PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta with skipper Shreyas Iyer after the match. (Video grab)

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings’ alarming slide from early-season dominance to a full-blown late collapse deepened in the ongoing IPL 2026 on Sunday, as a heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru marked their sixth straight loss and left their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.Ponting’s dugout despair, Zinta’s serious chat with IyerA side that once looked unstoppable — going unbeaten in seven games with six wins and a no result in the first half of the season — has now hit a major stumbling block at the worst possible time. With momentum gone and confidence visibly shaken, Punjab Kings are now not just fighting for wins, but also relying on other results to stay alive in the playoff race.The emotion of the collapse was evident off the field. Head coach Ricky Ponting was seen in the dugout wearing a frustrated, almost resigned expression, sitting alone as another defeat unfolded. At the same time, franchise co-owner Preity Zinta was spotted in a serious, extended conversation with skipper Shreyas Iyer after the match, underlining the growing tension around the team’s campaign.RCB storm into playoffs as PBKS fade againRoyal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, became the first side to confirm a playoff berth with a commanding all-round performance. They piled up 222/4, powered by Virat Kohli’s 58 off 37 balls and a blazing unbeaten 73 off 40 from Venkatesh Iyer, with valuable contributions from Devdutt Padikkal and Tim David.Chasing 223, Punjab Kings were restricted to 199/8 despite a fighting 56 off 27 balls from Shashank Singh. The defeat stretched their losing streak to six matches after a once-dominant start to the season.Speaking after the match, Shreyas Iyer admitted the game was effectively decided early. “Obviously, they got off to a great start… I think the match was lost in the powerplay,” he said.He also pointed to the early collapse of the top order. “We were three down… the starts they used to give us in the powerplay, obviously we couldn’t get this time,” Iyer added.Despite the slump, the PBKS skipper remained defiant in spirit. “I’m always positive irrespective of the results,” he said, before adding a philosophical note: “Tomorrow again I’m going to see the sunrise… there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”