DC Bowling came under intense scrutiny in IPL 2026 as DC Bowling failed to defend a massive total against Punjab Kings. DC Bowling lacked aggression early, allowing PBKS to dominate the powerplay and stay ahead in the chase.                        

Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite criticized DC Bowling for not being proactive in the powerplay. DC Bowling relied heavily on Mukesh Kumar and Auqib Nabi, conceding 87 runs in the first five overs. DC Bowling failed to apply early pressure despite defending 264, which proved costly.

DC Bowling allowed Punjab Kings to race to 116 without loss in the powerplay. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya took advantage of loose bowling, keeping the required run rate under control. DC Bowling struggled to contain runs, making the chase easier for PBKS.

Brathwaite pointed out that DC Bowling did not utilize key bowlers like Natarajan and Kuldeep Yadav effectively. DC Bowling introduced Kuldeep only in the eighth over, by which time PBKS had already surged ahead. Better planning in DC Bowling could have reduced the scoring rate early.

DC Bowling issues were compounded by fielding lapses as Karun Nair dropped Shreyas Iyer twice. DC Bowling could not recover as Iyer anchored the chase with an unbeaten 71. DC Bowling ultimately failed to defend the total, resulting in one of the highest successful chases in IPL history.