Piyush Chawla Warns Arshdeep Singh’s Poor Form Could Haunt PBKS in IPL 2026 Playoffs

Ethan Arora · 29/04/2026 · 4 min read

A Costly Night at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) have finally encountered their first hurdle in the IPL 2026 season. In a high-scoring thriller on Tuesday, April 28, the Shreyas Iyer-led squad managed to post a mammoth total of 222 runs. However, despite the batting onslaught, they failed to defend the target against a resilient Rajasthan Royals (RR) side led by Riyan Parag.

While the loss is a minor setback in the standings, it highlighted a glaring vulnerability in the PBKS bowling attack: the dip in form of their spearhead, Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm pacer had a night to forget, conceding a staggering 68 runs in his four-over quota while managing to pick up only one wicket. For a bowler tasked with controlling the game, such a performance is more than just a ‘bad day at the office’—it is a symptom of a deeper issue.

Piyush Chawla: A Warning for the Playoffs

Former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, known for his astute reading of the game, did not mince his words when discussing Arshdeep’s current trajectory. Speaking with ESPNcricinfo, Chawla emphasized that while every player has an off-game, the frequency of Arshdeep’s struggles is becoming a “matter of concern.”

Chawla warned that relying on an out-of-form premium bowler could be a fatal mistake when the stakes are highest. “A game or two games here and there, you can expect [him to do badly], but it’s happening most of the time,” Chawla noted. He specifically pointed toward the high-pressure environment of the playoffs, where margins for error disappear.

“When you’re going into the playoffs – then you have to think about it,” Chawla added. “What if something like this happened in a playoff game? Then you’re playing a catch-up game. It’s not that you’re sitting comfortably.”

The Struggle for New-Ball Rhythm

According to Chawla, Arshdeep’s effectiveness is intrinsically linked to his ability to strike early. When he finds rhythm with the new ball, he typically dominates the spell. The contrast in his performances this season is stark. While he produced a brilliant spell of 3 for 22 against the Mumbai Indians (MI), that outlier has not defined his season.

The statistics tell a worrying story. In eight matches so far in the Indian Premier League, Arshdeep Singh has taken eight wickets, but his numbers are far from ideal:

Average: 41.12
Economy Rate: 10.96

Chawla acknowledged that Arshdeep is often tasked with the most difficult phases of the innings—the Powerplay and the Death Overs. However, he maintained that for a bowler of Arshdeep’s caliber and status as a “premium bowler,” an economy rate hovering around 11 runs per over is unsustainable.

Technical Failures and the Yorker Dilemma

The critique was echoed by former Indian opening batter Abhinav Mukund. Mukund agreed that Arshdeep’s current struggles are a cause for concern, particularly his inability to execute plans against the Rajasthan Royals.

Mukund highlighted that Arshdeep is traditionally known as a specialist in death bowling, capable of nailing pinpoint yorkers to stifle scoring. “We’ve always known Arshdeep to be a very, very good yorker bowler,” Mukund explained. He noted that while he doesn’t mind Arshdeep experimenting with wider lines to deceive batters, the lack of execution in the RR match was evident.

What Lies Ahead for Punjab Kings?

Despite the concerns surrounding Arshdeep Singh, Punjab Kings remain in a strong position. They currently top the IPL table with 13 points from eight matches. However, the loss to RR serves as a wake-up call for Shreyas Iyer and the coaching staff. To convert their league-stage dominance into a trophy, they must ensure their bowling unit—especially their leading pacer—is firing on all cylinders.

The team will look to bounce back and refine their strategy as they prepare to face the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 3. Whether Arshdeep can rediscover his lethal form before the playoffs will likely determine how far PBKS can go in this edition of the tournament.

Ethan Arora

Ethan Arora is a senior editor and long-form cricket writer for ESPNcricinfo. Based in Karachi, he has covered Pakistan cricket and global tournaments for over two decades, contributing to publications such as The Cricket Monthly, Dawn, and The Guardian. His work often explores the intersection of cricket, politics, and culture in South Asia, with a particular focus on fast bowling history, Test cricket narratives, and the internal dynamics of the Pakistan dressing room. Samiuddin is also the editor of The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket, widely regarded as one of the definitive books on the subject. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he is known for marrying American long-form journalism techniques with the rich oral traditions of the subcontinent. Follow him for sharp match analysis, player profiles, and behind-the-scenes features from ICC events and Pakistan Super League coverage.