Punjab Kings maintained their unbeaten start to the tournament but needed the highest successful run-chase in IPL history to do it.
They still enjoy a three-point lead at the top of the log ahead of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals who all have 10 points. At the wrong of the table Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are marooned in the bottom three places with just two wins apiece.
Match of the Week: It has to be the record run-chase. Protocol dictates. Delhi Capitals (264-2) v Punjab Kings (265-4) wasn’t a good ‘game’, but it was compelling viewing in the manner that a missile landing in a fireworks factory would catch your attention.
We’ve heard it all before, of course. It’s supposed to be a game between bat and ball. Not bat, bat and batter. The hitting was remarkable. As were all the edges which went for six. But THE match was KKR v Lucknow Super Giants with a good ‘old school’ fast bowler hitting the last ball for six to tie the scores at a sensible 155 apiece – and then KKR winning the Super Over. Proper contest.
It was a 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐘 indeed 😎💥 pic.twitter.com/cJdNPeWHAj
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 26, 2026
Batter: Saibhav Sooryavanshi reached 50 from 15 balls and his century from 36 – and was out next ball playing a trick shot. The Rajasthan Royals lost the match having posted 228-6. If the 15-year-old had carried on hitting straight, his strength, another couple of overs might have made the difference between victory and defeat.
He’s the batsman of the week. Protocol dictates. But… Tilak Varma’s 101* from 45 ball for MI against Gujarat Titans deserves the nod. Not many centuries are scored by No 5s.
Bowler: The ArchBurger continues to whet the appetite for Rajasthan supporters. Once Ravi Jadeja had rescued the innings with 43* (29 balls) the Royals still needed something special to defend 159-6. Step forward Jofra and Nandre with a combined analysis of 5-47 to help dismiss Lucknow Super Giants for 119 in which Mitch Marsh made a pedestrian 55 from 41 balls and Aiden Markram limped to a six-ball duck.
Performance: Rinku Singh was the last man standing for hapless KKR who slumped to 31-4 and 93-7 against LSG. But his composure remained undisturbed and 83* from 51 balls atleast gave them a chance with 155-7. Mohammad Shami needed six off the last ball to force a Super Over and the Knight Riders had the chance Rinku had given them – and took it.
Mid season and the race heats up 🏎#TATAIPL Week 5 brings another round of thrilling encounters 🔥
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 27, 2026
Which one are you marking on the calendar? 🗓#KhelBindaas pic.twitter.com/Q32bWots7c
Indian Player: You just can’t move past Virat Kohli. The 37-year-old isn’t ‘hanging on’, he’s getting better in his least favourite format of the three. Retired from test cricket and determined to play a lead role in the 2027 World Cup next year, he caressed 81 from 44 balls for defending champions RCB making a mockery of Gujarat’s total of 205-3 in which Sai Sudharsan made 100 from 58 balls.
A few years ago that would have been regarded as Bullet Train pace. Now it’s the train which stops at the small stations.
Overseas Player: Heinrich Klaasen. 37* from 13 balls with three fours and three sixes against Delhi put to rest any doubts about his power-hitting capabilities before donning his ‘Mr Sensible’ hat once again to score 29 from 24 to steer Sunrisers to 229-5 and victory over the Royals with nine balls to spare. He was right all along. There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team’. It’s all about doing what’s best for everyone else.
South African: GT’s Kagiso Rabada claimed 3-33 against MI and 3-25 against CSK, the first a defeat the second an emphatic victory. He was also ‘caught’ by a grubby sleuth with a mobile phone camera having a cigarette in the privacy of a balcony behind the players change room. Who posted it all over social media as though the great fast bowler had molested someone. He’s been having the occasional smoke for a decade. Doesn’t seem to have affected his talent or results.
🚨 𝗕𝗘𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗘: Express pace and fire in this image 💥💪
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 26, 2026
Kagiso Rabada has made a statement this season 🔝
RELIVE his powerplay brilliance today ▶️ https://t.co/Ga1dNSXJMP#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #CSKvGT | @KagisoRabada25 pic.twitter.com/C8tDsGsQet
Best Loser: KL Rahul’s unbeaten 152 from just 67 balls was the third highest individual score in IPL history behind Chris Gayle’s 175* and Brendan McCullum’s 158 in the inaugural fixture. Not only did he hit 19 fours and nine sixes but he did a TV interview straight afterwards and then kept wicket while the Punjab batsmen chopped Delhi’s bowlers into small snack portions.
Ouch: Xavier Bartlett’s 4-0-69-1 would have hurt as KL Rahul and Delhi Capitals piled up 264-2 – but he still finished on the winning side. Another more regular opening bowler didn’t have things his own way in week four. Hardik Pandya bowled one over for Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans and claimed a wicket – at a cost of 18 runs.
But Gujarat crashed 100 all out so it didn’t matter. Three days later his 2-0-38-0 against CSK did matter as MI folded for 104 in reply to Chennai’s 207-6.
Talking Point: There are still almost six weeks to go. The tournament hasn’t, actually, become longer for the last couple of years – it just feels like it. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. An ultra-marathon. For some, like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, the event is made far more manageable by a helpful national board which informed that their star fast bowling assets weren’t ‘ready’ for the first three weeks.
Look out for: Punjab Kings v Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday should be good. Both well-balanced and in-form. Victory for the log-leaders would virtually guarantee them a play-off place with six group matches to go. And it’s ‘El Classico’ time on Saturday with CSK v MI with ten titles between them. There won’t be another for either of them this year.