Punjab Kings (PBKS) fast bowling coach James Hopes has called on his squad to regroup and rediscover belief ahead of their final Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 league fixture, following a sixth consecutive defeat — this time against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the HPCA Cricket Stadium, Dharamshala, on 18 May. The loss leaves PBKS on 13 points, with their playoff hopes now contingent on net run rate outcomes and results elsewhere.

Where the Campaign Went Wrong

Hopes was candid in his diagnosis of the side's recent slide, pointing to an inability to seize momentum at critical junctures. 'I think what derailed our campaign was an inability to take control of momentum in games. Every time we looked like doing it, we did something to hurt ourselves or trip ourselves up,' he said. He acknowledged the double-edged nature of the T20 format, noting that winning and losing streaks can both materialise with equal speed.

The defeat against RCB, despite reportedly strong phases during the match, was undone by shifting momentum and early setbacks in the chase — a pattern that has defined PBKS's past six outings.

Selection Approach and Core Structure

Hopes defended the changes made to the playing eleven over recent weeks, insisting each decision was deliberate and opposition-specific. 'Every change that we've made has been very measured. They've been thought out with the opposition in mind, and thought out with trying to keep our core structure — like Arshdeep, Chahal, and our top four — and trying to make changes around them to complement what they do,' he explained. He acknowledged, however, that the adjustments had not produced the desired results.

Rebuilding Belief Before the Final Match

Despite the difficult run, Hopes stressed that training standards and planning quality within the camp remain high. The immediate focus, he said, is restoring confidence. 'The boys have got to regroup, stay positive, and they've got to believe. At the moment, it's going to be about just instilling that belief back into them,' Hopes said. This comes amid what is arguably the most testing stretch of the franchise's IPL 2026 campaign.

The Must-Win Equation Against LSG

Punjab Kings travel to Lucknow next week to face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their final league match on Saturday. Hopes offered a frank assessment of the side's situation. 'We've got ourselves in this position, so we do rely on some other teams. We haven't taken the opportunities in the last few weeks to get ourselves assured of a top-four spot, and now we are where we are and there's no hiding behind it,' he said. He added that the squad must perform to its full potential to keep the playoff window alive.

With the mathematical possibility of qualification still open, PBKS's final outing against LSG will effectively serve as a do-or-die contest — one that also depends on how other results fall across the league's closing fixtures.