IPL 2026: Bahutule lauds PBKS speedster Arshdeep’s 3-22 effort

PBKS spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule; (right) Arshdeep Singh during the match vs MI. Pic/Satej Shinde

Punjab Kings's (PBKS) left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (3-22) played a crucial role in his team's seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. In fact, in the previous four games, Arshdeep had struggled to bowl a good line and length, conceding 16 wides and claiming just two wickets.

However, he bounced back strongly, bowling a match-winning four-over spell to be Player of the Match at Wankhede, which is known for being batter-friendly. Arshdeep dismissed MI opener Ryan Rickelton (2) and one-drop Suryakumar Yadav (0) off back-to-back deliveries when the hosts had just 12 runs on the board. His third victim was the attacking Sherfane Rutherford (0) in the 19th over, when he bowled a perfect yorker to disturb the furniture.

PBKS spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule revealed how the India pacer regained his momentum. "He [Arshdeep] is a very self-aware bowler and understands the nuances of the game. He went back to his basics in the last couple of days, did a lot of spot and target bowling and came back with the understanding that he has to focus on what he does best. He was very clear in his mindset... understand what works for you, what your strengths are and precisely that is what he did," Bahutule said at the post-match press conference on Thursday.

102
No. of wickets claimed by Arshdeep Singh in IPL - becomes first Punjab Kings bowler to cross the 100-mark