For much of IPL 2026, Punjab Kings looked like a side sprinting ahead of the pack.

They chased down huge scores and played with a fearlessness that made them one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament. But things have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks, with the Shreyas Iyer -led side suffering a fourth straight defeat, this time to Delhi Capitals ( DC ) in Dharamshala on Monday.

Defending 210 runs, PBKS watched DC chase the target down with an over to spare, but beyond the sloppy death bowling, one detail stood out: Yuzvendra Chahal not getting a single over.

It was a decision rooted in match-ups.…