Kamal Ghorui
After a strong start to the season, Punjab Kings have now lost four matches in a row and are under pressure in the race for the playoffs. They need to win at least two of their remaining matches to stay in contention for a top-four finish.
Punjab were once the only unbeaten side in the tournament, but their form has dropped in the second half of the season.
Captain Shreyas Iyer said after the loss to Delhi Capitals that the team only had itself to blame for its current situation.
Punjab’s batting covered up problems in bowling earlier in the season, but that has not been the case in recent matches. Even after posting what Iyer called an above-par score against Delhi, Punjab could not defend it.
The team was in control of the game on a seam-friendly pitch, but the fast bowlers struggled with their lengths in the final five overs. Punjab’s pace attack, led by Arshdeep Singh, currently has the worst economy rate among all 10 teams this season.
Arshdeep and Xavier Bartlett had formed a stable new-ball pair earlier in the tournament, but the arrival of Lockie Ferguson has changed the bowling combination. Ferguson is mainly used in the middle and death overs.
Punjab also went with three left-arm pacers in the previous match by including Ben Dwarshuis, but he proved expensive.
Arshdeep has conceded more than 10 runs per over in most of the 11 matches he has played this season.
