Are Punjab Kings eliminated from IPL 2026 after the latest loss to RCB? Punjab Kings are not yet eliminated from IPL 2026 — but their playoff chances now hang by the thinnest of threads after a sixth consecutive loss, this time in the PBKS vs RCB Match 61 — IPL 2026 at Dharamsala. PBKS fell short chasing a massive target as RCB’s batting unit powered them to a commanding total. Despite a late blitz from Shashank Singh, Punjab could not chase down RCB’s score.
With just one league match remaining — against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on May 23 — the question dominating cricket social media tonight is simple: are Punjab Kings eliminated from IPL 2026, or can they still salvage a remarkable season that began with six straight wins?
The answer, technically, is that Punjab Kings have not been eliminated yet. But the path to the playoffs is now almost impossibly narrow. Here is everything you need to know about PBKS playoff chances in 2026, what results they need, and whether the most dramatic collapse in IPL history can still end with a twist.
ALSO READ: Are RCB confirmed for top 2 spot in IPL 2026?
Punjab Kings Points Table Position After RCB Loss
Are Punjab Kings eliminated already from playoffs chances? After today’s defeat, Punjab Kings sit on 13 points from 13 matches — six wins and seven losses. PBKS entered IPL 2026 as the most dominant team in the league phase, going 6-0 to sit on top of the points table. Since then, they have lost every single game.
Their net run rate, which was comfortably above +0.3 during their winning run, has taken a significant hit through six consecutive defeats. PBKS have one remaining fixture — LSG vs PBKS, Match 68 in Lucknow on May 23 — and that match will determine whether their season ends with 13 points or 15.
IPL 2026 Points Table (Updated After PBKS vs RCB)
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 18 | +1.065 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | +0.400 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | +0.331 |
| 4 | Punjab Kings | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | +0.227 |
| 5 | Rajasthan Royals | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | +0.082 |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | +0.027 |
| 7 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -0.038 |
| 8 | Delhi Capitals | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | -0.993 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.504 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.701 |
For context, the IPL 2026 points table standings heading into tonight’s other matches show RCB and Gujarat Titans firmly in the top two with 16-18 points, while Sunrisers Hyderabad occupy third with 14 points from 12 matches. The battle for fourth place is where PBKS find themselves stuck — and they are no longer in control of their own destiny.
Can Punjab Kings Still Qualify for IPL 2026 Playoffs?
Yes, Punjab Kings can still mathematically qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs — but they need to beat LSG in their final match AND depend on other results going their way.
Even if PBKS beat Lucknow Super Giants, they would finish on just 15 points. In virtually every IPL season, 16 points has been the safe qualification threshold. Finishing on 15 points means Punjab Kings would need at least one of the teams currently around them — Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, or Sunrisers Hyderabad — to stumble in their remaining fixtures.
Here is how the scenarios break down:
If PBKS beat LSG (finish on 15 points): Punjab Kings would need other teams in the 12-14 point range to not overtake them. Net run rate becomes decisive. PBKS’s NRR advantage from the early-season dominance may still be enough in a tiebreak scenario — but that cushion has been eroding rapidly through these six losses. The margins are razor-thin, and PBKS would be entirely reliant on results they cannot control.
If PBKS lose to LSG (finish on 13 points): Are Punjab Kings eliminated if they lose to LSG as well? Season over. Punjab Kings are eliminated from IPL 2026. At 13 points, they cannot finish in the top four regardless of other results. The team that started 6-0 would finish 6-8 — one of the most remarkable collapses in the tournament’s 19-year history.
For the complete breakdown of how every team’s remaining fixtures affect the playoff picture, see our IPL 2026 playoff scenarios tracker, updated after every match.
How Punjab Kings’ 6-Match Losing Streak Happened
The timeline of PBKS’s collapse from league leaders to playoff hopefuls tells the story of a team whose extraordinary batting could not compensate for bowling that progressively fell apart.
Match 8 vs RR (Loss): The first crack. After six consecutive wins that included the highest successful run chase in IPL history against Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings lost to Rajasthan Royals and the aura of invincibility disappeared overnight.
Match 9 vs CSK (Loss): Chennai Super Kings exposed PBKS’s death bowling at Chepauk. Two losses on the trot — still not panic territory, but the pattern was emerging.
Match 10 vs SRH (Loss): Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting power overwhelmed a Punjab bowling attack that was leaking runs at alarming rates. Three straight losses. The points table cushion was shrinking fast.
Match 11 vs DC (Loss): Despite posting a competitive total, PBKS could not defend it. Their bowling economy across the losing streak was climbing beyond 10 runs per over in the death overs — a fatal flaw in high-scoring IPL conditions.
