PBKS battle slump while MI play for pride in Dharamsala

Already eliminated from the race to the play-offs, five-time title-holders Mumbai Indians could play the party spoilers and go all-out without any baggage of expectations when they take on last season’s runners-up Punjab Kings, desperate to finally stop the bleeding after a stunning reversal in form, in the crucial IPL 2026 clash at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium on Thursday.

After a flying start to the tournament, Punjab Kings have suddenly lost momentum with four straight defeats, while off-field chatter on social media has only added to their troubles. The Ricky Ponting-led side will now be eager to put those distractions behind them and focus on fixing their bowling and fielding issues.

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Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, are out of contention for the playoffs and will now play purely for pride. With no pressure of qualification, MI could use the remaining games to test their bench strength, especially with uncertainty around the availability of captain Hardik Pandya and stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

Punjab currently sit on 13 points from 12 matches and have endured a dramatic dip in form. They failed to defend 222 against Rajasthan Royals, were bowled out for 163 against Gujarat Titans, could not chase 236 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and most recently lost despite posting 210 against Delhi Capitals.

For PBKS, the powerplay battle against Jasprit Bumrah could shape the contest. Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have looked dangerous at Dharamsala, but Bumrah’s accuracy and bounce on the high-altitude pitch could pose a major challenge early on.

Captain Shreyas Iyer remains Punjab’s key batter through the middle overs, while Marcus Stoinis has been their biggest threat at the death with an exceptional strike rate in the final overs this season. Shashank Singh has also played the finisher’s role but has struggled for consistency in recent matches.

Punjab’s biggest concern, however, remains their fielding. They have dropped 16 catches this season, with Shashank alone accounting for five missed chances. Their bowling has also lacked control at crucial moments. Arshdeep Singh has taken wickets regularly but has leaked runs, while the absence of Vijaykumar Vyshak in the previous game reduced their options at the death alongside Marco Jansen.

Meanwhile, after a forgettable outing in IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians, placed in the penultimate ninth place in the points table, will look to end the season on a high. Ryan Rickelton has been their standout batter this season with 382 runs at an impressive strike rate, while Bumrah continues to remain their biggest weapon with the ball despite the team’s struggles.

With Hardik and Suryakumar likely unavailable, MI could hand Tilak Varma the captaincy, although the franchise may also turn to former skipper Rohit Sharma for leadership duties. Rohit has rediscovered form at the top of the order, while Tilak has been MI’s most reliable finisher this season.

PBKS spinner Yuzvendra Chahal could play a key role if fit, especially considering his strong record against MI’s middle order. Chahal has dismissed both Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya four times each in T20 cricket. The caveat is that Chahal wasn’t used as a bowler at all in PBKS’s loss to DC – reportedly having a shoulder concern.

The conditions in Dharamsala are expected to heavily favour batting again. The venue has produced the highest-scoring games in IPL 2026, with the average first innings score touching 209 since 2023. Teams batting first have won four of the last five matches at the ground, and with dew unlikely because of the weather conditions, the toss could once again prove crucial.

“Injured” Hardik spends three hours at nets but unlikely for Dharamsala contest

Hardik Pandya, who has missed Mumbai Indians’ last two matches, returned to intense training on Tuesday and spent more than three hours at the Reliance Corporate Park in Mumbai. The MI skipper has been sidelined due to a back spasm and missed games against Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite resuming full-fledged training, he remains unlikely to feature in Thursday’s match in Dharamsala.

Mumbai Indians have continued to maintain that Hardik is recovering from a back issue, but the all-rounder’s rigorous training session, clips of which he shared on social media, has sparked speculation. Multiple reports of unrest within the dressing room have also added intrigue around his continued absence.

The five-time IPL champions arrived in Dharamsala from Chandigarh on Tuesday afternoon, but neither Hardik nor stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav travelled with the squad. Suryakumar recently became a father after the birth of his baby girl and is understood to have flown to Mumbai along with Hardik and a few other players immediately after MI’s match in Raipur on Sunday. The remaining members of the squad travelled separately via Chandigarh before reaching Dharamsala.

It is still unclear when Suryakumar will rejoin the team, although the franchise remains hopeful that he will be available closer to the match against Punjab Kings. He had similarly linked up with the squad only on match day ahead of the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.