Arshdeep Singh’s IPL 2026 campaign has not matched the standards he set in previous seasons. Punjab Kings (PBKS) have swung between spells of promise and stretches of frustration, and in both phases his impact has been underwhelming. On Saturday, as PBKS finally snapped a six-match losing run, Arshdeep’s outing again failed to offer the kind of control and penetration PBKS needed. Ambati Rayudu felt the issue lay in his bowling lengths, while Mark Boucher argued it was fatigue catching up with the fast bowler.
In Lucknow, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) piled up 9.80 runs per over on Saturday. Arshdeep was expensive at 17.33 and, crucially, did not get the opportunity to bowl his final over.
Rayudu pointed to the pattern of deliveries rather than the overall talent. “I just think his lengths [are the problem]. He’s not someone who should be bowling a lot of short balls,” Rayudu said. “Even in the end overs, he should be aiming for yorkers. And when he gets the ball at the start, whenever he has bowled full—apart from the first ball which was driven through the covers—I don’t think it has been the fuller stuff that’s been punished as much as the short-of-length deliveries and the short balls.”
The former batter added that the short ball needs to be backed with a reliable plan, especially when the pace and execution aren’t at their usual level. “He has to be aware of that. His short ball, he doesn’t have a great bouncer at the moment—maybe it’s because his body is tired, or maybe he doesn’t have the same zip as he did a few months back. But he definitely has to compensate. If he’s going to overcompensate, he needs to go full.”
Arshdeep’s dip stands out even more when placed against his international form earlier this year. At the T20 World Cup, he was India’s No. 2 fast bowler behind Jasprit Bumrah. That ranking was earned, and the numbers backed it up: India lifted the trophy, and Arshdeep produced nine wickets across eight matches at an economy rate of 8.46.
In contrast, his IPL 2026 statistics read as 14 wickets from 14 matches with an economy rate of 10.20. He has also become one of only two bowlers in the tournament to concede more than 500 runs. Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is the other name on that unwanted list, though Kamboj has taken 21 wickets as well.
Boucher, however, leaned more heavily on the workload angle. “I think it’s just being tired [after the T20 World Cup] and this month being the IPL, and he had to play in this. That’s the reason why he’s like that,” he said. “I don’t think it’s got anything to do with his skill or his talent. At some point, [the fatigue] has to catch up with players. It’s just natural.”
The PBKS coach also highlighted how the demands on a player like Arshdeep differ from those of an overseas recruit. “So yes, I think he might be a bit tired. But the one thing about him is that he knows he’s going to be playing. It’s not like an international [overseas player] where you have a few different options and can rest guys here and there. He has to play. And maybe that’s where he needs to lean on his skill set too. I think he’s trying too hard with the new ball to take the ball both ways.”
Even with the debate over fatigue versus execution, Arshdeep’s spot is not immediately under threat. As Boucher pointed out, he is expected to be in the XI if PBKS get another match, with the possibility depending on how results fall on Sunday night. If and when he gets that next chance, it will provide at least one more opportunity for him to correct a season that has gone far from plan.
