Arshdeep Singh is fully fit: Punjab Kings contradict themselves on pacer's fitness

Punjab Kings have come under fresh scrutiny over their handling of media communication on Monday, 18 May. The latest controversy stems from their denial of media reports suggesting Arshdeep Singh has not been fully fit in the Indian Premier League's 2026 season.

Concerns around the left-arm pacer emerged after team physio Andrew Leipus confirmed that the bowler has been managing certain physical restrictions ahead of the RCB game. Speaking ahead of their final game in Dharamsala, Leipus had suggested that Arshdeep was slightly inconsistent in the last few matches due to a niggle that he was carrying.

“We’ve been working together a little bit and looking at his body to see if there are any restrictions that might be a reason for some of his performances being up and down. We think we’ve hit on a bit of a winner there. He’s been feeling a lot better in the last couple of weeks, physically,” Leipus had said before the RCB match.

After the match, when the issue with Arshdeep was asked to bowling coach James Hopes, he refrained from commenting on the matter.

"I cannot elaborate on that. For me, Ashdeep has been training as much as he's ever trained. He normally does, and to be honest, I think if you add maybe four of the dropped catches that should have been taken off his bowling, he's on a 17-18 wicket season and he's going well," Hopes told reporters after the RCB game. “He fronts up every training session, every game, ready to go, and today was no different. He's a warrior.”

The left-arm pacer featured in the game and finished with figures of 1/43, but speculation around his rhythm and fitness continued to gather attention following Punjab's 6th straight loss this season. After losing their final home game, Punjab are now on the brink of getting knocked out of the playoffs race.

“The team management is absolutely pleased with his progress, and he is raring to go as we head into a crucial contest of the tournament. His energy, rhythm, and commitment in the nets have been extremely encouraging, and we are confident he will continue to play a key role for Punjab Kings moving forward as well,” the franchise added.

With the statement, Punjab refuted the statements of their own coach and physio, made over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings’ campaign has taken a dramatic downturn after an unbeaten start to the season. The franchise has now suffered six consecutive defeats, leaving them with virtually no margin for error in the race for the playoffs. With one game remaining, PBKS will depend heavily on senior players, particularly Arshdeep, to deliver under pressure and help keep their qualification hopes alive.

Arshdeep has struggled to show the consistency he displayed in the previous seasons despite remaining PBKS’ highest wicket-taker this season. The fast bowler has picked up 14 wickets from 13 matches so far, a noticeable dip compared to his tally of 21 wickets last season and 19 wickets in IPL 2024, when he also maintained an impressive strike rate of 15.8.

Off the field too, the pacer has found himself under scrutiny following controversy surrounding alleged racial remarks directed at fellow Indian cricketer Tilak Varma, which triggered criticism across social media platforms.

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