NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh is once again drawing intense criticism after another expensive slip in the field during PBKS’ 33-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 on Wednesday. What started as a one-off error earlier in the campaign has now turned into a recurring issue at a critical moment of the tournament, with Shashank dropping five chances across his last three outings.
Latest missed chance shifts the momentum
The most damaging error arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Shashank failed to take a difficult but catchable opportunity offered by Heinrich Klaasen off Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling. At the time of the drop, Klaasen was on just nine runs, and the game was still delicately poised.
Instead of staying contained, the SRH batter seized the reprieve and accelerated relentlessly, smashing 69 off 43 balls. That knock swung the contest firmly in Hyderabad’s direction and set up a platform for a big total.
Fielding problems continue to pile up
Shashank’s latest lapse added to a broader pattern of struggle for Punjab in the field. In earlier matches, he had also let opportunities slip—dropping three catches against Lucknow Super Giants and missing a chance involving KL Rahul during Punjab’s encounter with Delhi Capitals.
One of those moments against LSG became especially noticeable, with Shashank reportedly misjudging a boundary catch attempt. The pattern has been heightened by his recent return to action after a hamstring issue, which had ruled him out of games versus Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. However, his difficulties did not take long to resurface immediately after returning.
What Ponting and Shreyas Iyer said after the loss
Punjab head coach Ricky Ponting acknowledged that Shashank is going through a tough stretch. During the match, Ponting said, “Poor Shashank Singh, it seems the ball is flying everywhere he’s going.”
Captain Shreyas Iyer also pointed to missed chances as a key factor in the defeat. He said, “It was a bit too much because we dropped catches at the start. The wicket kept getting slower. They played comprehensive cricket and showed us how to win the match. We weren’t that comprehensive enough on the field, nor in bowling, nor in batting.”
SRH’s big total and PBKS’ chase
Punjab’s overall fielding woes proved costly beyond Shashank’s drop. Cooper Connolly put down Ishan Kishan early in the innings, and later, Lockie Ferguson and Prabhsimran Singh also missed chances that could have tightened the game.
- SRH finished on 235/4, with Heinrich Klaasen making 69 and Ishan Kishan contributing 55.
- In response, PBKS were restricted to 202/7.
- Cooper Connolly struck a brilliant unbeaten 107, but it wasn’t enough for Punjab to cross the line.
The loss meant this was Punjab’s third consecutive defeat. Even with the setback, they remain second in the points table, holding six wins from 10 matches. Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, moved to the top after recording seven victories in 11 games.
