'We don't want what happened to PBKS': Jofra Archer takes dig at Punjab Kings' IPL 2026 collapse before RR vs GT Qualifier 2

'We don't want what happened to PBKS': Jofra Archer takes dig at Punjab Kings' IPL 2026 collapse before RR vs GT Qualifier 2 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• Jofra Archer took a dig at PBKS after RR reached IPL 2026 Qualifier 2. 
• RR beat SRH in Eliminator and will now face GT in Qualifier 2.
• PBKS exited from IPL 2026 league stage despite going unbeaten in their first seven matches. 

Jofra Archer takes dig at Punjab Kings' IPL 2026 collapse before RR vs GT Qualifier 2

Star Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer aimed a sly dig at Shreyas Iyer's Punjab Kings after RR booked their IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 berth.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored a brilliant 97 runs off 29 balls and Archer picked up three wickets for 58 runs as RR thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs to progress to the next stage of the tournament. In Qualifier 2, Riyan Parag's RR will face Shubman Gill's GT, who lost the first Qualifier to RCB.

Following RR's victory, Archer took a shot at PBKS's epic IPL 2026 collapse, which saw them lose six matches in a row after going unbeaten in seven consecutive games, which ultimately saw them eliminated from the league stage.

At the post-match presentation, when Archer was asked about the IPL 2026 final, the English pacer cheekily said:

"One game at a time. We are going in the right direction. We don't want to happen to us what happened to Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings)."

MORE: Is Vaibhav the Pele of cricket? Inside his logic-defying IPL season

Punjab Kings' epic collapse after dream start to their IPL 2026 journey

After finishing runners-up in the IPL 2025 campaign, Punjab Kings were off to a flying start in the current season as they won six out of their first seven matches and were unbeaten in the first phase of the competition.

However, things went south since the start of the second phase as they went on a six-match losing spree and ended up being eliminated from the league stage.

PBKS, under Shreyas Iyer's leadership, had 13 points after 7 matches but registered only 15 at the end of the league stage, as RR progressed to the playoff round with 16 points. 

MORE: Who will play GT in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026?

When and where is the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 between GT vs RR?

The IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals will take place on Sunday, May 31, at the New Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, Mullanpur. 

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.