Arshdeep Singh’s 2026 IPL has never really caught fire. Even when Punjab Kings managed the odd victory, the left-armer didn’t look in rhythm; during the recent six-game skid, the numbers only grew harsher. Saturday’s win over Lucknow Super Giants broke that losing run, yet Arshdeep’s four overs still cost 52 runs – an economy of 17.33 – and Shikhar Dhawan didn’t trust him with the final over.
Ambati Rayudu, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show, did not mince words. “मुझे लगता है कि उनकी लेंथ सबसे बड़ी समस्या है। वह ऐसे गेंदबाज़ नहीं हैं जिन्हें बहुत ज़्यादा शॉर्ट गेंदें फेंकनी चाहिए। डेथ ओवरों में भी उन्हें यॉर्कर डालनी चाहिए। नई गेंद से भी जब उन्होंने फुल गेंदें डालीं। पहली गेंद को छोड़ दें, जो कवर के जरिए चौके के लिए गई, तो उनकी फुल लेंथ गेंदों पर उतने रन नहीं पड़े जितने शॉर्ट ऑफ़ लेंथ या शॉर्ट गेंदों पर पड़े।”
Rayudu’s point is fairly simple: pitch it up. Short-of-a-length bouncers were once Arshdeep’s surprise weapon, but the former India batter feels that edge has dulled. “उन्हें इस बात का ध्यान रखना होगा क्योंकि फ़िलहाल उनकी शॉर्ट गेंद में पहले जैसी धार नहीं दिख रही। शायद शरीर थका हुआ है या कुछ महीने पहले जैसी ऊर्जा नहीं बची। लेकिन इसकी भरपाई उन्हें फुल गेंदबाज़ी करके करनी होगी।”
Mark Boucher, who worked with Arshdeep during India’s recent T20 World Cup campaign, reached a similar conclusion but from a different angle. The South African said the seamer is “trying too hard” with the new ball – a polite way of suggesting both mental and physical fatigue.
Back-to-back tournaments rarely allow bowlers clear space to reset actions or workloads. A four-over spell every third day, plus travel, can stretch even well-conditioned bodies. For a bowler who relies on a strong front arm to swing the ball late, any dip in pace or alignment quickly shows up in the numbers.
So where does he go from here?
1. Rest might be the obvious call, yet Punjab’s thin attack means Arshdeep is likely to keep playing.
2. The early-overs plan could be simplified: two attacking outswingers, then a straight one at the stumps, rather than hunting a magic ball.
3. At the death, going back to the yorker – his trademark in 2022-23 – feels sensible. The Super Giants match reinforced that; full deliveries went for far less than the back-of-a-length stuff.
There’s still time to salvage the season, but the margins are narrowing. Arshdeep began the campaign with 67 IPL wickets at 8.65 per over; this year he is conceding almost ten. A couple of tight spells can shift both statistics and narrative. As Boucher hinted, re-trusting the skill set that earned international caps might be the fastest fix – provided the body, and the calendar, allow it.
