IPL 2026 | Punjab Kings Retain Top-Four Spot Even After 6-Wicket Loss to Mumbai Indians

IPL 2026 | Punjab Kings Retain Top-Four Spot Even After 6-Wicket Loss to Eliminated MI

Tilak Varma smashed an unbeaten 75 off 33 balls as Mumbai Indians chased down 201 against Punjab Kings in IPL 2026.

Tilak Varma delivered a breathtaking unbeaten 75 off just 33 balls to guide Mumbai Indians to a commanding six-wicket win over Punjab Kings on Thursday evening. MI chased down a competitive 201-run target with a ball to spare.

Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Mumbai’s bowlers had a mixed outing in the first innings. Punjab Kings posted 200/8 in their 20 overs, with opener Prabhsimran Singh providing the early fireworks, hitting 57 off 32 balls with four fours and four sixes before being caught off Shardul Thakur. A late knock from Azmatullah Omarzai (38 off 17) and Xavier Bartlett (18 off 7) helped PBKS post a challenging total, despite Shardul Thakur’s fine spell of 4/39 being the pick of the MI bowling attack.

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Mumbai’s run chase, however, was all about Tilak Varma. Ryan Rickelton gave the visitors a quick start, hammering 48 off 23 balls with four fours and four sixes. However, wickets fell at regular intervals to leave MI needing cool heads. Rohit Sharma trudged to 25 off 26 before being dismissed, and Sherfane Rutherford chipped in with a measured 20. But it was Tilak who took the game away from Punjab entirely.

Coming in at number four, his 75, laced with six fours and six sixes, included an aggressive final partnership with Will Jacks (25* off 10).

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For Punjab, Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout with the ball, returning 2/36 in four overs, while the rest of the attack, including Marco Jansen (1/55) and Xavier Bartlett (0/53), proved expensive as MI’s batters cut loose.

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