India, May 11 -- Punjab Kings looked like the team to beat in the first half of the IPL 2026 season. They remained unbeaten in their opening seven matches and sat comfortably at the top of the points table for a major part of the campaign. But just when Punjab appeared to be on the verge of sealing a playoff spot, they stumbled badly. The weaknesses that had remained hidden during their dominant run in the first half suddenly became glaringly obvious, leaving rival teams with clear areas to exploit. What followed was a shocking run of four consecutive defeats.

On Monday, at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium, Punjab Kings posted 210 for five, a total which Shreyas Iyer himself admitted was well above par. Yet Delhi Capitals, despite stru...