Yuzvendra Chahal of Punjab Kings (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) NEW DELHI: Yuzvendra Chahal could only stare in disbelief as another catch was taken in the deep. Punjab Kings may have entered their crucial encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad with playoff ambitions, but their fielding efforts threatened to derail all plans in the matter of overs. The numbers make the story even uglier for the Punjab Kings. Six catches have been dropped off Chahal’s bowling this season – the most by any bowler in IPL 2026.Shashank Singh alone has already dropped four catches this year, the second most by any fielder after Mumbai Indians’ Naman Dhir.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Debut in India: Calls are getting louderOn flat surfaces like Hyderabad, bowlers survive on half chances and moments of brilliance from the fielders. Chahal created these opportunities repeatedly. The Punjab Kings just couldn’t hold on when it mattered most.On a batting-friendly Hyderabad surface where every occasion counts, PBKS simply couldn’t afford to butter their fingers – yet that’s exactly what was happening around Chahal.The leg-spinner has quietly been one of Punjab’s most important options this season, but his frustration reached another level on Wednesday night. Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan survived despite big chances from Chahal’s bowling, leaving the spinner visibly shattered in the middle.The first blow came when Heinrich Klaasen bowled Shashank Singh at deep backward square. It was the kind of catch that fielders are expected to make almost every time in professional cricket. Instead, Shashank missed the direct chance and to make matters worse for Punjab, the ball ran away for four. Chahal immediately fell on his haunches in frustration while skipper Shreyas Iyer tried to hide his disappointment.Watch:Things only got worse later. Ishan Kishan fouled another delivery from Chahal and produced a top edge that was safely collected by Lockie Ferguson near the boundary. But the New Zealand pacer misjudged the ball and dropped another regulation catch. Chahal bowed again in disbelief as another wicket disappeared.
