PBKS flags Arshdeep's body restrictions

Punjab Kings said this week that Arshdeep Singh's uneven IPL 2026 returns may be linked to physical limitations the franchise has been tracking internally. Andrew Leipus, the team's head of sports science, said the staff had been examining whether "restrictions in his body" were affecting the left-arm seamer's rhythm and output. The comments put a medical and workload-management frame around a run of scrutiny that had otherwise centered on form and social-media chatter. They also offered the clearest public indication yet that Punjab Kings are treating Arshdeep's dip as more than a technical issue. ### What exactly did Punjab Kings say about Arshdeep's body? Andrew Leipus told the Times of India that Punjab Kings had been "looking at his body if there's any restrictions in his body that might be a reason for some of his performances being up and down." Leipus added that the franchise believed it had "hit on a bit of a winner there" and that Arshdeep had been "feeling a lot better in the last couple of weeks, physically." News18 and India TV carried the same line from Leipus in coverage published on May 16, linking the comment to questions about Arshdeep's recent performances and the noise around him. Leipus also said he did not follow much social media himself, but was aware there had been discussion around Arshdeep's off-field visibility and online clips. ### Why does that matter beyond one bad spell? Punjab Kings made the comment through their sports-science department, not through a batting or bowling coach, which places the issue in the category of physical readiness and monitoring rather than only tactics. In franchise cricket, sports-science reviews are typically used to shape training loads, recovery plans and match availability, even when a player is still fit enough to take the field. Leipus did not specify the exact restriction, the body area involved or whether Arshdeep was carrying an injury. His wording pointed instead to movement limitations or physical constraints that the staff believed could be affecting consistency. ### Has Arshdeep actually been unavailable? Punjab Kings did not say Arshdeep was unavailable, and the official IPL team page continues to list him in the 2026 squad. Leipus' remarks were framed around performance being "up and down," not around a formal injury layoff or replacement request. The distinction matters because teams often manage fast bowlers through reduced workloads, modified training blocks or match-to-match assessment without announcing a player as injured. Leipus' comments suggest Punjab Kings have been working within that kind of management process. ### Was this linked to the social-media controversy? Punjab Kings addressed the physical point while also responding to online discussion around Arshdeep. Leipus said Arshdeep's behavior was largely steady and described him as someone who gives his best, according to reports from India TV, News18 and other outlets published on May 16. Those reports tied the questioning to a viral video involving Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma and to broader criticism after Punjab Kings' poor run. Leipus separated the online chatter from the physical review, saying he was not closely across the social-media conversation while still acknowledging it existed. ### What do "restrictions" usually mean in cricket reporting? Leipus did not define the term publicly, and Punjab Kings have not released a medical bulletin. In sports-science usage, the phrase can refer to reduced mobility, stiffness, asymmetry or other movement limitations that may alter pace, run-up mechanics or recovery between spells. Because Punjab Kings have not published test data, any more precise explanation would be speculative. The only verified public account is Leipus' statement that the staff identified bodily restrictions as a possible reason for Arshdeep's fluctuating performances. ### What comes next for Punjab Kings and Arshdeep? Punjab Kings' next listed match on the official IPL website is Match 61 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The match page is live on the league site, which is also where playing elevens and pre-match updates are typically posted. A team sheet, any pre-match media briefing and Arshdeep's selection status for that fixture will be the next concrete markers of how Punjab Kings are acting on Leipus' assessment.