IPL 2026: Yuzvendra Chahal scripts unwanted record thanks to Punjab Kings’ butter fingers

NEW DELHI: Yuzvendra Chahal could only stare in disbelief as another catch went down in the deep. Punjab Kings may have entered their crucial clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad with playoff ambitions, but their fielding effort threatened to undo all plans in a matter of overs.

The numbers make the story even uglier for Punjab Kings. Six catches have now been dropped off Chahal’s bowling this season — the highest for any bowler in IPL 2026.

Shashank Singh alone has already dropped four catches this year, the second-most by any fielder after Mumbai Indians’ Naman Dhir.

On flat surfaces like Hyderabad, bowlers survive on half-chances and moments of brilliance from fielders. Chahal created those opportunities repeatedly. Punjab Kings simply failed to hold on when it mattered most.

On a batting-friendly Hyderabad surface where every opportunity matters, PBKS simply could not afford butter fingers — yet that is exactly what unfolded around Chahal.

The leg-spinner has quietly been one of Punjab’s most important wicket-taking options this season, but his frustration reached another level on Wednesday night. Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan both survived despite gifting chances off Chahal’s bowling, leaving the spinner visibly shattered in the middle.

The first blow came when Heinrich Klaasen top-edged a sweep straight towards Shashank Singh at deep backward square-leg. It was the kind of catch fielders are expected to complete almost every single time in professional cricket.

Instead, Shashank fumbled the straightforward chance and, to make matters worse for Punjab, the ball raced away for four. Chahal instantly dropped to his haunches in frustration while skipper Shreyas Iyer struggled to hide his disappointment.

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Things only worsened later. Ishan Kishan miscued another delivery from Chahal, producing a top-edge that should have been safely collected by Lockie Ferguson near the boundary.

But the New Zealand pacer misjudged the ball completely and spilled another regulation catch. Chahal once again bent over in disbelief as another wicket disappeared.