Hyderabad: Ricky Ponting did not hold back while reflecting on Punjab Kings’ poor fielding performance after their 33-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026, describing the team’s catching troubles as a “virus”.
Punjab Kings dropped three catches and missed a straightforward stumping opportunity during the high-scoring contest at Hyderabad, allowing SRH batters to pile up a massive 235/4 before restricting PBKS to 202/7.
The defeat marked Punjab’s third consecutive loss and further dented their playoff hopes.
SRH batters punish sloppy Punjab fielding
Sunrisers Hyderabad capitalised heavily on Punjab’s mistakes in the field, with Heinrich Klaasen smashing 69 off 43 balls and Ishan Kishan scoring 55 from 32 deliveries.
Both batters survived dropped catches during crucial phases of the innings, while wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh also missed a regulation stumping chance that further frustrated Punjab’s bowlers.
SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head had already laid the foundation with an explosive start, putting together another rapid half-century partnership.
The Hyderabad side eventually smashed 17 sixes in total, with Klaasen and Kishan leading the assault.
Ponting’s ‘virus’ remark on dropped catches
After the match, PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting admitted that fielding had become a recurring problem for the team this season.
“It has been a bit of a virus for us. We have put a lot of catches down this season,” Ponting said during his interaction with broadcaster JioStar.
The former Australian captain particularly referred to Shashank Singh, who dropped a key catch despite extensive catching practice in recent days.
“Poor old Shashank — it seems the ball is following him. He missed a couple of games due to a strained hamstring. We have pumped a lot of catches into him over the last five to six days. One goes down tonight. Hopefully, it is not too costly,” Ponting added.
No excuses from PBKS coach
Ponting refused to blame external factors such as stadium lights or conditions for the dropped chances.
“I am not going to give any excuses. We trained here last night. That is the beauty of coming to these venues. You get a chance, one or two sessions under lights, to get a feel,” he said.
“When a catch like that comes, you have got to take it,” the PBKS coach added bluntly.
Veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was particularly unlucky, with two catches dropped off his bowling. Despite the poor support in the field, Chahal still returned impressive figures of 1/32 on a batting-friendly surface.
Cooper Connolly’s century goes in vain
The only major positive for Punjab Kings came through young batter Cooper Connolly, who scored a fighting unbeaten 107 off 59 balls.
However, PBKS never truly looked in control of the chase after a disappointing powerplay and the pressure created by SRH’s huge total.
The defeat also extended Punjab’s poor record in Hyderabad, where they have now lost nine consecutive IPL matches.
SRH climb to top of table
The victory pushed Sunrisers Hyderabad to the top of the IPL 2026 points table with 14 points. One more win from their remaining three matches could virtually seal a playoff spot for the Pat Cummins-led side.
SRH captain Pat Cummins also impressed with the ball, picking up 2/34, while Eshan Malinga continued his strong season with disciplined bowling.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings now find themselves under increasing pressure as their campaign threatens to derail after a promising start to the season.
Conclusion
Punjab Kings’ sloppy fielding once again proved costly in a tournament where small margins often decide matches. Ricky Ponting’s “virus” remark summed up the frustration within the camp as dropped catches and missed opportunities handed Sunrisers Hyderabad a commanding win.
With the playoff race heating up, PBKS will now need a swift turnaround in both form and confidence if they are to remain in contention for a top-four finish.