IPL 2026: Three dropped catches, one missed stumping... Captain Shreyas Iyer is fuming after PBKS's third consecutive defeat.

In the 2026 IPL season, the Punjab Kings have suffered a hat-trick of defeats. The Sunrisers Hyderabad team defeated them by 33 runs in the match played on Wednesday.

Playing on their home ground, Hyderabad capitalized on Punjab's poor fielding to post a formidable total of 235 runs while batting first. For the team, Heinrich Klaasen played an innings of 69 runs after receiving a lifeline, while Ishan Kishan took full advantage of two dropped catches to score 55 runs.

These dropped catches proved costly for the Punjab team, forcing them to face their third consecutive defeat of the season. With this loss, the Punjab team also relinquished the top spot in the points table, while Hyderabad surged to the summit with 14 points following their 7th victory.

What did Shreyas Iyer say regarding the hat-trick of defeats?

Following the loss in the match, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer stated, "We dropped quite a few catches in the field; had we taken those opportunities, their score could have been 30-40 runs lower. The wicket was gradually slowing down, and the cutters were holding up, but we failed to perform well in all three departments—fielding, bowling, and batting."

Speaking further during the post-match presentation, Iyer added:

"This was a bit too much to handle, especially since we dropped catches right at the start. The pitch progressively became slower. They played some magnificent cricket and showed us exactly how to win a match. I feel we had a fantastic start to the tournament, and everyone was in high spirits. However, if we continue to play in this manner, it won't do us any good. Connolly is a truly magnificent player; he possesses a strong mindset and has a remarkable ability to score big runs under pressure. The way Chahal bowled was absolutely fearless; I had instructed him to remain aggressive, particularly when new batsmen walked to the crease. Regrettably, we were unable to hold onto our catches." - Shreyas Iyer

Batting first, the Hyderabad team posted a total of 235 runs. However, this score could have been significantly lower had the Punjab team fielded well. The team handed Hyderabad not just one or two, but a total of four lifelines. Shashank Singh, once again, dropped a straightforward catch.

The PBKS players dropped a total of three catches; in the 8th over, Cooper Connolly dropped an easy catch offered by Ishan Kishan. In the very next over, off Chahal's bowling, Shashank Singh dropped a catch from Heinrich Klaasen. In the 11th over, Ishan Kishan received a second lifeline when Lockie Ferguson dropped his catch. Additionally, Prabhsimran Singh also missed a stumping opportunity against Ishan Kishan.

It is worth noting that the Punjab Kings team will now get a five-day break, after which they will face the Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala on May 11.