Mumbai, April 11: Punjab Kings’ assistant coach Brad Haddin stated that the team has not yet delivered its best performance, despite achieving consistent victories. In the 17th match of IPL 2026, Punjab Kings defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 220 runs set by SRH, Punjab Kings successfully reached their goal in 18.5 overs, losing four wickets in the process. This match marked the highest run chase in IPL history against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After the match, Haddin remarked that the team has not yet showcased a fully balanced performance. He noted that batting, bowling, and fielding have not all clicked together at full strength, yet the team continues to secure positive results. He believes that as the tournament progresses, the team will demonstrate even better play.
In the victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh provided a strong start, while captain Shreyas Iyer scored a brilliant 69 runs off 33 balls, leading the team to its third win of the season. Haddin humorously mentioned that the powerplay’s first six overs were so aggressive that he was glad he wasn’t bowling at that time. Both teams scored quickly, making the match very exciting.
However, he acknowledged that the real difference came during the middle overs. Punjab’s bowlers performed well during this phase, taking crucial wickets that shifted the match in their favor. Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad had set a formidable total of 219 runs, thanks to a strong start from Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who helped the team score over 100 runs in the powerplay. Nevertheless, Punjab Kings’ bowlers made a remarkable comeback. Haddin attributed the team’s calm demeanor as the key to their victory. He emphasized that players must trust their plans under pressure, which is exactly what Punjab Kings did.
So far in IPL 2026, Punjab Kings remain unbeaten, accumulating 7 points from 4 matches. The team will face the five-time champions Mumbai Indians next on April 16 at Wankhede Stadium.
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