Yuzvendra Chahal became the centre of a major debate after Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer chose not to use the veteran spinner during the IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals. The decision regarding Yuzvendra Chahal shocked fans and former cricketers as Punjab suffered another disappointing defeat.                        

Despite being selected as a specialist spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal did not bowl a single over during the high-scoring contest in Dharamsala. Former India players questioned why Yuzvendra Chahal was ignored even as Punjab’s pace bowlers struggled badly against Delhi’s aggressive batting lineup.

Several cricket experts expressed surprise over the treatment of Yuzvendra Chahal, especially because spin bowlers have historically performed well at the venue. Critics argued that Yuzvendra Chahal could have created pressure and forced mistakes from opposition batters during the chase.

After the defeat, Shreyas Iyer revealed that pitch conditions influenced the call to leave out Yuzvendra Chahal from the attack. The Punjab skipper believed seamers would receive more assistance, but the gamble failed as Yuzvendra Chahal remained unused while Delhi Capitals completed a successful chase.