Punjab were the Kings of dropped catches against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 6. Last year’s finalists are in red-hot form. The Shreyas Iyer-led team has lost just two matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite exemplary performance with the bat and ball, fielding is where the Punjab Kings (PBKS) have lagged.
Against SRH in Hyderabad, PBKS dropped 3 catches and missed one stumping in the space of 24 balls. There’s no doubt the fielding has been woeful in IPL 2026. But Punjab were on another level of abysmal at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Punjab Kings’ horror day in the field
It all started with Cooper Connolly. Lockie Ferguson had Ishan Kishan in trouble with a short delivery, but the Australian all-rounder dropped a sitter at deep square leg. In the next over, Shashank Singh, who has perhaps been one of the worst fielders in IPL 2026, let another chance go.
This was another easy grab as Heinrich Klaasen’s sweep off Yuzvendra Chahal found the top edge. The ball went straight to Shashank at deep backward square leg, but he shelled it. It was his 4th drop of the season, with only Naman Dhir ahead (5).
Chahal was a victim again in the 11th. Ferguson dropped Kishan at deep backward square leg as the batter mistimed a pull shot. The leg spinner couldn’t believe his eyes. On the last ball of the over, Prabhsimran Singh missed a stumping, and Kishan got a third reprieve. The leggie has created 16 chances for PBKS, but 7 catches and 1 stumping have been missed off his bowling.
- 7.1 – Connolly drops Kishan on 9 (9) off Ferguson’s bowling
- 8.4 – Shashank drops Klaasen on 23 (14) off Chahal’s bowling
- 10.2 – Ferguson drops Kishan on 18 (14) off Chahal’s bowling
- 10.6 – Prabhsimran missed stumping when Kishan was on 18 (14) off Chahal’s bowling
Kishan made full use of the reprieves, scoring a 28-ball fifty before walking back in the 15th over with 55 off 32. He scored 46 off 23 after he was dropped the first time. As for Klaasen, he continued to punish PBKS bowlers. The wicketkeeper from South Africa reached his half-century in 32 balls. He was dismissed on the last ball of the innings, scoring 46 off 29 after he was initially dropped.
Most catches dropped in IPL 2026
| Teams | Catches Dropped | Catching Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| DC | 15 | 65% |
| PBKS | 15 | 70% |
| SRH | 15 | 71% |
| CSK | 15 | 72% |
| GT | 15 | 78% |
| RR | 10 | 81% |
| LSG | 9 | 74% |
| MI | 8 | 71% |
| RCB | 7 | 80% |
| KKR | 6 | 89% |
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