By Admin 
Royal Challengers Bangalore has defeated Punjab Kings by 23 runs. Punjab’s playoff hopes have been dealt a major blow by its sixth consecutive defeat in IPL 2026. In this match played in Dharamshala, Bengaluru, batting first, scored 222 runs. Despite Shashank Singh’s fighting fifty, Punjab remained 23 runs short of the target.
This is the same Punjab Kings team which had not lost in the first seven matches of the season. If we look at the points table, Punjab has 13 points in 13 matches and is in fourth place. There is only one match left in the league stage, can just one match take Punjab to the playoffs? Know here what is the latest equation of playoffs for PBKS.
Is Punjab out?
No, Punjab Kings is still in the race for the playoffs. But after the defeat against Bengaluru, its hopes of remaining in the last-4 have reduced. Punjab has 13 points from 13 matches and has only one match left in the league stage. He has to play this last match with Lucknow Super Giants on 23 May. Lucknow is already out of the playoff race.
If Punjab wants to go to the playoffs, it will have to win the last league stage match by a big margin, which will take its total to 15 points. Since it is no longer possible for Punjab to match Gujarat and Bengaluru. This means Punjab can no longer finish in the top-2.
- Punjab should win its last match
- Sunrisers Hyderabad should lose their next two matches.
- CSK and RR could not go beyond 14 points
- Punjab’s net run rate was better than other teams
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