Chandigarh: The IPL 2026 points table saw minor but significant changes after Sunday’s double-header, with Kolkata Knight Riders climbing one spot while Mumbai Indians slipped to the bottom. Meanwhile, unbeaten Punjab Kings continued their dominance at the top with another emphatic victory.
Only two teams exchanged positions despite two matches being played, highlighting how tightly contested the mid-to-lower half of the table remains.
KKR secure comeback win at Eden Gardens
In the afternoon clash at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders registered a four-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals.
Chasing 156, KKR found themselves in deep trouble at 85/6 before Rinku Singh produced a match-winning unbeaten 53. His composed knock guided the team home with two balls to spare, marking a crucial turnaround in their campaign.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals managed 155/9, with youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi top-scoring with 46. However, their batting faltered in the latter stages, failing to capitalise on a promising start.
The win lifted KKR to ninth place, pushing Mumbai Indians to the bottom of the standings.
PBKS continue unbeaten run
In the evening match, Punjab Kings delivered another commanding performance, defeating Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs to maintain their position at the top.
Brilliant knocks from Priyansh Arya (93 off 37) and Cooper Connolly (87 off 46) powered PBKS to a massive 254/7 — the highest total of IPL 2026.
The duo stitched together a stunning 182-run partnership for the second wicket, dismantling the LSG bowling attack with aggressive strokeplay.
LSG fall short despite fighting effort
In reply, Lucknow Super Giants managed 200/5, falling well short of the daunting target. Contributions from Mitchell Marsh (40), Ayush Badoni (35), Rishabh Pant (43) and Aiden Markram (42) kept the chase alive briefly.
However, regular wickets and a steep required run rate ensured that LSG could not keep pace.
A key turning point came early in the innings when Pant opted not to review an LBW appeal against Connolly, who was on just four at the time. Replays later suggested the ball would have hit the stumps, and Connolly went on to play a match-defining knock.
PBKS strengthen top spot
With five wins and one no-result in six matches, Punjab Kings remain the only unbeaten side in the tournament. Their consistent performances with both bat and ball have made them early favourites in IPL 2026.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer praised the aggressive mindset of his batters, highlighting the internal competition within the squad to hit the most sixes.
Points table impact
Despite two matches, the points table saw only a minor reshuffle:
- Punjab Kings remain firmly at the top
- Lucknow Super Giants stay in eighth position
- Kolkata Knight Riders move up to ninth
- Mumbai Indians drop to the bottom
The limited movement reflects the competitive nature of the league, where small margins separate teams in the standings.
Tournament heating up
As IPL 2026 progresses, teams are beginning to establish momentum, while others struggle to find consistency. With several matches still to be played, the points table is expected to witness more dramatic shifts in the coming weeks.
Conclusion
Sunday’s results reinforced Punjab Kings’ dominance while offering Kolkata Knight Riders a much-needed boost. With Mumbai Indians now at the bottom, the pressure is mounting on underperforming teams to bounce back quickly in an increasingly competitive tournament.