Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh is facing heavy criticism after another dropped catch during PBKS’ 33-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026. His fielding errors have now become a major concern for the team at a crucial stage of the tournament.
Shashank has reportedly dropped five catches in his last three matches. Earlier, he missed three chances against Lucknow Super Giants and also dropped a catch that gave KL Rahul a lifeline during PBKS’ match against Delhi Capitals.
One of his missed catches against LSG went viral on social media after he failed to judge the ball properly near the boundary rope. Fans have been expressing disappointment over Punjab Kings’ repeated fielding mistakes in recent matches.
Shashank had recently returned after recovering from a hamstring injury. He had missed matches against Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. However, his struggles in the field have continued even after returning to the playing XI.
PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting also reacted during the match and admitted that Shashank was going through a difficult phase while fielding. Captain Shreyas Iyer said dropped catches played a major role in the defeat against SRH.
Punjab Kings struggled collectively in the field during the match. Cooper Connolly dropped an early chance offered by Ishan Kishan, while Lockie Ferguson and Prabhsimran Singh also missed opportunities.
SRH took full advantage of those errors and posted 235/4 on the scoreboard. Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan played key roles with the bat. Punjab Kings managed only 202/7 in reply despite an unbeaten century from Cooper Connolly.
PBKS have now suffered three consecutive defeats but still remain second on the points table with six wins in 10 matches. Sunrisers Hyderabad moved to the top after registering their seventh victory of the season.
Poor fielding has emerged as one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026. Several teams have struggled with dropped catches this season, but Punjab Kings have paid a heavy price for repeated mistakes in the field during recent games.
