Punjab Kings (PBKS) suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, losing to the already-eliminated Mumbai Indians (MI) in Dharamsala. Assistant coach Brad Haddin expressed concern over the team's inability to handle pressure, stating, "We just haven't been able to handle the pressure in the last few defeats." The team's poor performance has been attributed to both tactical missteps and a decline in batting confidence. Players like Mitchell McClenaghan noted that the top-order batters have lost their way, while Abhinav Mukund criticized the decision to hold back star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal during critical overs. Despite the disappointing results, PBKS remains in contention for the playoffs, needing to win their next two matches against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Haddin emphasized the importance of responding well to the recent setbacks, stating, "We have to find a way to play our best cricket in the next couple of games to hopefully get the opportunity to play in the finals."