DHARAMSHALA: Arshdeep Singh appeared noticeably different from his usual self during a practice session on Saturday afternoon. Ahead of Punjab Kings\u2019 pivotal clash against table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the left-arm pacer largely avoided the routine, light-hearted exchanges that often happen in team drills. Instead, he spent significant time in focused discussion with Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting, offering a rare glimpse of how low his mood has been in the middle of a difficult IPL stretch. For a bowler known for sparking energy in the dressing room and for carrying a fierce, match-winning edge in pressure moments, Arshdeep\u2019s current IPL form has felt subdued.<\/p>\n
Arshdeep had recently reached the peak of his career with back-to-back World Cup triumphs in the opening week of March. But within a couple of months, he now finds himself at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, struggling for rhythm and impact in the foothills of the Dhauladhar range in Dharamshala.<\/p>\n
Punjab Kings\u2019 fortunes have mirrored that decline. The franchise, which had been in the title conversation and had looked capable of sustaining momentum midway through the tournament, has since fallen away sharply. Arshdeep\u2019s unusually inconsistent season has been cited as a key reason behind that drop-off, with questions growing over what might be affecting his bowling.<\/p>\n
Among the explanations that have circulated are concerns around his fitness and whether he has been operating under physical constraints. Punjab Kings\u2019 management, naturally, has been working to identify the cause rather than rely on speculation.<\/p>\n
Andrew Leipus, Punjab Kings\u2019 head of sports science, said the team reviewed Arshdeep\u2019s body to determine whether any limitations were contributing to performances that swung between promise and struggle.<\/p>\n
In crunch situations, Arshdeep has found it harder to execute the yorkers and bouncers he had managed more consistently over the previous couple of seasons. That loss of \u201czip\u201d and the inability to land certain variations at decisive moments has stood out, particularly when the match demands precision rather than effort.<\/p>\n
While physical factors have taken centre stage in the latest assessment, there has also been ongoing discussion about distractions away from the field\u2014especially around his social media activity. Leipus did not fully dismiss the noise, but he insisted that Arshdeep\u2019s mindset inside the squad environment has remained stable.<\/p>\n
Leipus further pointed to an example from the wider game, noting that the ICC\u2019s decision to remove phones from the team setting helps reduce distractions. He suggested the real problem arises outside that controlled environment. He also said he has heard rumours and that, if those reports are accurate, the situation may need to be addressed.<\/p>\n
If Arshdeep needs a mental reset ahead of Sunday\u2019s contest, Punjab Kings may not have to look far. The opposition dugout includes two experienced campaigners\u2014Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar\u2014both 37 years old, yet still finding ways to stay relevant and reinvent aspects of their games as modern T20 cricket moves at a relentless pace.<\/p>\n
Leipus also highlighted that leadership has been steady during the rough phase. He said Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer and Arshdeep have shown exemplary calmness while guiding the unit through difficult conditions.<\/p>\n
That is the immediate focus as Punjab Kings prepare for the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala\u2014where Arshdeep\u2019s fitness progress, along with his leadership calm, will be tested against the tournament\u2019s most consistent side.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DHARAMSHALA: Arshdeep Singh appeared noticeably different from his usual self during a practice session on Saturday afternoon. Ahead of Punjab Kings\u2019 pivotal clash against table-topping…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL News: Arshdeep Practice Worries Punjab Kings vs RCB","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Arshdeep Singh\u2019s unusual practice routine sparks concern for Punjab Kings ahead of their clash vs RCB in IPL\u2014details on what\u2019s worrying PBKS.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n