Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu believes Arshdeep Singh’s length has been a problem in the ongoing IPL 2026. Rayudu reckons Singh should look to bowl a fuller length and he should not be bowling too many short deliveries.
Singh returned with expensive figures of 0-52 in three overs he bowled as he conceded his runs at an economy rate of 17.30 against LSG at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Saturday. The Punjab pacer bowled a total of four wides in his three-over spell.
The left-arm seamer has scalped 14 wickets in as many games at an average of 38.64 and an economy rate of 10.20 in the ongoing IPL 2026.
Ambati Rayudu said on ESPN Cricinfo, “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.
“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 added.
On the other hand, former South African wicket-keeper bat Mark Boucher reckons Arshdeep is tired after playing consistently at the top level.
“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.
“So yes, I think that he is maybe a bit tired. But the one thing about him [is that] he knows that he’s going to be playing. It’s not like he’s an international [overseas player] where you’ve got quite a few different options and you can rest players here and there. He has to play. I think that he’s trying too hard with the new ball to take the ball both ways,” he concluded.
PBKS will need other results to go their way in order to qualify for the playoffs.
