Punjab Kings began the season strongly but then suffered a dramatic collapse, while Kolkata Knight Riders produced a notable comeback that ultimately fell just short of qualification. Punjab Kings finished with 15 points after winning six of their first seven matches, only to lose the next six in a row. Their batting showed promise through Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer and Cooper Connolly, but the team could not recover once momentum shifted. The biggest issue was bowling, as no Punjab Kings bowler finished among the league’s top 15 performers.
Kolkata Knight Riders ended on 13 points and were described as the unluckiest team to be eliminated. Their campaign turned around after a disastrous start in which they collected only one point from their first six games. Under Ajinkya Rahane, they won six of their next seven matches and briefly looked capable of reaching the playoffs. Their revival was driven mainly by bowling, with Sunil Narine again proving extremely difficult to score against and Mitchell Starc adding late-season bite. However, the strong finish was not enough to erase the damage from their poor opening run.
Chennai Super Kings had a disappointing season and appeared to lack direction throughout the tournament. They failed to produce a clear standout performer with either bat or ball. Still, there were a few positives for the future, including batter Kartik Sharma and fast bowler Anshul Kamboj, both of whom showed potential. The team may need a fresh start, including possible leadership changes, and it also faces questions over the future role of MS Dhoni.
Mumbai Indians also struggled, finishing with just 8 points after winning only two of their first nine matches. The five-time champions never built meaningful late-season momentum and were let down by several of their biggest names. Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah all underperformed relative to expectations, though Tilak Varma stood out as a rare bright spot. Among the overseas players, Will Jacks, Trent Boult and Sherfane Rutherford failed to make a consistent impact. Mumbai now appears to need a significant reset.
Lucknow Super Giants also ended on 8 points and were the lowest-placed team, disappointing despite having a high-profile coaching staff. Their top order, especially Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram, did not deliver the expected runs. Mitchell Marsh found form only after the season was effectively beyond rescue. Captain Rishabh Pant also struggled badly for form and confidence, adding to the team’s problems. There were a few gains, including Mukul Choudhary, who helped beat Kolkata Knight Riders, and pacer Prince Yadav, who showed promise. But overall, Lucknow too must reassess and rebuild.
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