Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed disappointment with Yuzvendra Chahal’s performance after Punjab Kings suffered a 23-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Dharamshala on Sunday.
Pathan reckons Chahal’s dip in form has contributed to PBKS’ downfall in the ongoing IPL 2026. The loss against RCB, was PBKS’ sixth defeat on the bounce.
Chahal returned with expensive figures of 1-42 in three overs he bowled against RCB. The veteran leg-spinner has scalped 10 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 36 and an economy rate of 9.72 in the ongoing season.
Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “Yuzvendra Chahal’s performance has been very disappointing. He could not get that hold in this game, and in the last match, he gave away 20 runs from the last over. It was very poor bowling. The performance is a different thing. Yes, there have been a few dropped catches off his bowling, but it is the length. He has got some wickets with the full toss too this season.
“His length has been very overpitched. If you do that a lot, it is clear that the captain will not have confidence in you. That is why captain Shreyas Iyer has not had enough confidence in him this season,” he added.
Pathan, on the other hand, reckons PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer will need to alter his batting technique after he was caught behind after managing a solitary run.
He added, “Shreyas Iyer’s front foot falls across, and he later withdraws that. When a batter withdraws the front foot at the point of contact, he loses the balance. It happens only on the away length, not on the fuller length or the short ball. It is that hard length, the 7-8 meter length, where you can neither go forward nor backward.
“Once you plant your foot and then withdraw it, there will be a problem, and the same is happening with Shreyas Iyer. This is a small thing, but he will have to work on it. Rasikh Salam got him out with that exact length,” he elaborated
Punjab Kings will play their last league match against Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Saturday.
