“He doesn’t have the same juice” – Ambati Rayudu raises concerns over Arshdeep S – “He doesn’t have the same juice” – Ambati Rayudu raises concerns over Arshdeep Singh’s form in IPL 2026

“He doesn’t have the same juice” – Ambati Rayudu raises concerns over Arshdeep Singh‘s form in IPL 2026

Former Indian batter and six-time IPL champion Ambati Rayudu has voiced serious concerns over Arshdeep Singh’s recent performances, claiming the Punjab Kings pacer “doesn’t have the same juice” as he did earlier this season. Rayudu pointed to both physical and mental fatigue as potential reasons behind the dip in the left-arm quick’s sharpness and intensity.

Despite Punjab Kings’ seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on May 23, Arshdeep’s outing raised eyebrows. He returned bowling figures of 0/52 in just three overs, conceding runs at a staggering economy rate of 17.33. Captain Shreyas Iyer opted not to use his final over—a rare decision reflecting the bowler’s loss of control.

Rayudu Highlights Lack of Intensity and Poor Length

Rayudu was particularly critical of Arshdeep’s inconsistent lengths, especially his overreliance on short-pitched deliveries. He noted that the pacer lacks the potency in his bouncer right now and advised him to switch to fuller lengths, including yorkers, especially during the powerplay and death overs.

“He should be mindful of that because his short ball, he doesn’t have a great bouncer at the moment, maybe because of his body being tired or he doesn’t have the same juice as what he did a few months back. But he definitely has to compensate. If he has to overcompensate, he needs to be full,” Rayudu said.

He further emphasized that Arshdeep’s fuller deliveries were far more effective than his attempts at short balls. “I just think his lengths [are the problem]. He’s not someone who should be bowling a lot of short deliveries. Even in the death, he should be bowling yorkers. And even with the new ball, whenever he has bowled full, except for the first ball which was driven through the covers, I don’t think his fuller balls went for so many runs as much as the short of length deliveries or the short ball.”

Concerning Numbers Add to the Pressure

This season, Arshdeep has been the most expensive bowler among regular performers, giving away 541 runs in 14 matches at an economy of 10.20. While he remains Punjab Kings’ leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps, his inability to contain runs has put immense pressure on the team’s overall bowling strategy.

Another worrying stat is his growing count of wides—28 this season—bringing him dangerously close to Matheesha Pathirana’s infamous record of 32 wides in a single IPL season. Against LSG alone, he bowled four wides, further exposing a lack of control under pressure.

Defending the Workload Argument

Former South Africa captain and experienced coach Mark Boucher offered a more empathetic take, attributing Arshdeep’s struggles to a grueling schedule following the T20 World Cup. Boucher stressed that the issue lies not in skill but in accumulated fatigue.

“I think it’s just being tired [after the T20 World Cup] and this month being the IPL, and he had to play in this. That’s the reason why he’s like that. I don’t think it’s got anything to do with his skill or his talent. At some stage, it [the fatigue] has to catch up with the players. It’s just, it’s natural,” Boucher explained.

As the IPL 2026 playoffs approach, Punjab Kings will rely heavily on their frontline bowlers. Whether Arshdeep can rediscover his rhythm, manage his workload, and tighten his lengths will be crucial to the team’s chances in the business end of the tournament.