Match 12 vs MI (Loss): The most painful of the lot. An already-eliminated Mumbai Indians side chased down 201, with PBKS unable to take wickets when it mattered. Five losses in a row. The team that was top of the table three weeks ago was now staring at elimination. Read our detailed breakdown of Punjab Kings’ playoff chances after five losses. Questions around are Punjab Kings eliminated first started appearing here.
Match 13 vs RCB (Loss — today): Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 222/4 in Dharamsala, powered by Venkatesh Iyer’s unbeaten 73 off 40 balls, Virat Kohli’s 58, and Devdutt Padikkal’s explosive 45 off 25. PBKS collapsed in the chase, losing early wickets and never recovering despite Cooper Connolly’s 37 and Suryansh Shedge’s resistance. Six losses in a row. The season has gone from dream to nightmare.
What Happens If Punjab Kings Lose to LSG?
Are Punjab Kings eliminated if they lose to LSG now? If PBKS lose to Lucknow Super Giants on May 23, their season is definitively over. Punjab Kings would be eliminated from IPL 2026 with a final record of 6 wins and 8 losses from 14 matches, finishing on 13 points.
The collapse from 6-0 to 6-8 would be the most dramatic turnaround in IPL history. No team has ever gone from an unbeaten start of six matches to missing the playoffs entirely. Shreyas Iyer, who led the charge during Punjab’s explosive early season and sits among the leading run-scorers of the tournament, would see his exceptional individual form count for nothing.
For PBKS, a loss to LSG would not just end their 2026 campaign — it would rewrite the narrative of the entire season. The team that chased 265 against Delhi Capitals, the team whose batting lineup was feared by every franchise in the competition, would exit as the team that could not win a single match in the second half of the season. And it would seal the queries around are Punjab Kings eliminated, a scenario that appeared very unlikely after their winning streak at the start.
PBKS Net Run Rate and Why It Matters
Punjab Kings’ NRR was well above +0.3 during their six-match winning streak, buoyed by comprehensive victories — including that record 265-run chase and a 54-run thrashing of LSG in their first meeting. However, the six consecutive losses have significantly damaged that figure.
The NRR matters because if PBKS beat LSG and finish on 15 points, they could be tied with one or more teams on the same points tally. In that scenario, net run rate is the tiebreaker. PBKS’s early-season NRR buffer has been eroding with every defeat, and today’s loss — chasing 223 and falling well short — will have further dented that cushion.
For comparison, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are both in the hunt around the 12-14 point range with matches in hand. Their NRR trajectories relative to PBKS will be critical if teams finish level on points.
Other Results That Affect Punjab Kings’ Playoff Chances
PBKS cannot control any result other than their own LSG match on May 23. But the following fixtures will directly determine whether 15 points — if Punjab even get there — is enough for the fourth playoff spot.
The key teams to watch are Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, all of whom have remaining matches that could take them above or below the 15-point mark. Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are also in the mathematical mix but need near-perfect results. For the full permutation breakdown of every team’s remaining schedule and how it impacts the top four, bookmark our IPL 2026 playoffs scenarios hub — we update it after every game.
Tonight’s DC vs RR and CSK vs SRH results will further clarify the picture. If Rajasthan Royals win tonight and climb to 14 points with matches remaining, PBKS’s position becomes even more precarious.
Is PBKS Out of IPL 2026? The Verdict
Punjab Kings are not eliminated from IPL 2026 — not yet. But they are one loss away from elimination, and even a win against LSG in Lucknow on May 23 only gets them to 15 points, which may not be enough depending on how the rest of the table shakes out.
The PBKS qualification scenario is now entirely dependent on two things: winning their last match, and hoping that other teams around them drop crucial points. This is not where a team that started the tournament 6-0 expected to be.
Can Punjab Kings still qualify for playoffs in 2026? Mathematically, yes. Realistically, they need everything to go right — and over the past six matches, nothing has gone right for Shreyas Iyer’s side. The bowling has consistently leaked runs, the batting has not been able to chase under pressure, and the momentum that made them the most feared team in the league has completely vanished.
The 6-0 to 6-7 trajectory is already unprecedented. Whether it becomes a 6-8 collapse or a miraculous last-gasp qualification will be decided in Lucknow on May 23. For Punjab Kings fans, it is going to be a long week.
This article will be updated with tonight’s DC vs RR and CSK vs SRH results and their impact on PBKS’s qualification scenarios. Bookmark this page and check back for the latest updates.
Follow The Dakia for live updates from IPL 2026. For the complete points table breakdown and PBKS qualification scenarios, check our IPL 2026 playoff scenarios hub. For PBKS squad depth and player profiles, see our PBKS IPL 2026 squad analysis.
