Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer came out firing at his bowlers and fielders after his side suffered a third-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on May 11. It was their fourth consecutive loss in IPL 2026, and Iyer made no attempt to soften his words during the post-match presentation.
A win would have taken Punjab Kings to the top of the points table. Instead, they watched Delhi Capitals chase down 211 in just 19 overs — the highest successful chase ever at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Iyer Takes Aim at Bowling and Fielding
When asked where things went wrong, Shreyas Iyer was blunt. “I won’t beat around the bush; I’ll just say fielding and bowling again,” he said. It was not the first time this tournament that the skipper had pointed fingers at the same two areas, and the repetition speaks to a deeper problem within the Punjab Kings setup.
Iyer also insisted that the 210-run total was more than enough on that surface. “I feel that it was 30 runs more on this wicket considering how the ball was seaming and there was variable bounce,” he said. In his view, the pitch offered plenty for the seamers — they simply failed to use it.
Punjab Kings did take early wickets through Arshdeep Singh, who finished with 2/21, but the middle overs told a different story. David Miller smashed 51 off just 28 balls, and Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel followed with 56 off 30 balls. The two turned a wobbling chase into a comfortable win, leaving the Punjab bowlers with nowhere to hide.
The Yuzvendra Chahal Question
One of the talking points from the game was Iyer’s decision not to let Yuzvendra Chahal bowl, Punjab Kings’ biggest match-winner this season. He was asked directly about it after the match.
“There was absolutely a thought in my mind, but the way ball was seaming and the way it was helping seamers, I think if we would have executed our line and length precisely, we could have been able to extract wickets, but unfortunately again, we didn’t,” Iyer explained.
The decision drew criticism from several quarters, with many questioning why a legspinner of Chahal’s calibre was kept out of the attack when the game was on the line. Iyer’s explanation pointed to conditions, but the outcome made it a hard case to defend.
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Where Punjab Kings Stand in IPL 2026
The victory helped Delhi Capitals cruise to seventh place, with 10 points from 12 matches. Their net run rate is -0.993 after the match.
The defeat hurts Punjab Kings in terms of momentum more than standings. They are still in fourth spot on the IPL points table. They have gained 13 points from 11 matches, with six wins, four losses, and one game that was abandoned due to heavy rain. Four losses in a row heading into the business end of the tournament raises serious questions about team planning and execution under pressure.
For Punjab Kings, the next assignment comes on May 14 against Mumbai Indians. After another limp bowling display, Iyer and his management will need to find answers fast, and find them before the playoffs door begins to close.
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