Arshdeep Singh's costly spell sees Punjab Kings bowler set unwanted IPL record

Arshdeep Singh (BCCI/IPL Photo)

NEW DELHI: Arshdeep Singh endured a nightmare outing as Punjab Kings faced Lucknow Super Giants in their crucial IPL 2026 clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday. The left-arm pacer was expected to lead Punjab’s bowling attack, provide early breakthroughs and keep the scoring rate in check. Instead, he was taken apart by the LSG batters, who attacked him relentlessly throughout his spell. Arshdeep bowled three overs and conceded 52 runs at an economy rate of 17.30. His expensive spell also included four wides. The poor outing also saw Arshdeep register an unwanted record - the most instances of conceding 50-plus runs by a PBKS bowler in IPL history.

PBKS bowlers conceding 50-plus runs most times:

7 – Arshdeep Singh

4 – Sam Curran

3 – Kagiso Rabada

3 – Mohammed Shami

3 – Xavier Bartlett

LSG posted a competitive 196 for six, powered by a brilliant knock from Josh Inglis, who smashed 72 in typical aggressive fashion. Inglis and Rishabh Pant (26 off 21 balls) stitched together a 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket after LSG had slipped to 69 for three in the seventh over. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter launched his assault early, hammering Arshdeep for four boundaries in the opening over to collect 16 runs. After that, Ayush Badoni took charge following the dismissals of Arshin Kulkarni, who opened in place of Mitchell Marsh, and Nicholas Pooran. Badoni played a sensational cameo of 43 off just 18 balls and added 49 runs for the third wicket with Inglis. The young batter tore into Azmatullah Omarzai, smashing 24 runs in the fifth over with a brutal sequence of 4,6,6,4. The counterattack helped LSG recover strongly from early setbacks and finish the powerplay at an impressive 66 for two. Badoni’s entertaining knock ended when Prabhsimran Singh completed a sharp stumping off Yuzvendra Chahal, with DRS confirming the dismissal. Inglis, meanwhile, continued his onslaught and entered another destructive phase of his innings by smashing a six, four and four in succession off Arshdeep. Overall, Inglis smashed Arshdeep for six fours and two sixes, compounding the PBKS pacer’s difficult season. Pant, who survived a dropped catch on 18 by Shreyas Iyer at covers off Chahal, struggled to find fluency but provided solid support to Inglis. The Australian reached his fifty in just 28 balls before Pant eventually fell to Chahal, who finished with figures of 2/25. Inglis was finally dismissed by part-time bowler Shashank Singh, with Iyer taking a comfortable catch at long-on after positioning himself straighter. Abdul Samad chipped in with an unbeaten 37 off 20 balls and struck a couple of towering hits, but once Mukul Choudhary fell cheaply to Marco Jansen (2/33), LSG’s hopes of crossing the 200-run mark faded. Meanwhile, Arjun Tendulkar, son of legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar, made a rare IPL appearance, featuring in just his sixth match in the tournament.

Poll

Should Punjab Kings reconsider the positon of Arshdeep Singh in the team after this match?

Yes, he needs a break No, he should be retained