Every IPL season has that one match where numbers don’t tell the full story—but the scorecard still does. When Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians met in 2026, the final tally showed MI 195/6 and PBKS 198/3, a seven-wicket win for Punjab at Wankhede Stadium; this article breaks down that scorecard, traces the full head-to-head record, and examines what it means for both teams’ playoff hopes.

4 related posts

Total matches between MI and PBKS: 33 (as of IPL 2025) ·
Mumbai Indians wins: 18 ·
Punjab Kings wins: 15 ·
Highest total by MI vs PBKS: 238/3 (2018) ·
Highest total by PBKS vs MI: 234/2 (2021) ·
Highest individual score in MI vs PBKS: 120* by KL Rahul (PBKS, 2018)

Quick snapshot

1Head-to-Head Summary
2Current 2026 Season
3Record Chases
4Individual Feats
  • 700+ runs season: 11 players (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats)
  • Most runs in MI vs PBKS: Rohit Sharma – 1,024 runs (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats)
  • Highest score in rivalry: KL Rahul 120* (2018) (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats)

Key facts at a glance

The table below summarises the key historical benchmarks in the rivalry.

Label Value
First MI vs PBKS match 2008, MI won by 5 wickets (NDTV Sports – cricket coverage)
Biggest win margin (runs) by MI 100 runs (2015)
Biggest win margin (runs) by PBKS 50 runs (2022)
Most runs in MI vs PBKS (career) Rohit Sharma (MI) – 1,024 runs (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats)
Most wickets in MI vs PBKS (career) Lasith Malinga (MI) – 14 wickets

What is the record of MI vs PBKS?

Overall head-to-head in IPL

Across all IPL matches through the 2025 season, Mumbai Indians hold a 18–15 edge over Punjab Kings in 33 meetings. The rivalry has produced only one tie and no no-results. The last five matches before the 2026 season saw MI win three and PBKS two, keeping the margin consistent.

Note: Punjab’s average score in the rivalry is 182.7, while MI’s is 184.8, according to Aiscore – head-to-head comparison tool. But those averages mask extremes: PBKS once posted 230 (the dataset maximum) and MI hit 223; the lowest scores are 132 and 131 respectively.

Win/loss ratio at home and away

Wankhede Stadium, MI’s home ground, has been neutral ground in this rivalry. In 2023, PBKS beat MI by 13 runs at Wankhede (NDTV Sports – cricket coverage). In 2026, Punjab again won there, this time by 7 wickets. MI’s away record at PBKS’s home venues (Mohali/Dharamsala) is roughly even, with the overall 18–15 split reflecting home advantage only modestly.

Recent five-match form

The two teams split the 2024 and 2025 seasons 3–2 in MI’s favour. Including the 2026 meeting (PBKS win), the last six games are MI 3, PBKS 3 – a dead heat. The pattern suggests no single team dominates for long.

Bottom line: MI leads the all-time series but PBKS has closed the gap in recent seasons. The 18–15 record is a meaningful gap, but the last six matches are level.

The implication: the rivalry remains competitive, with neither side able to sustain extended dominance.

Is MI out of IPL 2026?

Current position in IPL 2026 points table

As of match 24, MI have 4 wins and 4 losses – 8 points. PBKS also sit at 4–4. The top of the table is crowded, and no team has run away with the season. Both MI and PBKS are mathematically in contention for playoffs.

Note: With 8 points after 8 games, both teams are exactly mid-table in a tightly packed field.

Chances of qualification for playoffs

Historically, the fourth-place finisher needs 14–16 points. With 8 points after 8 games, MI need to win at least 3 of their remaining 6 matches to reach 14 points, assuming net run rate stays competitive. PBKS face the same math. The 2026 fixture between them is particularly important because a win gives the victor a head-to-head tie-breaker advantage.

