Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has openly criticised Shreyas Iyer for his tactical decisions during Punjab Kings’ heartbreaking defeat against Delhi Capitals in Match 55 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Kaif particularly questioned the decision to not bowl veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal even for a single over during DC’s successful chase of 211 runs in Dharamsala.
Punjab Kings appeared to be in control for a large part of the contest after piling up 210/5 in their 20 overs. Half-centuries from Priyansh Arya and skipper Iyer had put the hosts in a commanding position at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. However, Delhi Capitals staged a stunning comeback with the bat and chased down the massive target with three wickets in hand and an over remaining.
The defeat marked PBKS’ fourth consecutive loss in the tournament and sparked questions over their on-field decision-making in crunch moments.
Mohammad Kaif raises concerns after Yuzvendra Chahal did not get to bowl
Speaking during a discussion on JioHotstar after the match, Kaif did not hold back while analysing Punjab Kings’ bowling strategy. The former India batter expressed surprise over how PBKS used their main bowlers in the death overs and questioned why experienced spinner Chahal was completely ignored.
Kaif pointed out that both Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen completed their spell before the final phase of the innings, leaving the side vulnerable when Delhi began accelerating.
“I will ask a straight question. They played five bowlers. Yash Thakur doesn’t play matches consistently. He was given the 19th over and the 20th was kept for Marcus Stoinis,” Kaif said during the broadcast discussion.
He further added that Punjab’s most experienced bowlers should have had overs left for the closing stages of the game when the pressure was at its peak.
“I am slightly surprised that neither Arshdeep Singh’s nor Marco Jansen’s over was saved. Your most senior bowlers in this match didn’t have a single over in the death overs,” added Kaif.
Chahal’s absence becomes major talking point
Kaif also highlighted the surprising omission of Chahal from the bowling attack despite the leg-spinner’s vast IPL experience and impressive wicket tally in the competition. The former cricketer noted that the Dharamsala surface had offered more assistance to spinners compared to pacers in the tournament, making the decision even harder to understand. He also referenced the bowling economy trends at the venue and argued that the numbers clearly favoured spin bowling over pace.
“Yuzi Chahal has taken more than 200 wickets in the IPL, and he didn’t get even a single over. Spinners have an economy of nine at this ground, and the fast bowlers have an economy of 10, which means the fast bowlers get hit more than the spinners. So a question will be raised about how he captained,” Kaif explained.
DC punish PBKS in the death overs
At one stage, Delhi Capitals still required 53 runs from the final four overs, with Punjab Kings looking favourites to close out the match. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as Axar Patel, David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari produced a fearless counterattack.
PBKS struggled badly in the final overs due to the absence of their frontline bowlers. Delhi eventually chased down the target in just three overs, leaving Punjab Kings and their captain Iyer facing heavy criticism over their tactical approach in the high-pressure clash.
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