Bangar Backs Punjab Kings in Srh Vs Pbks with 13 Points Lead
Punjab Kings sit top of the IPL 2026 table with 13 points, and Sanjay Bangar has backed them for srh vs pbks. Sunrisers Hyderabad are right behind on 12 points, so the clash on May 6 arrived with real table pressure at the top of the race.
Bangar Chooses Punjab Kings
Bangar said the match was a crucial fixture during Revenge Week and pointed to two sides that can both get to 225. He backed his former team, Punjab Kings, while stressing that the meeting comes with little to separate the lineups.
“Both teams are capable of posting scores around 225 and have very similar combinations. Their top orders are in good form, supported by high-quality pace attacks, though both have shown some vulnerability in the middle overs.”
Heinrich Klaasen for SRH and Shreyas Iyer for PBKS were the players Bangar singled out. That fits the broader shape of the contest he described: strong starts at the top, pace to back it up, and enough middle-overs slack that one spell could swing the night.
Points Table Pressure
Punjab Kings reached this point with six wins from nine matches. Sunrisers Hyderabad came in third with 12 points from 10 matches, having won six and lost four.
The margin is narrow enough that the result matters immediately in the table. PBKS have the cushion of 13 points, while SRH are close enough to turn the meeting into a direct chase for position rather than a routine league game.
Bangar framed the contest as one of recent losses and a bounce-back chance for both sides. “With both teams looking to bounce back after recent losses, it promises to be an exciting contest. Personally, I'm backing my former team, Punjab Kings”
Vettori Eyes Travis And Abhishek
Daniel Vettori added another layer by focusing on the opening pair. He said that in both of PBKS’ losses, their opening pair had not got a score, and he drew a parallel with SRH’s own starts through Travis and Abhishek.
“In both of PBKS' losses, their opening pair obviously hasn't got a score, so that puts a different perspective on how you go about the game,”
“It's the same for us. We know when Travis and Abhishek get away, how much it sets up a team performance, and it's exactly the same for Punjab. So, a lot of emphasis on those two batters and how we're going to cope with them,”
That leaves the match centered on top-order output, not a long tactical puzzle. If Punjab’s openers fire, Bangar’s pick looks justified; if SRH’s first partnership lands first, the table gap tightens fast.
