Arshdeep Singh endured another disappointing outing in the field as his costly misfield proved to be a turning point during Punjab Kings’ crucial IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala. RCB, who have been one of the most dominant sides this season, once again showcased their depth and composure under pressure.
Entering the match with 16 points from 12 games, the Bengaluru-based franchise looked determined to strengthen their push for a top-two finish in the IPL 2026 standings. The momentum of the contest shifted during the middle overs when Venkatesh Iyer received an early lifeline thanks to a sloppy effort from Arshdeep in the field.
Venkatesh Iyer, who had struggled to time the ball initially, drove a delivery from Lockie Ferguson through the covers. Arshdeep bent low to stop the shot but misjudged the pace completely, allowing the ball to slip past him and race away to the boundary.
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That moment appeared to change the entire rhythm of Iyer’s innings. After the fortunate boundary, the left-hander quickly found confidence and began attacking the PBKS bowlers aggressively. He took on Harpreet Brar with a series of boundaries before launching two massive sixes against veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
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With regular captain Rajat Patidar unavailable due to an injury concern, Iyer stepped up brilliantly in the middle order while Jitesh Sharma led the side as stand-in captain. The experienced batter recovered from a slow start to register his maiden half-century for RCB in only his fourth appearance of the season.
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Arshdeep’s fielding lapse once again highlighted Punjab Kings’ growing concerns this season. While the left-arm pacer has been one of PBKS’ most reliable performers in previous IPL campaigns, both his bowling rhythm and fielding standards have dipped noticeably in IPL 2026, hurting the team during key moments in pressure matches.
