Gillespie rues Kingsmen’s dramatic collapse in PSL final decider 2026

Peshawar Zalmi claimed their second PSL title in 2026 after defeating Kingsmen by five wickets with nearly five overs remaining, the biggest win margin by balls left in a PSL final.

Gillespie’s post-match reflections Head coach Jason Gillespie admitted Peshawar Zalmi were the better side and fully deserved their championship victory. He praised his opponents for standing tall under pressure and guiding their team home. Gillespie also recognized his own team’s effort but conceded they had not provided enough runs for their bowlers to defend. "We just didn't give our bowlers enough runs to defend and full credit to Peshawar," Gillespie said. "We threw everything at them, they stood up and got their team home, full credit to them. They were too good for us tonight." ## Zalmi’s clutch heroics secures title Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi highlighted the decisive impact of Aaron Hardie’s performance on the big stage, which played a pivotal role in Peshawar Zalmi lifting their second PSL crown. The article also included Gillespie’s praise for Hardie and Samad, emphasizing the need for early breakthroughs with the modest total on the board. Gillespie credited the bowlers for their aggressive approach in pursuit of quick wickets, which briefly resurrected Kingsmen’s hopes before Zalmi’s batters responded. ## Kingsmen’s promising phase turns sour The contest saw a promising phase for Kingsmen, who had amassed 502 runs between the end of the Powerplay and the 14th over across the tournament—more than any other side. However, a dramatic collapse followed their strong start, as they managed just 39 runs and lost six wickets in the next eight overs. The damage was especially heavy in the seventh and eighth overs, where they lost four wickets, including two run-outs and Glenn Maxwell’s first-ball slog that looped to mid-on. ## Gillespie dissects the Powerplay disaster Gillespie acknowledged a decent Powerplay start but pointed to a sudden collapse that derailed their innings. "We had a decent Powerplay," Gillespie said. "We started pretty well, and then just lost that little period where in a couple of overs, we lost four [wickets] for two [runs]. That just took the wind out of our sails, and it was hard to get back into the game after losing those wickets in quick succession. That was disappointing." The implosion left Kingsmen all out for 129, the lowest first-innings score in a PSL final. ## Zalmi’s near-miracle fightback stalls Kingsmen’s bowlers launched an aggressive hunt for early wickets in response, and their efforts briefly sparked hope. Babar Azam, the tournament’s top run-scorer, fell for a duck just two balls after Mohammad Haris slogged a catch to Marnus Labuschagne at mid-off. By the fifth over, wickets fell in quick succession—Hunain Shah and Akif Javed applied pressure—while Kusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell departed for single figures, reducing Zalmi to 40 for 4. Kingsmen sensed a potential upset once more. ## Coach’s message of belief falls short Gillespie stressed the team’s belief heading into the game despite their underachievement with the bat. "The conversations we had were pretty simple," Gillespie said. "We knew we underachieved with the bat, but the big word we kept using was that we've got to believe. In this tournament, we've found ourselves in tricky situations and found ways out of it. We needed just one little twist and unfortunately that didn't happen tonight. But the lads all went out there believing that if we could get a couple of wickets early, we're a chance and we managed to do that." ## From laughing stock to final contenders Gillespie also reflected positively on a team that had been widely dismissed early in the tournament. He described them as feeling out of sync with league demands or modern T20 demands initially. The side transformed dramatically, losing their first four matches before winning seven of their next eight, defying expectations despite a tight eliminator win against Islamabad. Gillespie noted the dramatic turnaround, saying they rode a narrative arc Pakistan’s national team often claims as their own. "We knew we'd click at some point, but unfortunately the results didn't go our way early in the tournament," he said. ## Processes and positivity drive resurgence Gillespie credited the team’s adherence to their processes and preparation for their late surge. He explained the squad’s focus on simplicity, maintaining a positive dressing room vibe, and trusting players to step up when required. "We trusted the players to step up and do their job when it was required," Gillespie said. "We kept it as simple as that. We kept the vibe around the dressing room really positive. Our mantra was being calm, being clear and just execute our skills so we kept it as simple as that. I'm incredibly proud of the players and what they've achieved. We were written off very early in the piece and they stuck to the task and stuck to their work."