Punjab Kings’ bowling strategy came under scrutiny after star spinner Yuzvinder Chahal was not used for an over during their heartbreaking three-wicket defeat by Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. The loss marked the fourth consecutive defeat for PBKS who started the tournament with six consecutive wins, which cost them a golden opportunity to top the points table.Punjab’s bowling and fielding concerns continue to haunt them, with the team still taking the fewest wickets of all teams this season. Dropped catches at crucial moments proved costly once again as Delhi Capitals pulled off one of the most dramatic chases of the campaign.
Chasing 211 in Dharamsala, Delhi were in deep trouble at 33/3 and later 74/4 before captain Akshar Patel turned the game around with a 30-ball 56. David Miller then played a brilliant innings of 51 runs off 28 balls, while Ashutosh Sharma scored a quick 24 runs off 10 balls. Young all-rounder Madhav Tiwary also played a decisive role, taking 2/40 with the ball and an unbeaten eight-ball 18 during the chase. Aqib Nabi finally sealed the thrilling win with a four and a six in his unbeaten 10 off just two balls.Earlier, Punjab Kings dominated the powerplay through Priyansh Arya and Prabhasmaran Singh, reaching 51 for no loss in just three overs. Priyansh scored a fearless 56 off 33 balls, including six sixes, but the innings ultimately ended in disappointment as Delhi staged a brilliant comeback.Explaining why Chahal was not introduced into the attack, Punjab Kings spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutole said the team felt the conditions were in favor of the fast bowlers.“Definitely thought about bowling the spinners during the time-out, but the ball was seaming and the conditions were helping the pacers. The decision to continue with the pacers and try to take wickets was a very spontaneous one, which we managed quickly. But one partnership took the game away from us,” said Bahutole.Despite the loss, the PBKS support staff is confident of the squad’s balance and ability to bounce back.“This is still a team that has done very well in the tournament. Yes, we have lost some games, but we will only focus on specific areas. There will be no big changes because everyone has contributed at different stages. We just need to find a way to turn things around quickly,” he added.
