Punjab Kings' rigid shell of runs conceals fragile tissues prone to damage
Shreyas Iyer (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 06 May 2026, 01:11 PM• Read time - 12 mins
After losing the IPL 2025 silverware by the barest of margins( six runs), Punjab Kings (PBKS) stormed into the 19th edition of the cash‑rich league with purpose. Six wins in their first seven outings, the lone blemish, a washout against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, set the tone for a campaign that looked destined to rewrite records.
Punjab’s sturdy shell of runs
Punjab’s early surge was powered by a batting unit that refused to blink. Their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, have been the most belligerent pair among those crossing 200 runs this season. Once unleashed in the powerplay, they’ve inflicted carnage, setting a template of aggression that the middle order has gleefully mirrored.
Most runs by a team in IPL 2026
| Team | Mat | Runs | Ave | RPO | Inns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10 | 2097 | 30.83 | 10.68 | 10 |
| Mumbai Indians | 10 | 1860 | 30.49 | 9.90 | 10 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 10 | 1844 | 32.92 | 10.27 | 10 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 10 | 1815 | 31.84 | 9.30 | 10 |
| Delhi Capitals | 10 | 1801 | 29.52 | 9.43 | 10 |
| Gujarat Titans | 10 | 1714 | 32.33 | 9.19 | 10 |
| Punjab Kings | 9 | 1700 | 39.53 | 11.18 | 8 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 9 | 1656 | 34.50 | 10.64 | 9 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 9 | 1495 | 21.98 | 8.47 | 9 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 9 | 1412 | 26.64 | 8.95 | 9 |
The ripple effect was most vividly seen in match 35 against Delhi Capitals, where PBKS hunted down 265: the highest successful chase in T20 history. They plundered 116 in the powerplay, the second‑highest in IPL annals and joint‑second in men’s T20s overall, before romping home with six wickets and seven balls to spare.
Statistically, Punjab’s batting has been peerless. Ahead of match 49, they boast the highest batting average (39.53 runs per wicket) and the most runs per over (11.18) among all sides. Rajasthan Royals (32.92) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (10.68 RPO) trail distantly. Punjab may not have piled up the most aggregate runs, but their efficiency and strike rate have been unmatched, a shell of runs that has shielded them all season.
Punjab’s fragile tissues beneath a sturdy exterior
But beneath the hard shell lies a vulnerable Punjab’s bowling. After their rampaging start, PBKS stumbled in back‑to‑back defeats: failing to defend 222 against Rajasthan in a run‑fest, and then crumbling while defending 163 on a bowling-friendly Ahmedabad track against Gujarat Titans.
The numbers are damning. Punjab have taken the fewest wickets (43) among all ten franchises. Their average runs per wicket (39.53) is the worst in the league, and their economy rate (11.18 RPO) is bleeding runs at a pace no other side has matched.
Most wickets by a team in IPL 2026
| Team | Mat | Wkts | Ave | RPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucknow Super Giants | 9 | 68 | 21.98 | 8.47 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10 | 68 | 30.83 | 10.68 |
| Delhi Capitals | 10 | 61 | 29.52 | 9.43 |
| Mumbai Indians | 10 | 61 | 30.49 | 9.90 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 10 | 57 | 31.84 | 9.30 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 10 | 56 | 32.92 | 10.27 |
| Gujarat Titans | 10 | 53 | 32.33 | 9.19 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 9 | 53 | 26.64 | 8.95 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 9 | 48 | 34.50 | 10.64 |
| Punjab Kings | 9 | 43 | 39.53 | 11.18 |
For a side perched atop the points table, their bowling has been anything but fiery. It has survived under the imposing weight of runs, but with the playoffs looming, the cracks are widening.
Punjab Kings have long carried the underachiever tag since the IPL’s inception in 2008. Their batting brilliance has given them a hard shell, but unless the bowling unit stiffens up, the soft tissue beneath could be exposed at the business end of the tournament.
The playoffs are closing in fast. PBKS must find bite with the ball, or risk watching their dazzling batting fireworks fizzle out when it matters most.
