Haddin: PBKS Fate in Own Hands After MI Loss in IPL 2026

In a tense IPL 2026 clash at Dharamsala, Punjab Kings fell short by six wickets against Mumbai Indians, extending their losing streak to five. Yet, assistant coach Brad Haddin is not throwing in the towel, declaring that PBKS's playoff qualification hinges on victories in their final two outings. Sitting pretty with 13 points after 12 matches in fourth position, the Kings have no margin for error. Haddin's presser message was crystal clear: 'Two matches to go, and everything is up to us. No point dwelling on hypotheticals—we just need to win out.' The coach highlighted PBKS's ability to build a substantial total, crediting late fireworks against MI's disciplined bowling. 'We batted well to get that score up,' he said. Tilak Varma's blistering counterattack stole the show for MI, earning Haddin's respect: 'Tilak's knock was outstanding; he won it for them when we thought we had the edge.' Addressing the high-stakes environment, Haddin spoke candidly: 'Pressure defines IPL, particularly now. It's about performing in crunch time. Positives emerged from this game, and our response will define us.' Haddin also touched on the season's scoring trends, where power dominates. 'We back our entire squad. The game's shifted—high totals are the norm. Time to adapt, escape this slump, and recapture that initial momentum.' The Kings' crucial next battle is against RCB on Sunday in Dharamsala.