Punjab Kings will host Mumbai Indians in Dharamshala, hoping to get back to winning ways after four straight losses. | Photo Credit: RV MOORTHY

Punjab Kings would be desperate for a turnaround against Mumbai Indians when the two teams meet at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Thursday. After leading the standings for nearly four weeks, PBKS slumped to fourth place on the back of four straight defeats. Another slip-up will leave it in a scrap for the final Playoffs spot.

Fifties from Shreyas Iyer and Priyansh Arya against Delhi Capitals were reminiscent of the batting flourish that was the backbone of Punjab Kings’ unbeaten seven-game run. But its bowling lapses cost it once again.

PBKS leaked 73 runs off four overs at the death against the Capitals, and has the worst economy rate in this phase this season (11.66). But its lack of ideation is evident beyond just numbers.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the only spinner in the team, did not bowl at all against the Capitals – a move later attributed to dewy conditions and good carry for pacers. However, the side has not put enough faith in its quicks either to put out an all-out pace attack.

The side’s lean run in the tournament has coincided with the constant shuffling between Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson and Ben Dwarshius as the second overseas pacer. Its first overseas pacer, Marco Jansen, has just one wicket in the last five games. Marcus Stoinis’ being used intermittently as a mere support bowler has naturally made him a hit-or-miss option.

The silver lining, though, has been Arshdeep Singh delivering again up front. He has three wickets at an economy of 8.15 in the last three games after a horrid run which got him just four wickets in eight games before that.

For the others, there’s no more room for reprieves. Heavy rain on match eve meant the square was firmly under covers, and pacers are likely to stay in demand on Thursday, offering another chance for PBKS to get its act together. Another loss would bring Chennai Super Kings into the fray to overtake it in fourth place.

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The odds would favour Punjab to do better against a Mumbai Indians side that is already out of the reckoning for the Playoffs.

Its listless run was already a mood dampener this season, and MI has been handed another cruel blow in the absence of captain Hardik Pandya and stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav. A lack of success in recent seasons has made transition imminent for the five-time champion, and Tilak Varma taking over as skipper on Thursday might just be the prelude.

The best chance MI has of getting out of its rut is to take on the misfiring Punjab bowlers. Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma have nailed their role in setting the pace this year, adding 380 runs in six innings at a run rate of 11.76. Both tend to ride the bounce and take pacers on, and if they can negotiate the movement, the conditions would suit their style.

Tilak’s half-century in the previous match was just his third score of 30 runs or more this season, but also something to consolidate on and finish the tournament on a better note.

Pacers bowled 39 overs in the last match here which might prompt MI to bring in Ashwani Kumar in place of Allah Ghazanfar.

But none would be more spurred on by this ground’s history than Jasprit Bumrah. The spearhead is all but certain to end this season with lowest tally since 2015 (15 wickets). At Dharamshala, he will hope to channel the conditions and improve his haul, which currently stands at just three.

Published on May 13, 2026