IPL 2026 | Profligate bowling and abysmal fielding hurting Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings, a team that looked like an unstoppable force about three weeks ago, is now struggling to get a ‘W’ next to its name.

In a matter of a few matches, PBKS, which made a rousing start to IPL 2026, has seen its cracks exposed. The Shreyas Iyer-led side masked its weaknesses by consistently outbatting opponents in the first half of the 19th edition, but since the time the rivals uncovered them, the Punjab outfit has been on a downward spiral.

The 2025 runner-up has plenty of holes to plug in the bowling and fielding departments. The bowlers have leaked runs at approximately 10.6 runs per over, the worst average economy rate in the league as of Tuesday. Kings have conceded 200 or more seven times already this season, besides the 195 they gave away against Mumbai Indians.

Wicket-taking is another area that requires immediate repair. Only left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (13) has scalped 10 or more so far. Compared to the rest of the top-four teams — Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad — that have at least three bowlers with 10 or more scalps, PBKS has been well behind par.

Arshdeep, despite being the side’s top wicket-taker, is battling for consistency, while his pace partner Marco Jansen has hardly posed a threat. Leggie Yuzvendra Chahal is not trusted enough in spite of being the lone specialist spinner for most part of the campaign.

Poor fielding, especially dropped catches which have proved harmful, has also massively contributed to PBKS’ downfall. If Kings’ butter-fingered fielders had come up with an improved show against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, the team may not find itself in the dire situation it is in now.

PBKS has to act quick and smart if it harbours hopes of advancing to the playoffs.