Punjab Kings (PBKS) assistant coach Brad Haddin gave the squad a strong reality check after the team’s recent collapse in the IPL 2026 season. Haddin urged captain Shreyas Iyer and the players to ignore social media noise and focus fully on winning their remaining matches to qualify for the playoffs in the tournament.
Punjab Kings lost to Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday, May 14. They suffered their fifth consecutive defeat of the ongoing season. The franchise had earlier remained unbeaten in their first seven matches, registering six wins and one draw before poor results.
Key Points
- Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin gave the team a strong warning after their fifth straight defeat.
- Haddin urged Shreyas Iyer and the squad to ignore social media criticism during IPL 2026.
- Punjab Kings now need wins in their remaining matches to stay alive in the playoff race.
We’re as Disappointed - Punjab Kings Coach Brad Haddin
Speaking after the match, Brad Haddin admitted that the squad is deeply disappointed with its current position in the tournament. Haddin stated that there is no room left for mistakes and they should win the remaining matches to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“We've still got two games to go. And the one thing is that destiny is still in our hands. We have to find a way. And now, there's no tomorrow. There's no talking about anything else. We have to win our remaining games now. And that's as simple as it is," Haddin said.
"We're as disappointed as you guys with the way we started the tournament and where we are now. We have to find a way now to play our best cricket in the next couple of games to hopefully get the opportunity to play in the finals,” he added.
Punjab Kings are now under huge pressure in the playoff race. The Shreyas Iyer-led side looked set for a top-two finish earlier in the season, but they now need victories in both remaining league matches to keep their qualification hopes alive.
We Haven't Played Our Best Cricket When We Need To - Brad Haddin
The former Australia batter said that Punjab Kings have struggled to handle pressure during important moments in recent matches. Haddin stated that dealing with pressure is a key part of IPL cricket and asked the players to stay involved in the game instead of focusing too much on the result.
“I think the whole tournament, it's pressure the whole time. And especially this stage where we're at the tournament, this is what IPL cricket is about. You've got to be able to handle the big moments, you've got to be able to handle pressure. We just haven't been able to handle the pressure in the last few defeats," Haddin stated.
"We haven't played our best cricket when we need to, which has been disappointing. You've got to not think about the outcome. You've got to make sure you find a way to get yourself involved in the game,” said the former Australia batter.
Punjab Kings will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday as they try to end their losing streak. The match has become a must-win contest for the Shreyas Iyer-led side in the race for the playoffs.
Whatever the External Noise Is, That's Part of Playing a Professional Sport - Brad Haddin
Brad Haddin said that the atmosphere inside the Punjab Kings dressing room remains positive despite the team’s recent defeats. He also downplayed the growing criticism on social media and reminded the players to stay focused on their performances instead of outside noise.
“The dressing room has been good. I'm not up with social media, so I don't know really what the situation is there. But from inside the camp, we've just got to find a way to win a cricket game. Whatever the external noise is, that's part of playing a professional sport. It's not always just about the field. You've got to deal with everything outside it and make sure when you get across that line, you're in the right headspace to play,” Haddin asserted.
Punjab Kings were one of the best teams in the tournament during the first half of the season. However, their sudden collapse has pushed the franchise into a difficult playoff situation, forcing the management to demand a quick turnaround in the final matches.
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