IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan Reflects on Execution Issues After SRH Loss to PBKS
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New Chandigarh, April 11 (NationPress) The captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Ishan Kishan, acknowledged that his team struggled with execution despite setting a formidable target, ultimately facing a six-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 17th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Sunday.
Punjab Kings, chasing a challenging total of 220, benefited from solid starts by Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, alongside a composed unbeaten innings from skipper Shreyas Iyer, completing the chase in just 18.5 overs.
“We had the potential to finish with at least 240 runs. However, circumstances play a role. Our execution was not up to par. As I mentioned before, in T20 cricket, executing your good deliveries is crucial. Unfortunately, we weren’t at our best today,” Kishan remarked during the post-match presentation.
Initially, SRH began with an explosive start, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head putting pressure on the opposition during the powerplay. Abhishek's aggressive innings propelled the team past the 100-run mark within the first six overs.
Although SRH lost wickets in the middle overs, they managed to set a total of 219 runs on the board. Nonetheless, this total fell short as PBKS batters maintained a steady required run rate throughout their innings.
Kishan believed that while they had enough runs, they struggled to adjust to the batting approach of the opposition. “I felt 219 was a solid total, especially given our strong start. We envisioned reaching 240, but ultimately, 219 was commendable, particularly with six or seven bowlers available to us,” he stated.
Punjab Kings took advantage of SRH's loose bowling and kept up the momentum, even after losing a couple of wickets in the middle overs, making the chase appear comfortable in the latter stages.
Kishan emphasized the need for SRH bowlers to better understand the opposition batters and execute their strategies effectively. “We need to recognize the batters' tendencies and adapt accordingly. I believe we fell short in that regard, which was evident in their smooth scoring towards the end,” he noted.
After suffering three losses in four matches, SRH will next take on the table leaders, Rajasthan Royals (RR), on April 13 at their home ground, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.