Arshdeep Singh. Image Credits: AFP
Arshdeep Singh hasn't been at his very best in IPL 2026. The Punjab Kings premium left-arm pacer has managed to take only 13 wickets so far from the 12 matches he has played, while having an economy rate of 9.70.
While this is already an alarming performance for the PBKS pacer, new reports have emerged that suggest there might be a reason behind Arshdeep Singh's struggles, i.e., his physical health.
Arshdeep Struggling With Physical And Mental Health
As per a Times of India report, Arshdeep Singh wasn't at his very best during his practice session on Saturday afternoon ahead of the make-or-break match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 17.
Arshdeep was seen having intense conversations with Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting on the field, which led TOI to query Andrew Leipus, the head of sports science of Punjab Kings, to further investigate the reason behind Arshdeep's off-form and unusual mental state.
“We’ve been working together a little bit and looking at his body if there are any restrictions in his body 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,” Andrew Leipus said.
Arshdeep has struggled to pack the spiciness in his bowling this season. Whether it is nailing yorkers or bouncers, or salvaging a crunch situation, Arshdeep hasn't been at his very best.
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Social Media Backlash Affecting Arshdeep Singh?
However, the social media repercussions regarding the Tilak Varma racial abuse and other BCCI restrictions might also be some of the possible things that weighed Arshdeep down mentally.
However, Leipus didn't focus on that and insisted that Arshdeep is holding his own well in the dressing room.
“I know there’s been a bit of chatter behind the scenes of various things going on, vlogging and whatnot. In terms of his behaviour and attitude, Arsh is pretty much a flat line. He's not up or down. He gives his best out there. He’s a very loud person in the dressing room. That hasn't changed. He’s very calm,” Leipus claimed.
Singh Having His Worst IPL Season
Arshdeep Singh has had one of his worst seasons in IPL 2026. So far, from 12 matches, he has managed to take only 13 wickets, while in the previous season, he bagged 21, and in IPL 2024, he managed to take 19 wickets from 14 matches while boasting a strike rate of 15.8.
This lapse in bowling performance weighed Arshdeep down seriously, with fewer match-winning performances coming in this tournament.
In the first three matches, Arshdeep went wicketless, only to find 2-wicket and 3-wicket hauls in the next two consecutive matches against SRH and MI.
He found wickets consistently later, except for the last match Punjab played against Mumbai, where he gave away 29 runs without taking a scalp.
PBKS Look For Redemption
As the Punjab Kings are looking forward to turning things around with their match against RCB on May 17, Arshdeep would also need to strike prime form to counter an in-form Virat Kohli and the Rajat Patidar-led team, which has been in solid form in recent times.
If Punjab loses the match against RCB, they will risk elimination, and the chance for Arshdeep Singh to redeem himself would also be gone in a whiff.
