Mark Boucher, a former wicketkeeper-batter for South Africa, thinks the Punjab Kings might regain momentum going into the IPL’s business end by changing their mindset and playing fearlessly in the remaining games. The Mumbai Indians defeated PBKS by six wickets on Thursday in Dharamsala, their fifth consecutive loss in the current season.
“Punjab Kings have found themselves in a difficult position after a series of close defeats, especially considering the strong start they had to the season,” PTI quoted Boucher speaking on JioHotstar’s “Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live.”
“Sometimes, constantly thinking about the top four and qualification scenarios can add extra pressure, and perhaps stepping away from that mindset could actually help them.” He added that adopting a fearless approach would also help the side.
“If they approach the remaining games with a more fearless attitude and feel like they have nothing to lose, it might free them up mentally,” Boucher said.
“The IPL is a tournament where momentum can shift very quickly. Punjab Kings now need to reset mentally and focus purely on playing their best cricket in the matches ahead.”
Punjab had demonstrated the proper intent on the field, according to Boucher, but they were unable to take advantage of key moments in the game.
“In games like these, small moments make a huge difference. Punjab Kings actually showed good intent and intensity in the field, and you could sense the desperation to stay in the contest,” Boucher said.
“But at key stages, things didn’t quite go their way. Some of the fine margins, like edges running away or execution under pressure, proved costly.”
Punjab’s bowling, especially their overseas pace attack, has become a significant vulnerability, according to former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.
“Punjab Kings are now under tremendous pressure because they’ve reached a stage where they must win their remaining games to stay alive in the tournament. Considering the kind of start they had to the season, very few would have expected them to be in this position,” Chawla said.
Chawla believed that the team had suffered greatly in high-scoring games due to the inconsistent form of overseas quicks Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett.
“The bowling has become a major concern, especially with their overseas fast bowlers struggling for form and consistency,” he said.
“Marco Jansen hasn’t looked at his best, while Xavier Bartlett has found it difficult once the new-ball spell is over. When your premier overseas pacers concede heavily across their combined spells, it becomes extremely difficult to control a 200-plus chase.”
But Chawla commended Mumbai Indians batters Will Jacks and Tilak Varma for their poise during their game-winning stand.
“In pressure situations, going back to your basics becomes extremely important because those are the habits you’ve built over years of playing cricket,” Chawla said.
“Tilak Varma and Will Jacks did that really well, they focused on holding their shape and trusting their technique rather than trying to overhit. Their communication in the middle was also crucial. That clarity and composure made a big difference in the chase.”
