IPL 2026: Punjab Kings contradict their own physio, say Arshdeep Singh ‘fully fit’

NEW DELHI: Contradicting a statement from its head of sports science, Punjab Kings on Monday issued a clarification on pacer Arshdeep Singh’s fitness, saying the left-arm seamer is “fully fit” and training regularly with the team despite recent concerns over his fitness.The franchise issued the statement a day after their 23-run defeat by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, marking PBKS’ sixth defeat in the tournament.“Contrary to reports, we would like to confirm that our leading fast bowler and top wicket taker Arshdeep Singh is fully fit and actively training with the team.”“The team management is absolutely satisfied with his progress and does not want to go as we head into a crucial match of the tournament,” the statement read.“His energy, pace and commitment in the nets has been extremely encouraging and we are confident that he will continue to play a key role for the Punjab Kings going forward.”The statement came after PBKS head of sports science Andrew Leipus hinted ahead of the RCB match that Arshdeep had been dealing with some physical limitations during the season.“We’ve been working together a little bit and looking at his body to see if he has any limitations in his body that could be the reason why some of his performances are up and down. We think we’ve hit a bit of a winner there. He’s been feeling a lot better physically the last couple of weeks,” Leipus said when asked by The Tech Word News in Dharamshala.Arshdeep hasn’t looked his usual self in recent matches and has struggled to execute yorkers and bouncers consistently during pressure situations. Against RCB in Dharamshala on Sunday, he conceded 43 runs in four overs at an economy rate of 10.75, taking one wicket.Temper has also been embroiled in controversy on social media in recent weeks, which has contributed to the scrutiny of his performances.The PBKS campaign has plummeted over the past three weeks. The team, which gained momentum in the first half of the tournament, now faces the risk of being eliminated in the playoffs after six consecutive losses.Punjab Kings have one league match left against Lucknow Super Giants and can finish with a maximum of 15 points. However, they also need more results to go in their favor to qualify for the play-offs.

Is it fair to question Arshdeep Singh’s performance based on social media controversies?