PBKS spin coach Bahutule admits execution lapses as DC chase 211 in Dharamsala
Synopsis
PBKS dominated early but collapsed in the death overs as DC pulled off a record chase of 211 in Dharamsala. Coach Bahutule's candid admission — 'we didn't execute the skills needed in the last five overs' — underscores a recurring pattern: Punjab Kings' inability to close out tight contests. With four straight losses and only three matches left, the franchise is staring down playoff elimination.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Capitals chased 211 against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on 12 May , a record chase at the venue.
Axar Patel scored 56 , David Miller 51 , and debutant Madhav Tiwari contributed 18 off 8 balls .
PBKS reduced DC to 38/3 but lost control in the death overs.
Dropped catches by Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel proved costly; Bahutule estimated they cost 20 runs .
Neither team used a spinner — a first in IPL history — on a seaming surface.
PBKS have lost four consecutive matches and must win two of three remaining games to make the playoffs.
Sairaj Bahutule, spin-bowling coach of Punjab Kings, on 12 May acknowledged his team's failure to execute in the death overs as Delhi Capitals completed a record chase of 211 with three wickets in hand at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The loss leaves PBKS needing to win at least two of their final three matches to secure a playoff berth.
How DC pulled off the chase
Despite reducing DC to 14/2 and then 38/3, PBKS lost control in the middle overs. Axar Patel struck 56, David Miller contributed 51, and debutant Madhav Tiwari played a crucial cameo of 18 off eight balls to steer DC to 216/7 — a record chase at this venue in the IPL.
Bahutule on the execution gap
At the post-match press conference, Bahutule reflected candidly on the collapse: "We almost had the game with us, but we didn't execute the skills needed in the last five overs. So all we need to do is just keep this aside and move ahead and play the next three games to the best of our ability." He stressed that while the team had dominated early, lapses in the death phase proved decisive.
Fielding failures compound the loss
Arshdeep Singh dropped Tristan Stubbs at long-on, while Axar Patel offered another chance at deep square leg that went begging. Bahutule estimated those two missed catches could have swung the game: "If we had caught two catches, I don't think they would have maybe reached the target, but it would have been very difficult for them and maybe we would have won the game by 20 runs."
The all-pace gamble
The contest marked the first time in IPL history that neither team deployed a spinner during an innings, with both captains opting entirely for pace bowling on a seaming Dharamsala surface. Bahutule explained the tactical call: "The ball was seaming and the conditions were suitable for the fast bowlers. So the decision was very spontaneous to continue with the fast bowlers and see how we can get those wickets, which we did early on." The gamble worked initially but unravelled as DC's batsmen adapted.
PBKS' playoff pressure
Punjab Kings have now lost four consecutive matches and face Mumbai Indians on 14 May. With the playoff window narrowing, the franchise cannot afford further slip-ups.
Point of View
But it masks a deeper problem: PBKS have been tactically outplayed in clutch moments all season. The all-pace gambit worked for 15 overs, then fell apart — a pattern that defines their 2026 campaign. With four losses in a row and a dwindling playoff path, the franchise's inability to execute in pressure situations looks like a structural coaching flaw, not a one-off lapse. The next three games are not just about qualification; they are an audit of whether this core can finish.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score in the PBKS vs DC match in Dharamsala?
Delhi Capitals chased down 211 and scored 216/7, winning with three wickets in hand. It was a record chase at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
Who were the key scorers for Delhi Capitals?
Axar Patel scored 56, David Miller contributed 51, and debutant Madhav Tiwari played a decisive cameo of 18 off eight balls to guide DC to victory.
What did PBKS spin coach Sairaj Bahutule say about the loss?
Bahutule admitted that PBKS failed to execute the skills needed in the final five overs. He also acknowledged that two dropped catches — by Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel — could have changed the outcome, potentially winning the game by 20 runs.
Why did neither team use a spinner in the match?
Both captains opted entirely for pace bowling because the Dharamsala surface was seaming and favoured fast bowlers throughout the innings. Bahutule said the decision to continue with pacers was spontaneous and based on pitch conditions.
What is PBKS' playoff situation after this loss?
Punjab Kings have lost four consecutive matches and must win at least two of their final three matches to secure a playoff spot. They face Mumbai Indians on 14 May.
