May 22, 2026 21:01 IST , Lucknow - 4 MINS READ Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting will hope skipper Shreyas Iyer will come to the party during the crunch encounter against LSG. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting will hope skipper Shreyas Iyer will come to the party during the crunch encounter against LSG. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP Nine 200-plus totals conceded and six consecutive losses have left Punjab Kings (PBKS) facing a complex qualification scenario in the ongoing Indian Premier League season.Gearing up for a do-or-die fixture against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday, PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting rued the lack of ability to deliver in crunch moments.“Yes, we’ve lost six games in a row. But there have been very few games in which we’ve been outplayed. We got to winning positions in most of the games but haven’t been able to close them out,” he said on the eve of the game.A lot of factors have played a role in the team’s decline, and the most glaring one was not on the field but off it. Shreyas Iyer’s side came under immense scrutiny on social media after several of its key players found themselves involved in various controversies.“I don’t think anything externally has interrupted us as a team. I’m not a big social media guy and might be a bit oblivious to what’s happening there,” Ponting said.“All that I can control is the behaviour of the team and how they prepare ahead of each game. I think we were exceptional right from the start of the season but have been a little bit off lately. But we’ve got only ourselves to blame for the situation we are in now, and we will focus on whatever we can do to win tomorrow,” he added.RELATED | Punjab Kings desperate to end losing streak and sneak into Playoffs against Super GiantsSkipper Shreyas, too, has been a point of discussion for his batting. The 31-year-old has managed to score just one 30-plus score in the last five games despite amassing over 390 runs overall this season.Ponting, however, sees the positive side of things. “Shreyas has had a very good tournament with the bat. His leadership around the group has been exceptional. He’s a very mature leader who now understands how to get the best out of his players. Every time he speaks, every one of our pl...
Ricky Ponting blames KKR washout for Punjab Kings' IPL 2026 shocking ...
Ricky Ponting blamed Punjab Kings' washout against Kolkata Knight Riders as the reason for their downward spiral. After a dominant start to the season, PBKS have almost bottled their chances of reaching the IPL 2026 playoffs. Led by Shreyas Iyer, They are now fifth in the standings with 13 points. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are fourth with 14 points.PBKS are on the verge of elimination. (PTI)At one point, PBKS were on top of the table. Now they have lost six matches in a row and need to defeat Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday in their final league game. If PBKS beat LSG, they will finish with 15 points. Their qualification won't be confirmed yet, as RR and Kolkata Knight Riders can still knock them out. RR can qualify with 16 points. Meanwhile, KKR can also finish with 15 points, and NRR will then be the decisive factor. If PBKS lose to LSG, then they will be eliminated.Also Read: Explained: What happened between Virat Kohli and Travis Head that led to frosty post-match scenes‘That washout against KKR’Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Ponting said, "We were exceptional for our first seven or six games. Then we had that washout against Kolkata Knight Riders, and I think from that moment on we've just been a little bit off and as I said they're small things. They're one or two balls or they're an over here and there that quite conceivably, we could have won another three or four games, but we've only got ourselves to blame for that.""We're in the situation that we're in as a result of not playing at our best over the last few weeks, but we've also got a very good idea of what our best cricket looks like and what it is and what we have to do to win tomorrow, and that's all we can focus on."Against LSG, they face a team that is already eliminated. For LSG, it will be all about pride at stake. They have also won three of their last four matches. "I mean they, Lucknow, going into tomorrow," said Ponting."Apart from probably personal pride and pride for the franchise's performance, they've really got nothing else to lose, so teams can be dangerous in that way. But we understand that, we know that, and that's the way that I want my boys to play as well. I want us to be fearless and I want us to be daring, I want us to take the game on and not be worried about what might happen, the negative things that might happen in the game," he added.
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