Punjab Kings suffered their first loss of the 2026 IPL season after defending 222 runs poorly in New Chandigarh.
Punjab Kings had to experience a loss at some stage this season. The IPL format naturally prevents prolonged dominance like the one they had been displaying.
Their defeat to Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh should not overly concern Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting. However, this loss carries more weight than a typical mid-season setback due to the circumstances surrounding it.
This was only the second occasion where Punjab Kings batted first. On the previous instance, against Lucknow Super Giants at Mullanpur, their batters had overwhelmed the opposition by posting 254 runs.
Defending a total of 222 against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and his team was always expected to be a stern test for their bowlers. Both captains anticipated a tighter chase ahead.
Iyer commended his batters for delivering an exceptional performance to reach the target on a tacky and slow pitch. He quickly admitted that his bowlers failed to execute the planned strategy of bowling more slower deliveries, pace-offs, and yorkers.
Riyan Parag shared a refreshingly honest post-match view, stating, I honestly thought it was going to be a very neck-and-neck because they would bowl a bit more slower balls after watching us bowl it, but yeah, I think the way they batted (Donovon Ferreira and Shubham Dubey), immense, commendable.
It is a harsh evaluation from an opposing captain, but Rajasthan Royals had clearly seen batters slowed by variations in pace.
Brijesh Sharma played a key role with slower deliveries, conceding just nine runs off seven slower balls according to recorded logs. Punjab Kings bowlers did attempt more than twice the slower balls compared to their opponents.
However, they leaked an enormous 64 runs off 27 slower deliveries without taking a wicket. This likely explains why Iyer specifically highlighted the need for better execution.
What makes this defeat more concerning than a one-off setback for Punjab Kings is their recent record of conceding five totals of 200 or more and one score of 195 in seven completed innings.
Only Mumbai Indians have allowed more than their average of 10.5 runs per over. No other team comes close to the 41.72 runs Punjab Kings have spent for each of their 36 wickets conceded.
The Punjab Kings batters—or even the conditions they have been playing in—have so far compensated for these concerning numbers.
However, they have not matched the success seen by their closest rivals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. RCB rank second from the bottom in runs conceded per over and second from the top in runs scored per over.
Punjab Kings, currently one point ahead of RCB in the group stage, cannot claim such dominance in both departments.
Many of these concerning statistics stem from Arshdeep Singh’s worst IPL season in terms of economy and average. Even in this match, he was the bowler criticized for not attempting enough slower deliveries.
It is worth noting that Arshdeep has been instrumental in two victorious T20 World Cup campaigns. He will need to draw on all his experience to turn this season around.
The day was not entirely bleak for Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh. Their bowling coach James Hopes acknowledged the result was not ideal but pointed out they were able to introduce two bowlers they had been planning to use this season.
Lockie Ferguson, returning from paternity leave, allowed the team to field with one less fast bowler and test Harpreet Brar’s left-arm spin. The spinner delivered four overs for just 25 runs.
The combination of two spinners offers a potential tactical edge, especially during the powerplay. Ferguson conceded 57 runs in his four overs but showed glimpses of his high reputation.
With two away matches coming up before three consecutive home games at Dharamsala, Punjab Kings will be eager to return to winning ways. Ideally, they would achieve this without relying on extraordinary batting performances every time they take the field.