Lalit Modi has declared that Punjab Kings have 'zero chances' of making the IPL 2026 playoffs due to their fifth consecutive defeat. He predicts that Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will qualify instead.
Key points
Lalit Modi declares Punjab Kings out of IPL 2026 playoffs
Punjab Kings suffered their fifth consecutive defeat
Tilak Varma scored 75 runs for Mumbai Indians
Modi backs CSK and RR to qualify for playoffs
Punjab KingsChennai Super KingsRajasthan RoyalsMumbai Indians
Tilak Varma's unbeaten 75 off 33 balls steered Mumbai Indians home with one ball to spare.
Punjab's fifth straight defeat has left their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Lalit Modi declared Punjab out of contention, tipping CSK and Rajasthan to qualify.
Tilak Varma's stunning 75 sends Punjab crashing and opens IPL playoff race wide open
Lalit Modi slammed Punjab Kings for their "downward spiral", and backed Chennai Super Kings or Rajasthan Royals to qualify for the IPL playoffs after Shreyas Iyer and Co. lost to Mumbai Indians on Thursday evening in Dharamshala.
MI,Ā chasing 201 to win, pulled off a remarkable heist on the penultimate ball to beat PBKS by six wickets.
Batting first at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, the hosts put together a challenging total of 200 for 8 in their 20 overs.
Q&A
Why does Lalit Modi believe Punjab Kings will not make the IPL 2026 playoffs?
Lalit Modi believes Punjab Kings will not make the playoffs due to their fifth consecutive defeat, which has severely impacted their chances.
Which teams does Lalit Modi think will qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?
Lalit Modi predicts that Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.
What was Tilak Varma's performance in the recent match involving Mumbai Indians?
Tilak Varma scored an unbeaten 75 runs off 33 balls, helping Mumbai Indians secure a victory with one ball to spare.
How many consecutive defeats has Punjab Kings faced in IPL 2026?
Punjab Kings have faced five consecutive defeats in IPL 2026.
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Prabhsimran Singh once again proved his worth at the top of the order, as he scored 57 off 32 balls. Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai provided the late acceleration the innings needed, blasting 38 off just 17 deliveries to push the total to 200.
For Mumbai, Shardul Thakur was outstanding, boasting figures of 4 for 39 in a disciplined spell that kept Punjab from going even bigger.
During the chase, Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton moved slowly through the first two overs, managing just 13 runs. But Rickelton then shifted through the gears against Marco Jansen, to give Mumbai momentum.
However, Tilak Varma walked in after Mumbai had lost quick wickets and found the boundaries regularly. He rotated the strike intelligently and announced his intentions with a massive 106-metre six off Chahal that effectively told Punjab that their plans were not working.
England all-rounder Will Jacks arrived and immediately went after the bowling, smashing 25 off just 10 balls. Together, they swung the momentum entirely. The final over, bowled by Josh Bartlett, was decisive.
Mumbai needed 15 and got 19, thanks to three sixes. Varma finished on an unbeaten 75 off 33 balls, laced with six fours and six sixes.
Lalit Modi calls end to IPL 2026 playoffs chase for Punjab Kings
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi wasted no time in delivering his verdict. Posting on X shortly after the match, he declared that Punjab's chances of reaching the playoffs were effectively over, calling their recent run a "downward spiral".
He wrote: "Bartlett crashes theĀ @PunjabKingsIPLĀ out of the tournament. Zero chances of making the playoffs now in my view. What a downward spiral for the kings. Completely opens up the playoffs forĀ @ChennaiIPLĀ andĀ @rajasthanroyals."
Technically, Punjab are not yet eliminated. Two wins from their remaining two matches would take them to 17 points. That is a tally that has historically been sufficient for a top-four finish.
The Cricket News Opinion:Ā Punjab's collapse is as much mental as it is tactical
Five consecutive defeats after six wins from seven matches is not a tale of bad luck; it is a story of momentum lost, and confidence drained.
The same batting unit that was blazing through opposition a few weeks ago now looks fragile under pressure. Giving away 19 runs in the final over at home is not a bowling problem in isolation; it is a symptom of a side that has forgotten how to hold its nerve when it matters.
Two wins are still achievable, but Punjab needĀ belief, and Thursday's ending will have made that harder to find.
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