Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) crashed out of the league stage of IPL 2026 after finishing fifth in the points table. The IPL 2025 runners-up were the favorites to finish in the top two. They dominated the first half of the season and won six out of their first 7 games. Their third game of the season was washed out due to rain. PBKS’ form dwindled in the second half and they lost six back-to-back games. PBKS finally registered their seventh win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their last league stage fixture. But they didn’t have their destiny in their hands.
PBKS needed a favor from Rajasthan Royals (RR) on the last day of the league stage. RR defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) to punch their ticket to the final.
Two days after PBBKS’ exit from IPL 2026, Shreyas Iyer finally broke his silence and shared a post on X. “Every run. Every moment. Every fight. This chapter closes with gratitude and the next one begins with hunger,” he wrote.
PBKS suffered defeats at the hands of RR, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Will Shreyas Iyer continue to lead PBKS?
There is no doubt over Iyer’s future with PBKS and he will continue to lead them. The team management invested heavily in him and bought him for Rs 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega-auction.
Iyer-led PBKS made it to the final of IPL 2025. It was after 10 years that PBKS cleared the league stage. In 2026, they had their chances till the penultimate game of the league phase.
RR, who ended PBKS’ and Kolkata Knight Riders’ hopes, will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the eliminator on Wednesday (May 27). SRH are in a must-win situation and have to win every game to qualify for the final. In 2014, David Warner-led SRH lifted the title despite finishing third in the table.
