Punjab Kings’ struggles in IPL 2026 continued with a fifth consecutive defeat, but assistant coach Brad Haddin has dismissed external chatter, insisting the team remains focused on turning things around.
Speaking after the last-over loss to Mumbai Indians in Dharamsala on May 14, Haddin stressed that the dressing room environment remains steady despite growing pressure.
Focus Remains Inside the Camp
“The dressing room has been good. I’m not up with social media. So, I don’t know really what the situation is there,” Haddin said at the post-match press conference.
“But from inside the camp, we’ve just got to find a way to win a cricket game. Whatever the external noise is, that’s part of playing a professional sport. It’s not always just about the field.
“You’ve got to deal with everything outside it and make sure when you get across that line you’re in the right headspace to play. And that’s exactly what we need to do. And now there’s no talking about what ifs”.
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Punjab Kings had earlier addressed speculation on social media, stating: “Criticism, banter, and opinions are part of sport. Fake stories and made-up narratives for cheap engagement are not. We urge everyone to verify facts before spreading misinformation for attention or traction”.
Playoff Race Tightens
The latest defeat has further complicated PBKS’s playoff prospects. After once sitting comfortably near the top of the table, they now face strong competition from Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for the fourth spot.
Mumbai Indians, despite being out of contention, secured a morale-boosting win under stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, with regular skipper Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav unavailable.
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Thakur Addresses Pandya Speculation
Amid speculation surrounding Hardik Pandya’s absence, Shardul Thakur clarified that the allrounder’s absence was due to injury.
“Plenty of discussions keep happening on social media, some are right, some are wrong, but these are also management decisions,” Thakur said. “And if we talk about the player, Hardik had an injury, so he was not able to travel for two games. He travelled to Raipur, but was not able to play the game, now he is training in Mumbai.
Pressure Moments Prove Costly
Mumbai successfully chased down 201, with Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 75 off 33 balls proving decisive. PBKS struggled to close out the game despite having 50 runs to defend in the final three overs.
Haddin admitted that the team has faltered under pressure in recent matches.
“We just haven’t been able to handle the pressure in the last few defeats,” Haddin said. “We haven’t played our best cricket when we need to, which has been disappointing. We’re as disappointed as you guys there with the way we started the tournament and where we are now”.
Final Push Ahead
Despite the losing streak, Haddin remains optimistic about the team’s chances, pointing to positive signs in their recent performance.
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“The one thing to come out of it, we’ve got two games of cricket left and we’ve got to find a way. And now there’s no tomorrow,” Haddin added.
“There’s no talking about anything else. We have to win our remaining games now. And that’s as simple as it is”.
