Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings are the team to beat in the ongoing IPL 2026, winning six of their seven matches so far and leading the standings with 13 points. They remain the only undefeated side this season, with their only points drop coming from a rain-induced washout against Kolkata Knight Riders early in the campaign.PBKS are currently sitting comfortably at the top, with a three-point cushion over their nearest rivals. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals occupy the remaining playoff spots, all on 10 points each and separated only by net run rate.After their record chase against Delhi Capitals, PBKS co-owner and actor Preity Zinta — a constant presence in the stands — took to social media for a fan interaction. “Today seems like a perfect day for an impromptu #pzchat! Bring on the questions folks,” she posted on X.What followed was a viral moment, thanks to PBKS’ veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Responding to Zinta’s impromptu chat, Chahal made a hilarious request: “Mam ek match mein open batting karne ka chance mil jaaye toh,” accompanied by laughing emojis. The playful plea quickly caught fans’ attention online.
On the field, however, Chahal has endured a tough season despite the team’s dominant run. In six innings across seven matches, he has managed just four wickets, with best figures of 2 for 28 and an economy rate of 9.76. In fact, PBKS bowlers overall have had relatively modest returns, with Arshdeep Singh leading the pack with seven wickets in seven innings, placing him 27th in the Purple Cap race.The team’s success has largely been driven by its batters. Prabhsimran Singh has been in stellar form, scoring 287 runs at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 192.61. Captain Shreyas Iyer has been equally impressive with 279 runs at an average of 69.75 and a strike rate of 186. Meanwhile, Priyansh Arya (254) and Cooper Connolly (240) are also among the top 15 in the Orange Cap standings, underlining PBKS’ batting dominance this season.
