“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
“He doesn’t have the same juice” – Ambati Rayudu raises concerns over Arshdeep Singh
“He doesn’t have the same juice” – Ambati Rayudu raises concerns over Arshdeep Singh as the Punjab Kings pacer shows signs of fatigue and inconsistent performance in IPL 2026. The former India cricketer believes that the left-arm speedster, once a reliable death bowler, is currently grappling with both mental and physical exhaustion, affecting his precision and impact on the field.
Rayudu Questions Arshdeep’s Length and Execution
Ambati Rayudu, a six-time IPL champion and respected voice in Indian cricket, has voiced his concern over Arshdeep Singh’s recent dip in performance. Despite Punjab Kings’ seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on May 23, Arshdeep’s bowling figures raised eyebrows: 0/52 in just three overs, with an alarming economy rate of 17.33. Captain Shreyas Iyer even held him back from bowling his final over—a rare decision for a frontline pacer.
Rayudu pinpointed the issue to Arshdeep’s bowling lengths. “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,” Rayudu said. “But he definitely has to compensate. If he has to overcompensate, he needs to be full.”
Too Many Short Balls, Not Enough Yorkers
Rayudu emphasized that Arshdeep’s over-reliance on short deliveries, especially during death overs, is counterproductive. Historically known for his yorkers and intelligent variations, the pacer has drifted toward shorter lengths that are easier for batters to dispatch.
“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,” Rayudu observed.
Dismal Season Despite Leading Wicket-Taker Tag
This season, Arshdeep has conceded 541 runs in 14 matches—the most by any bowler in IPL 2026. While he remains Punjab Kings’ leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps, his economy rate of 10.20 paints a troubling picture. Adding to the concerns, he bowled four wides against LSG, bringing his season tally to 28—dangerously close to Matheesha Pathirana’s record of 32 wides from the previous edition.
Boucher Defends Arshdeep: It’s About Workload, Not Skill
Former South Africa skipper Mark Boucher offered a more sympathetic take, attributing Arshdeep’s struggles to an overloaded schedule. “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,” Boucher explained. “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’s comments highlight a growing issue in modern cricket—player burnout due to back-to-back international and franchise commitments. Arshdeep, a key figure for India in white-ball cricket, has been in constant demand across formats and leagues.
What’s Next for Arshdeep Singh?
With the IPL playoffs just around the corner, Punjab Kings will need their lead pacer to rediscover his rhythm. Whether it’s tweaking his lengths, managing workload, or simply regaining mental freshness, Arshdeep must adapt quickly. The team’s campaign could hinge on whether he can regain the sharpness and control that once defined his bowling.
As Ambati Rayudu’s candid assessment shows, “He doesn’t have the same juice” isn’t just a passing comment—it’s a wake-up call for a talented bowler facing a challenging phase in his career.
