Either it’s the World Cup’s fatigue or the form has totally gone

Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that Arshdeep Singh has proved extremely expensive and has bowled a plethora of wides in IPL 2026. He wondered whether the Punjab Kings (PBKS) seamer is fatigued after India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign or has lost his form totally.

Arshdeep registered figures of 0/52 in three overs as the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) set PBKS a 197-run target in Match 68 of IPL 2026 in Lucknow on Saturday, May 23. However, the visitors achieved the target with seven wickets and two overs to spare to keep their playoff qualification hopes alive.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India batter wondered whether T20 World Cup 2026 tiredness or a total loss of form is responsible for Arshdeep‘s wayward bowling performances in IPL 2026.

“Arshdeep Singh has become the bowler to bowl the most wides this season. It’s incredible that this could have happened, but it has happened. He didn’t even bowl his four overs and was hit for more than 50 runs. He was hit at an economy of 17,” Chopra said.

“He was hit for 16 runs in his first over. Four fours were hit. Either it’s the World Cup’s fatigue or the form has totally gone because he has bowled so many wides. He has bowled 30-odd wides. No one has bowled more wides than him, and he is conceding runs at an economy of more than 17, which means the situation is very bad,” he added.

However, Chopra praised Yuzvendra Chahal for bowling an impressive spell and Shashank Singh for matching Jasprit Bumrah’s tally of wickets this season.

“Yuzi Chahal was the pick of the bowlers. He was brilliant. He picked up two wickets, although a catch was dropped here as well. Shashank bowled a few good overs, which is again a big positive. Shashank has actually taken more wickets than Bumrah. Who would have thought that was going to happen, but it has happened,” he observed.

Yuzvendra Chahal registered figures of 2/25 in four overs in PBKS’ IPL 2026 clash against LSG. Shashank Singh delivered a spell of 1/29 in three overs to equal Jasprit Bumrah’s wicket count of four this season.

“The performance of the 2 left-handed wicketkeeper-batters you bought for ₹48 crore was ordinary” – Aakash Chopra on LSG after IPL 2026 loss vs PBKS

Reflecting on LSG’s batting in the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant have been found wanting in IPL 2026.

“They have found an excellent player in Josh Inglis. He is doing very well as an opener. Lucknow’s season has been very ordinary, whether it’s the ₹21 crore Nicholas Pooran or the ₹27 crore Rishabh Pant. The performance of the two left-handed wicketkeeper-batters you bought for ₹48 crore was ordinary,” he said.

However, the cricketer-turned-commentator termed Josh Inglis a positive for LSG and praised Ayush Badoni for playing an impressive knock in Saturday’s game.

“They have only seven batters and five bowlers. They don’t have a sixth bowler at all. All of that is there, but Josh Inglis has come as a good positive. Ayush Badoni batted well. You reached 196, which is not a great total, but it is also not a bad total,” Chopra observed.

Josh Inglis (72 off 44) and Ayush Badoni (43 off 18) were LSG’s top two run-scorers in their IPL 2026 clash against PBKS. While Nicholas Pooran managed a seven-ball two, Rishabh Pant consumed 22 deliveries for his 26 runs.