Punjab Kings' Dharamsala dilemma leaves them with two homes in 2026 IPL

Punjab Kings face home-ground challenges with three matches in Dharamsala, hurting their IPL 2026 title hopes.

Home grounds as IPL strongholds The strongest IPL teams historically have transformed their home stadiums into near-invincible zones. During their peak, Chennai Super Kings dominated at Chepauk so thoroughly that their home ground became a psychological barrier for opponents. Gujarat Titans, since their debut season, have maintained remarkable consistency in Ahmedabad, with some observers even claiming the match pitch’s clay adapts to exploit rivals’ weaknesses. Rajasthan Royals, before Sawai Mansingh Stadium’s deterioration forced them to split home games, were nearly unbeatable at home and a legitimate title threat. ## Rare title wins from dual home venues Since the IPL’s inception in India, only two teams have won the title while splitting home matches between two venues—Chennai Super Kings in 2018 and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014. In both cases, external factors beyond the teams’ control forced the relocation of their primary home base. Currently, four franchises—Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru—are the only teams that have chosen to voluntarily distribute their home fixtures across multiple venues. ## Punjab Kings’ complicated relationship with home Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, have long struggled with the concept of a stable home advantage. Over the years, they alternated between Mohali—a vast outfield and historically low-scoring venue—and Indore, a compact pitch notorious for extremely high scores. The franchise’s management frequently found themselves scrambling to adapt their squad to these drastically different conditions. ## Recent shifts in home base and leadership In 2021, the team rebranded from Kings XI Punjab to Punjab Kings. After a decade-long absence, Dharamsala returned as a home venue in 2023. By 2024, the franchise shifted its primary home base from Mohali to New Chandigarh. The following year, 2025, saw the appointment of Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting as the leadership duo. Despite these changes, Punjab Kings continue to post the worst home win-loss record among active teams since 2021 and 2024, trailing only Lucknow Super Giants in overall home performance. ## Dharamsala’s impact on Punjab Kings’ season Playing three of their seven home matches in Dharamsala this season has created significant complications for Punjab Kings. A key element of home advantage involves building a squad capable of overcoming the disadvantage of losing the toss in familiar conditions. The team had begun to find consistency at New Chandigarh, another expansive outfield, but adjusting to Dharamsala’s smaller playing area—where the toss often dictates outcomes—has proven difficult. This was evident in matches against Delhi Capitals, where heavy dew played a role, and against Mumbai Indians, where pitch conditions shifted as the game progressed. ## Losing streak compounds Dharamsala struggles Punjab Kings had remained unbeaten in their first seven games before a recent downturn. Now, they face the daunting task of winning both remaining matches to have a realistic chance of advancing past the league stage. Securing a top-two finish appears increasingly unlikely. One of these critical matches is against table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru. ## RCB match offers a potential advantage The upcoming Royal Challengers Bengaluru game in Dharamsala is scheduled as an afternoon fixture, which could reduce the significance of the toss. Even so, winning this particular toss may matter less than others, but strong cricket will still be essential for victory. Punjab Kings possess more experience playing in Dharamsala than visiting teams, who typically only appear once per season. Overcoming this home-ground challenge is critical if they aim to claim the IPL title. However, franchise owners must simplify the process by ensuring the squad can adapt to diverse home conditions, something multi-venue setups do not facilitate.