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PBKS Coach Admits Execution Failures in Crushing Loss to DC

Punjab Kings spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule admitted his side failed to execute skills in the final overs of their match against Delhi Capitals. DC chased down 211 with three wickets in hand, powered by Axar Patel's 56 and David Miller's 51. Bahutule highlighted that dropped catches of Tristan Stubbs and Axar Patel proved costly for PBKS. The match also marked the first time in IPL history that neither team used a spinner during an innings.

Key Points: PBKS Coach: Execution Lapses Cost Us Against DC

  • PBKS lose fourth straight IPL match
  • DC chased 211 with 3 wickets in hand
  • Axar Patel (56) and David Miller (51) lead DC
  • Bahutule says dropped catches proved costly
  • No spinner used in an IPL innings for first time
3 min read

'We didn't execute the skills needed in last 5 overs', admits PBKS spin bowling coach Bahutule

Punjab Kings coach Sairaj Bahutule admits his side failed to execute in the final overs and paid for dropped catches as Delhi Capitals chased 211 to stay alive in IPL 2026 playoffs.

"We didn't execute the skills needed in the last five overs. - Sairaj Bahutule"

Dharamsala, May 12

Punjab Kings spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule admitted his side failed to execute properly in the final overs and paid the price for dropped catches as Delhi Capitals pulled off a record chase to stay alive in the IPL 2026 playoff race.

Capitals chased down 211 with three wickets in hand against PBKS at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Monday. Despite reducing DC to 14/2 and later 38/3, PBKS were unable to close out the match as captain Axar Patel smashed 56, David Miller struck 51, and debutant Madhav Tiwari played a decisive cameo of 18 off eight balls to guide the visitors to 216/7.

Reflecting on the defeat, Bahutule admitted that his side had the game under control before losing momentum in the death overs, "I've said this before, also, there are going to be lots of ups and downs. There are going to be times where you've almost won the game, and you lose, we almost had the game with us, but we didn't execute the skills needed in the last five overs. So all we need to do is just keep this aside and move ahead and play the next three games to the best of our ability," Bahutule said at the post-match press conference.

PBKS' fielding lapses also proved costly during DC's recovery. Arshdeep Singh dropped Tristan Stubbs at long-on, while another chance offered by Axar Patel went down at deep square leg.

Bahutule admitted those missed opportunities hurt the team badly. "If we had caught two catches, I don't think they would have maybe reached the target, but it would have been very difficult for them and maybe won the game by 20 runs," he said.

The contest also marked the first time in IPL history that neither team used a spinner during an innings, with both captains relying entirely on pace on a seaming Dharamsala surface.

Explaining the reason behind the move, Bahutule said that the surface consistently favoured fast bowling throughout the innings, and it was wise to use the pacers.

"Definitely there was a thought during the time-out, but I think the ball was seaming and the conditions were suitable for the fast bowlers. So I think the decision was very spontaneous to continue with the fast bowlers and see how we can get those wickets, which we did early on," he said.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Kings have lost four consecutive matches and will need to win at least two of their last three matches to secure a place in the playoffs. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will next face the Mumbai Indians on May 14.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

L
Lakshmi X
First time in IPL history with no spinner used - that's actually quite a bold move! 🏏 The Dharamsala pitch clearly had something for pacers but it's still risky to completely abandon the spin option. Madhav Tiwari's debut was impressive, 18 off 8 balls under pressure shows real temperament. Punjab's fielding cost them badly though - dropping Axar Patel was the turning point.
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Sneha F
I actually feel for Bahutule here. As a coach, you can only plan so much - execution is down to the players on the field. That drop from Arshdeep was unlike him, he's usually so reliable. But this is professional cricket, and at this stage of the tournament, excuses won't work. PBKS need to win 2 out of their next 3 matches to have any chance of playoffs. Tough ask!
R
Raghav A
It's becoming a pattern with PBKS - they start well but can't finish games. The dropped catches are just a symptom of a deeper issue with the team's mental strength. And honestly, not using any spinner on a seaming track is fine in theory, but when the pacers start leaking runs in the death, you need a Plan B. Credit to Axar and Miller though - they showed how to chase under pressure.
M
Michael C
Classic IPL drama - you just can't write scripts like this! Delhi were down and out at 14/2, then Axar and Miller rescue them. I think Bahutule's honesty is refreshing - no sugarcoating, just admitting they didn't execute well. But here's my respectful critique: relying purely on pace when the game is slipping away shows tactical rigidity. Sometimes you need to mix it up, even if conditions favor pacers.

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