punjab kings Defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the 17th match of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the new PCA Stadium in Mullanpur.
After being invited to bat first, Sunrisers started with a bang, in which the star opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma thrashed the Punjab bowlers. At the end of the powerplay, Sunrisers reached 105/0, which is the highest score this season.
The two lefties set the stage for Sunrisers with a 120-run partnership in just 50 balls. However, Shahsank Sungh dismissed both of them with his medium pace, opening the doors for Punjab Kings. Ishan Kishan scored 27 runs and Heinrich Klaasen scored 39 runs, due to which Sunrisers were successful in scoring 219 runs for 6 wickets, which at one time were in a position to cross 250.
In reply, Punjab Kings started their innings in similar fashion and scored 93 runs in the powerplay. Priyansh Arya scored 50 off just 16 balls, the second-highest score of the season, while Prabhasimran also scored a half-century.
Sunrisers made a comeback by dismissing both the openers and Cooper Connolly, but the captain Shreyas Iyer By scoring unbeaten 69 runs in 33 balls, Kings won with seven balls to spare. This became the 10th occasion in IPL history that the Kings achieved a target of over 200, the highest by any team in the tournament.
talking points
1) 'Travishack' returns with a bang
After some early failures, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, the most dangerous opening pair in recent IPL history, played an innings of their reputation. The pair made a brilliant partnership of 120 runs in just 50 balls, out of which 105 runs were scored in the powerplay. Abhishek scored 74 runs in 28 balls and Head played the main role. His stance helped SRH set the stage for their innings
2) Sunrisers' middle order troubles continue
After the openers scored 120 runs off just 50 balls, Sunrisers ended their innings on 219 runs at the end of 20 overs, and could only score 99 runs from the next 70 balls, as the middle order was unable to carry on. Ishan Kishan scored 27 runs and Heinrich Klaasen scored 39 runs at a slow pace in 33 balls. The batsmen were not able to make any moves, this problem has been persisting for Sunrisers since the beginning of the season.
3) Priyansh, Prabhasimran join the party
It was a game for the openers, with the Punjab pair scoring 93 runs in the powerplay. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh started the chase of 220 runs effectively by attacking the Sunrisers bowlers. Both batsmen scored half-centuries, with Priyansh hitting his half-century in just 16 balls, which is the second fastest half-century of the 2026 edition. They kept pace with the high-profile Sunrisers openers, setting the stage for the chase with a 99-run partnership off just 38 balls.
4) Punjab completed its tenth target of 200+
With their win, the Kings became the first team to complete ten successful 200[plus run chases in the IPL. The next best are the Mumbai Indians with six 200-plus chases.
Who said what
Ishan Kishan, Sunrisers Hyderabad Captain
“We could have ended with a total of 250, the way we started. At the same time, they batted well in the beginning. At the same time, we were not so good with the execution – in T20 cricket, the most important thing is the execution of your good balls. 190 is a par score here, we could have had 240 here. But 220 was a great total. We had six or seven bowlers. It showed in their batting that it was easier scoring runs for them. I think in today’s age, you don’t have to plan much – you just do ahead of the game. You know which batter hits where. When you don’t execute balls, you have nothing – you just end up giving 10-20 runs. [On their 200-plus totals not being safe] No, to be honest, we don't think that much. This is ordinary cricket. Your bowlers have a total score, you try to defend. If you don't bowl in the right area, you don't stop runs in the middle.”
Shreyas Iyer, Captain of Punjab Kings, Player of the Match
“First of all, we got a great start. When you are chasing 220, you need that start. Eye-pleasing, proper cricketing shots. Kept the tempo steady in the beginning. Not easy, but maintaining that pace – I needed to give myself time. Once I judged the pace of the pitch. [After SRH’s start] We all came together and Shashank came to me, give me an over. Ricky came over and asked me, what do you think? I said I'd go with Shashank – I needed someone to stop the pace. He lived up to their expectations, he lived up to what he said, kudos to him. At the end of the day, we all know that we have skills. When we go to pursue such a goal we need a strong mindset. Openers are flowing everywhere, they don't need to curb their instincts. Other people, who prepare their platform from the first ball itself, it is easier for us to rotate the strike and go according to the run rate. Overall, we have been fantastic in our work ethic. All the players worked hard. Action: They are performing well on the field. I keep repeating from time to time, you have to live in the present. Ricky [Ponting] This aspect also holds great importance. Last year also we came so close to winning the trophy. This year, we want to raise it. It would take a lot of effort to imagine it.”
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