Are the Punjab Kings stuttering? Stumbling, even? They remain top of the log despite a second loss but the pack is closing. Well, a pack of four, that is. Punjab have 13 points from 9 matches with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans all on 12 points.
They are four points clear of the Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals with Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants bringing up the rear.
Neil Manthorp reviews: IPL WEEK FIVE
MATCH OF THE WEEK: Gujarat Titans won a proper thriller against log-leaders Punjab Kings edging home by four-wickets with a ball to spare. Kagiso Rabada (4-1-22-2) is bowling over 150 kph for the first time in years and Jason Holder (4-24) restricted Punjab to just 163-9. Big-hitters Sai Sudharsan 57) and Jos Buttler (26 from 22 balls) tried to tip-toe home but it was left to Washington Sundar to cross the line with an unbeaten 40 from 23. Bit of everything. Good stuff.
BATTER: Ryan Rickelton’s 123* from just 55 balls (10x4, 8x6) was just the filip Mumbai Indians required to finally kick-start their campaign. He only knew he was playing two hours before the start when Quinton de Kock hurt a finger. His parents were in the stands. He rose to the occasion in glorious style. Unfortunately, MI’s bowlers did not and a total of 243-5 was inhaled by Sunrisers Hyderabad with eight balls to spare.
BOWLER: Afghan wrist-spinner, Noor Ahmad, tied the Mumbai Indians up in knots – 2-26 doesn’t do him justice – but then, MI have been pretty easy to tie up in knots this year. Countryman Rashid Khan was similarly effective with 2-19 to help GT restrict RCB to just 155 to prove two things: form is temporary, class is permanent and every successful team has a good wrist spinner.
PERFORMANCE: Chennai Super Kings refuse to go away – as does MS Dhoni. The men in yellow continue to bounce back despite the MS distraction and the eight-wicket destruction of MI keeps their season alive. But even better was the bounce-back by DC. After the humiliation in the opening match – bowled out for 75 – they cruised to a seven-wicket win chasing Rajasthan Royals’ formidable 225-6.
INDIAN PLAYER: 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets better and better. For an exhibition of top class swing bowling you need look no further than his eye-popping 3-0-5-3 as RCB dismantled Delhi Capitals for just 75. Josh Hazlewood claimed 4-12 but it was Bhuvi who set the tone.
OVERSEAS PLAYER: Travis Head’s 76 from 30 balls and Heinrich Klaasen’s 65* from 30 saw the Sunrisers cruise past MI’s 243-5 with eight balls to spare. Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka (62 from 33 balls) helped DC past RR in a high-scoring game – somehow he’s also managing to stay ‘under the radar’.
SOUTH AFRICAN: Donovan Ferreira was part of the Proteas’ T20 World Cup squad until injury ruled him out at the last minute. How different things might have been? 52* off 16 balls for the Rajasthan Royals made a mockery of a Punjab’s 222-4 winning with four balls to spare. Mind you, his 47* from 14 balls (2x4,6x6) against Delhi Capitals led them to 225-6 which was also snaffled up with ease. But Ferreira striking at 300 is a sight to behold. (Heinrich who...?)
No respite for bowlers when Finisher Ferreira takes centre stage 🔥👊
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 1, 2026
RELIVE his sizzling 14-ball knock ▶️ https://t.co/G0Y2ijj1VM
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/6OOjzHtZiD#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RRvDC pic.twitter.com/t5dgJL8eZd
BEST LOSER: Ryan Rickelton wasn’t supposed to be playing for MI against SRH until Quinton de Kock hurt his hand an hour before the start. He responded with a glorious 123* from just 55 balls with 10 fours and eight sixes. Pity he can’t bowl, too. With the great Jasprit Bumrah struggling for form the MI attack looks more like a defence and Rickelton finished emphatically on the losing side.
OUCH: At least Delhi were quickly able to soothe the pain of being dismissed for 75. No such healing balm for MI and their captain, Hardik Pandya, who is in his third season as captain of MI and has just one play-off spot to show for it. And they won’t be qualifying for the play-offs this year. The allrounder has been profligate with the ball and contributed 18 from 23 balls in a feeble total of 159-7 against CSK. Bring back Rohit…
TALKING POINT: New Zealander bowler, Kyle Jamieson, gave a batsman a vigorous ‘send off’ with a few choice words. He was fined and given a demerit point, as is custom. But he was vilified because his ‘victim’ was 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. When a boy plays a man’s game, should he be treated differently? He is one of the most destructive players in the game – should a fast bowler, in the heat of battle, be expected to treat his foe differently because he’s young? Even…very young?
LOOK OUT FOR: It’s desperation time for CSK, DC and KKR. All three, realistically, have to win all five of their remaining group matches to have a chance of reaching the play-offs. Also look out for some new names and fresh faces in the MI and Lucknow Super Giants starting XIs. They will tell you there’s still a ‘mathematical’ chance of reaching the knockouts. There isn’t. Might as well move on.