Punjab Kings (PBKS) assistant coach Brad Haddin struck a defiant note after his side's fifth consecutive IPL 2025 defeat — a narrow loss to Mumbai Indians in Dharamshala on 15 May — insisting the team's playoff destiny remains firmly in their own hands with two league games to go.

A Narrow Defeat That Still Hurts

Mumbai Indians chased down the Kings' target of 200/8 with just one ball to spare, with a standout knock from Tilak Varma proving the difference. Despite the result, PBKS remain in fourth place with 13 points, keeping their playoff qualification within reach as the race for the top four intensifies.

The Kings had recovered well after losing wickets in quick succession in the middle overs, with the lower order launching a counter-attack to post what Haddin described as a competitive total. That batting depth, he argued, is a genuine positive to carry into the final stretch.

What Haddin Said After the Match

'The one thing to come out of it is we've got two games of cricket left and our destiny is still in our hands. Now there's no tomorrow; there's no talking about anything else. We have to win our remaining games now, and that's as simple as it is,' Haddin said at the post-match press conference.

He also credited the opposition for a special performance. 'We felt like we were in control for a long time, but it took a pretty special knock from Tilak (Varma) to get Mumbai home. That was a special innings and you have to give credit to that,' he added.

Pressure, Dressing Room Mood, and Good Signs

Haddin was candid about the emotional state inside the camp. 'The result is hurting and the change room is hurting in there, but there are good signs out of tonight's match. It's important now that we respond well,' he said.

He acknowledged that handling pressure at this stage of the IPL is non-negotiable. 'The whole tournament is pressure the whole time, and especially at this stage, this is what IPL cricket is about. You've got to be able to handle the big moments and handle the pressure,' he noted.

Shifting Scoring Standards in IPL 2025

Haddin also reflected on how dramatically the run-scoring landscape has changed this season. 'Where 200 used to be a really good score, now it's a total the team isn't intimidated by. We've just got to find a way to get out of the rut we're in and put the form we had at the start of the season back in,' he said.

This comment underscores a broader trend in IPL 2025, where batting firepower across franchises has made 200-plus chases increasingly routine — raising the bar for what constitutes a match-winning total.

What's Next for Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings will play their final home game at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharamshala against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 17 May, before wrapping up their league campaign. Both remaining matches are must-wins if the Kings are to secure a top-four finish and end a long playoff drought.