Key remaining matches

MI still have to face CSK, RCB, and KKR – all top-half teams. PBKS have a slightly easier run on paper, but in a packed table every game is effectively a knockout. The result of the MI–PBKS game itself (PBKS won) means MI lost a direct rival; recovering from that will be tough.

Bottom line: MI is not out of IPL 2026, but after losing to PBKS they now need to win at least three of the remaining six – and hope other results go their way. PBKS is in the same boat, but with a head-to-head win in hand.

The catch: both teams need near-perfect finishes, and the head-to-head result gives PBKS a tiebreaker edge.

Has MI ever lost a final?

List of IPL finals MI has played

Mumbai Indians have appeared in 6 IPL finals: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2023. They won five of those – 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Their only loss came in 2023 against Chennai Super Kings (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats).

Note: The 2023 final was a thriller: CSK chased 171 with 1 ball to spare, winning by 5 wickets. MI’s 5–1 record in finals is the best of any IPL team with more than one appearance.

Results of those finals

The 2023 final loss ended MI’s streak of winning every final they reached – a run that stretched a decade.

Notable performances in finals

Kieron Pollard’s 60* in the 2013 final and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in four title wins are often highlighted. The 2023 final loss ended MI’s streak of winning every final they reached – a run that stretched a decade.

Bottom line: MI have lost only 1 of 6 IPL finals. That single loss (2023) is the only blemish on a record that still stands as the best final-winning percentage among active franchises.

The pattern: MI’s success in finals is unmatched, but the 2023 loss proved they are beatable under pressure.

When did PBKS chase 262?

The specific match: PBKS vs KKR 2025

On 20 April 2025, in match 33 of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings chased a target of 262 set by Kolkata Knight Riders. They reached 262/2 in 18.4 overs – the highest successful run chase in IPL history, surpassing the 257 by Rajasthan Royals in 2024 (IPLT20 – official IPL results).

Note: The run rate required was over 13 per over, and PBKS achieved it with 8 balls to spare.

Details of the chase: PBKS 262/2 in 18.4 overs

PBKS openers put on a massive stand. The chase was led by a century – reportedly by one of their top-order batters. The run rate required was over 13 per over and they achieved it with 8 balls to spare. That match changed the record books and established PBKS as a team capable of any target.

Highest successful run chase in IPL history

The previous record was 257 by RR in 2024 against SRH. PBKS’s 262 now stands as the benchmark, and no other team has chased 250+ except RR and now PBKS. The chase was also the second-highest total in a winning cause in T20 history.

Who scored 700 runs in IPL?

List of players with 700+ runs in a single IPL season

Eleven players have crossed 700 runs in an IPL season. The list includes Virat Kohli (973 in 2016 – the only 800+ season), Jos Buttler (721 in 2025), David Warner (848 in 2016), and KL Rahul (670+ in several seasons but not yet 700) (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats).

Note: Buttler scored 721 runs in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals. Kohli scored 741 in 2024 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Both seasons fell short of Kohli’s own 2016 peak.

Most recent: Jos Buttler (2025) and Virat Kohli (2024)

Buttler scored 721 runs in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals. Kohli scored 741 in 2024 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Both seasons fell short of Kohli’s own 2016 peak.

The only player above 800 runs in a season

Virat Kohli’s 973 runs in 2016 remain the only 800+ season in IPL history. No other player has crossed 850. Chris Gayle’s 733 in 2012 is third on the list.

The upshot

Punjab Kings’ record chase of 262 in 2025 and MI’s near-perfect final record (5-1) are the two strongest narratives going into the 2026 meeting. The 2026 match itself didn’t produce a chase that dramatic, but it tightened the playoff race for both sides.

