Punjab Kings’ dreams of making it to the playoffs in IPL 2024 came crashing down on Thursday as they were officially eliminated from contention, marking their tenth consecutive season without a postseason appearance. The team has struggled to secure a playoff spot since the inception of the tournament in 2008, with their last appearance in the semi-finals during the inaugural season. Despite being the runners-up in 2014, Punjab Kings have been unable to break their playoff drought since 2015.
This year, the team faced additional challenges as their regular captain, Shikhar Dhawan, was sidelined due to injury, leading to Sam Curran taking over as the stand-in captain. While there were moments of brilliance from players like Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, Punjab Kings’ inconsistency proved to be their downfall. They managed a remarkable chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders but failed to maintain momentum.
In a crucial knockout match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings’ batting faltered as they fell short in their pursuit of RCB’s target of 242 at Dharamshala. RCB emerged victorious with a convincing 60-run margin, sealing Punjab Kings’ exit from the tournament. Reflecting on their campaign, stand-in skipper Sam Curran acknowledged the team’s positive strides but lamented falling short when it mattered most. With their elimination, Punjab Kings become the second team to exit IPL 2024, following Mumbai Indians’ departure the day before.