PBKS vice-captain Shashank Singh has been ruled out of the match against Rajasthan Royals, which is a big clash for the two top-tier teams in this edition of the IPL. Punjab Kings have been the most impressive team in this edition of the competition.
Last season’s IPL runners-up have been undefeated this season and have topped the points table with 13 points after seven matches, as only one of their matches ended in a draw due to the negative role of rain.
Why did Shreyas Iyer drop Shashank Singh against RR?
Shreyas Iyer lost the toss against Riyan Parag at the Kings’ home ground in New Chandigarh, where they have not lost a game so far this season, despite massive scores being piled up at the venue.
During the toss, Shreyas Iyer revealed that they were forced to make a change as Shashank Singh was dropped from the eleven and was replaced by Mumbai batsman Suryansh Shegde.
“We also preferred to bowl first because I asked a member of our team; he told me that the wicket was basically covered for a few days due to bad weather, but apart from that, I personally feel that whenever you bat or bowl, it is a big challenge, and we are all quite active regardless of the toss decision,” Shreyas Iyer said at the toss.
“We have a forced change. So, Suryansh (Shedge) comes in for Shashank, which is a forced change, and the other is Lockie (Ferguson), who comes in for X (Xavier Bartlett). All individuals have certain goals. So far it is going well. I want to express my condolences to Azmat and his family.”
Is drop catch the real reason behind Shashank Singh being dropped from PBKS XI?
Shashank Singh’s role with the bat has been very limited this season; However, he did not let them down whenever he was asked to guard them with the ball. He has bowled some brilliant overs with the ball this season.
On the other hand, Shashank Singh has been performing poorly on the field, especially due to not being able to take catches. Singh has dropped around four catches in the last two matches and his performance has been disappointing despite PBKS winning on both the occasions.
He removed KL Rahul in the last game, who added 140 runs alone and posted a big score for the Kings. Shashank was also seen struggling with his hamstring in the last game, which could also be a reason behind his absence, which Iyer did not reveal at the time of the toss.
New Zealand’s top fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to return for PBKS in IPL 2026
While Punjab Kings have been exceptional with the bat at every opportunity, they have struggled with the ball in particular. Although his death bowling has been comparatively impressive, his new ball bowling has been very poor.
Lockie Ferguson has returned for Punjab Kings this season after being unavailable in the initial games due to personal reasons. Xavier Bartlett, who conceded a lot of runs in the last game, has finally been released from the eleven.
In this crucial encounter against RR, where PBKS looks to maintain their undefeated streak, Lockie Ferguson has been included in the XI and will be seen in action for the Kings.
Also Read: PBKS vs RR Impact Players Today: Toss Report, Playing XI, Latest Updates IPL 2026 Match 40