In a season already marred by fielding frailties, Punjab Kings (PBKS) continue to lead the unwanted charts for dropped catches in IPL 2026. The latest chapter unfolded in their high-stakes clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where butter-fingered efforts handed SRH crucial reprieves and piled pressure on an otherwise competitive side.
They dropped a handful of them again in the match against SRH. Shashank Singh, who missed three catches this season, added to his tally with another drop, while Lockie Ferguson and Nehal Wadhera also dropped catches.
Yuzvendra Chahal's Lack of Luck
Yuzvendra Chahal, PBKS's experienced wrist-spinner, has been the unluckiest bowler in the tournament. The leg-spinner has created a staggering 16 catching chances off his bowling so far, but a shocking
8 have been dropped - the highest drop percentage among 61 bowlers with four or more chances created this season. Chahal's guile continues to induce edges and miscues, yet his teammates' inability to hold on has robbed him of wickets and inflated economies.
The SRH encounter epitomized PBKS's woes. Multiple straightforward chances went down, including efforts involving Shashank Singh and others in the outfield. PBKS dropped at least three regulation catches in that game alone, contributing to SRH posting a formidable total.
Head coach Ricky Ponting was visibly frustrated as opportunities slipped away. This performance cemented PBKS at the top of the most-missed-catches leaderboard, with their overall catching efficiency languishing near the bottom of the league.
PBKS with 2nd Worst Catching Record in IPL 2026
Shashank Singh has emerged as the poster boy of PBKS's fielding struggles, dropping several sitters across matches, including three in one outing earlier. From short legs to boundaries, the lapses have been glaring. Across the season, PBKS have grassed around 10 catches while holding just 28 out of 38 opportunities, with a catch efficiency of 72.7 per cent this season.
These misses are not mere statistics; they have directly impacted results. Batters like those in the SRH middle order capitalized on second lives, turning potential breakthroughs into match-defining innings. For a team who are at the top of the table, would dearly like to rectify their dismal catching record.
