IPL 2026: 'Dropped catches cost us'- Shreyas Iyer rues missed chances as PBKS suffer third straight defeat
Sunrisers Hyderabad ascended to the IPL 2026 summit after a commanding victory over Punjab Kings. Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan's explosive batting, aided by dropped catches, propelled SRH to 235/4. Despite Cooper Connolly's brilliant unbeaten century, PBKS faltered, managing 202/7.
Captain Shreyas Iyer lamented costly fielding errors as the decisive factor in their third consecutive loss.
Sunrisers Hyderabad produced a dominant performance to beat Punjab Kings and move to the top of the IPL 2026 table, as Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan capitalised on sloppy fielding to power their side to a strong total before the bowlers sealed control in the chase. Heinrich Klaasen (69) and Ishan Kishan (55) helped Sunrisers Hyderabad reach 235/4 after Punjab Kings opted to bowl. In reply, Punjab Kings were restricted to 202/7 despite a stunning unbeaten century from Cooper Connolly (107*), as SRH’s disciplined bowling ensured they claimed a 41-run win and climbed to the top of the table.
For Punjab Kings, it was a third consecutive defeat, with dropped catches proving costly throughout the innings. Klaasen and Kishan both survived early chances before punishing the attack, while SRH’s bowlers, including Pat Cummins and Shivang Kumar, applied constant pressure in the chase. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer was candid after the loss, pointing to fielding lapses as the key difference between the two sides.
“I think it was a bit too much (the target) because we dropped many catches at the start and we could have easily delayed their score by 30 to 40 runs, I guess. Because the wicket kept getting slower and the cutters were holding up a bit. So we weren't that comprehensive enough on the field, nor in bowling, nor in batting.