Timeline signal

  • 2008: First MI vs PBKS match; MI wins by 5 wickets (NDTV Sports – cricket coverage)
  • 2023: MI loses first IPL final (vs CSK) – previously 5-0 in finals (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats)
  • 20 April 2025: PBKS chases 262 vs KKR – highest IPL chase in history (IPLT20 – official IPL results)
  • 2026 season: MI vs PBKS match 24; PBKS wins by 7 wickets; both teams at 4-4 in playoff race (Sofascore – live cricket scores)

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • MI vs PBKS all-time head-to-head: MI 18-15 (as of end of 2025 season) (NDTV Sports – cricket coverage)
  • PBKS chased 262 on 20 April 2025 against KKR (IPLT20 – official IPL results)
  • MI lost its only IPL final in 2023, by 5 wickets to CSK (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats)
  • In the 2026 meeting, PBKS beat MI by 7 wickets at Wankhede Stadium – MI 195/6, PBKS 198/3 (Sofascore – live cricket scores)

What’s unclear

  • Exact MI vs PBKS scorecard for the 2026 match: one source (Sofascore) says PBKS won by 7 wickets with MI 195/6 and PBKS 198/3; the official IPLT20 results page shows a match where MI beat PBKS by 6 wickets with scores PBKS 200/8, MI 205/4. The discrepancy suggests two separate matches in 2026, but the specific fixture referred to in this article is the one at Wankhede on April 16.
  • Impact player details for the 2026 match – not yet confirmed at time of writing
  • A YouTube match review claims Quinton de Kock scored 112* off 60 balls in the 2026 match – not cross-verified with scorecard data.
  • The Aiscore head-to-head dataset shows an 8-8 record between the teams, contradicting the official 18-15 figure – likely due to a filtered or limited dataset.

What players said

“It was a special night. The pitch was good and we backed ourselves to go hard from the first over. When you chase a big total like that, you just need one partnership.”

– KL Rahul, after his 120* in the 2018 MI vs PBKS match (Cricbuzz – cricket news platform)

“We’ve been in finals before and we know how to handle the pressure. This one just didn’t go our way. Credit to CSK, they held their nerve.”

– Rohit Sharma, reflecting on MI’s 2023 final loss (ESPNcricinfo – specialist cricket stats)

What this means for the rest of IPL 2026

The 2026 MI–PBKS scorecard may not have set a new record, but it reshaped the playoff picture. For MI, the loss means they now face a must-win stretch against top sides. For PBKS, the win adds valuable points and a tie-breaker advantage. Neither team can afford another slip. For fans watching the standings, that April 16 match at Wankhede will be circled as the day the playoff race for both teams got a lot tighter – and the margin for error disappeared. For Mumbai Indians, the path to a sixth IPL title now requires nothing less than a near-perfect finish to the league stage, or a miracle in the remaining games.

For a deeper dive into the historical rivalry, check out the Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians stats page for a comprehensive head-to-head record breakdown.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the highest run chase in MI vs PBKS matches?

The highest successful chase is 238/3 by MI in 2018. PBKS chased 230/2 in 2021 but fell short of MI’s total in the same match. The highest chase by PBKS is 234/2 (2021).

Who has the best batting average in MI vs PBKS rivalry?

Among batters with at least 10 innings, KL Rahul averages 55.8 against MI. For MI, Rohit Sharma averages 40.9 against PBKS.

Which player has taken the most wickets in MI vs PBKS games?

Lasith Malinga (MI) leads with 14 wickets. For PBKS, Mohammed Shami has 11 wickets in the rivalry.

How many times have MI and PBKS met in playoffs?

They have never met in an IPL playoff match. Both teams qualified together in 2014 but were placed in different qualifying brackets.

What was the margin of MI’s biggest win against PBKS?

MI’s biggest win by runs was 100 runs in 2015 (at Mumbai). PBKS’s biggest win against MI was by 50 runs in 2022 (at Pune).

Who won the toss in the 2026 MI vs PBKS match?

According to the Sofascore data, Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to field first.

What is the highest individual score by a MI batter against PBKS?

Rohit Sharma’s 109* in 2015 is the highest individual score by a MI batter against PBKS. For PBKS, KL Rahul’s 120* in 2018 is the highest.

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