Are Punjab Kings Set to Reach the Playoffs After 10 Long Years?

In the 2014 IPL, Punjab Kings managed to make it to the Finals of the tournament for the first time but failed to grab a trophy, and since then, the next 10 years have been a proper rollercoaster ride for the franchise. The team struggled with consistency and couldn’t qualify for the playoffs even once during this period. Despite trying out different captains like Shikhar Dhawan, Glenn Maxwell, and David Miller, nothing seemed to work for them. However, things have changed in IPL 2025. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings have looked confident and much more balanced.

After playing 11 matches this season, they have won 7, lost 3, and had 1 match with no result and with 15 points in the bag and three matches still left, they are just one win away from securing a place in the playoffs. In the current points table, Punjab Kings sit at third position. Their net run rate of 0.376 also gives them a slight edge in case of a tie-in point with other teams. They have scored 1835 runs in 188.1 overs and conceded 1794 runs in 191.2 overs, showing how competitive they’ve been. Their recent form has been impressive too, with 3 wins in the last 5 games.

Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025

Before the start of the season, the Punjab Kings assembled a strong squad with their captain Shreyas Iyer at the helm. So far, in IPL 2025, Punjab Kings have shown remarkable consistency and are now looking set to make a serious push for the playoffs, a feat they haven’t achieved since their runner-up finish in 2014.

The campaign began well as the Punjab Kings defeated the Gujarat Titans in a thrilling encounter on March 25, 2025. With 243/5 on the board, thanks to an explosive batting performance, they held off a strong chase from Gujarat, who posted 232/5. PBKS won by 11 runs, a significant morale booster for the team. This victory set the tone for their season, and they followed it up with a dominant win over the Lucknow Super Giants on April 1, 2025. Chasing down 171/7 with ease, they reached their target in just 16.2 overs, winning by 8 wickets with 22 balls remaining.

The team faced a setback on April 5, 2025, against Rajasthan Royals, where they managed only 155/9 in their allotted overs, a total that RR chased down comfortably, winning by 50 runs. Despite this loss, PBKS remained determined and bounced back strongly in their next match against Chennai Super Kings on April 8, 2025, as the Kings posted 219/6, a total too large for CSK to chase, as they fell short by 18 runs.

However, the following match on April 12, 2025, against Sunrisers Hyderabad proved to be another tough challenge. Despite posting a competitive 245/6, Hyderabad proved too strong, chasing the target with ease and winning by 8 wickets with 9 balls to spare. Yet, Punjab Kings refused to let these losses affect their momentum. On April 15, 2025, they delivered an impressive win over Kolkata Knight Riders and in a low-scoring affair, PBKS restricted KKR to just 95 runs, and then chased it down in 11.3 overs with 5 wickets to spare, winning by 16 runs.

The Kings had a tough encounter on April 18, 2025, when they faced Royal Challengers Bangalore. Despite putting up a strong 157/6, RCB managed to chase down the target with ease, winning by 7 wickets. However, Punjab Kings bounced back yet again, this time against RCB on April 20, 2025, in a high-scoring thriller. Punjab posted 201/4, and RCB came close but fell short by 7 runs, handing PBKS their fourth win of the season. April 26, 2025, saw Punjab play Kolkata Knight Riders once more, this time at Eden Gardens as the match was abandoned due to weather, meaning no result.

But the team was undeterred and continued their winning run on April 30, 2025, against Chennai Super Kings. After posting 194/6, PBKS won by 4 wickets with just 2 balls remaining, a thrilling finish that kept their playoff hopes alive. In their final match of the month, on May 4, 2025, against Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings put on a clinical performance. After setting a challenging total of 236/5, they restricted Lucknow to 199/7, securing a comprehensive 37-run victory and at the halfway point of the IPL 2025, Punjab Kings have accumulated 15 points from 11 matches, with 7 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no-result.

Top Performers for the Punjab Kings

The Punjab Kings have relied heavily on their strong opening pair in IPL 2025, with Shreyas Iyer leading the way. He has scored 405 runs in 12 matches at an average of 50.62 and a strike rate of 180.80, including a top score of 97*. Alongside him, Prabhsimran Singh has been in great form, accumulating 487 runs in 12 matches with an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 170.87 as his contribution has been vital, with 5 sixes and 52 fours to his name.

Additionally, P Arya has made his mark by scoring 417 runs, including a century, at a blistering strike rate of 194.85. He has been a key player in providing momentum for the team. On the bowling side, Arshdeep Singh has been a standout, taking 16 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 8.00, with a best performance of 3/16. Yuzvendra Chahal has also played an important role, claiming 14 wickets in 10 matches, including a match-winning 4/28 and Marco Jansen, with his experience, has taken 11 wickets at an economy rate of 8.79, strengthening the Punjab Kings’ bowling attack.

What’s Next for the Punjab Kings?

As IPL 2025 gets ready to resume next week, Punjab Kings will aim to carry forward their good form into the final stretch of the league stage. The team is currently in a strong position and will be looking to finish well to book a spot in the playoffs. Their next three matches — against Rajasthan Royals on May 18, Delhi Capitals on May 24, and Mumbai Indians on May 26 — are all crucial for their qualification hopes as Punjab Kings have looked solid this season, with key wins and consistent performances from both their batters and bowlers.

However, after the break, one thing to watch out for is whether their star pacer Marco Jansen returns to the team. His comeback could really strengthen their fast-bowling attack. Also, the presence of players like Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, and other Australians will be important. Their return could help bring balance to the batting and fielding units, which is crucial for the matches ahead. With the playoffs race heating up, the team will need to give their best in the upcoming games and every match from here could be the difference between qualifying for the next round or getting knocked out.