Former India opener Virender Sehwag sharply criticised Karun Nair after the substitute fielder dropped two crucial catches of Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer during Delhi Capitals’ defeat in their IPL 2026 clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The missed chances proved costly as Punjab Kings completed a record-breaking chase of 266, becoming the first team in Indian Premier League history to successfully overhaul such a massive target. Sehwag questioned the basic fielding standards shown during a high-pressure contest.
Karun Nair dropped Iyer twice within the span of three deliveries, allowing the Punjab skipper to continue an innings that significantly changed the momentum of the chase. Iyer went on to score a rapid 71 off 36 balls, anchoring Punjab’s aggressive pursuit after early acceleration from the top order. Those reprieves added frustration for Delhi Capitals, who had already posted a daunting total and appeared to have placed themselves in a commanding position earlier in the night.
Reacting to the errors, Sehwag reportedly remarked that if a player is not contributing with the bat, “at least do some fielding", underlining how costly lapses in catching can be in T20 cricket. His criticism reflected a broader truth of the format, where one dropped chance can shift an entire match. In a chase of more than 260 runs, every wicket was vital, and Delhi’s inability to capitalise on chances against Iyer allowed Punjab to maintain control through the middle overs.
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The defeat overshadowed a brilliant batting performance from Delhi Capitals, including KL Rahul’s career-best 152, which ultimately ended in a losing cause. Punjab Kings chased down the target in just 18.5 overs and remained the only unbeaten side of the season. For Delhi, the result served as a reminder that in modern T20 cricket, even extraordinary batting totals can be undone by lapses in execution on the field.
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