Punjab, who once looked firmly on course for the playoffs after a strong start to the season, have now suffered five consecutive defeats. Their inability to defend 200 against the Mumbai Indians has further complicated their qualification hopes, leaving them in a must-win situation in the remaining matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on the team\u2019s struggles, Chawla pointed to the underperformance of PBKS\u2019 overseas pace attack as a major concern.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cPunjab Kings are now under tremendous pressure because they\u2019ve reached a stage where they must win their remaining games to stay alive in the tournament. Considering the kind of start they had to the season, very few would have expected them to be in this position. The bowling has become a major concern, especially with their overseas fast bowlers struggling for form and consistency,\u201d Chawla told JioStar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He specifically mentioned Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett, both of whom endured difficult outings against MI during the chase.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMarco Jansen hasn\u2019t looked at his best, while Xavier Bartlett has found it difficult once the new-ball spell is over. When your premier overseas pacers concede heavily across their combined spells, it becomes extremely difficult to control a 200-plus chase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mumbai Indians successfully chased down the 201-run target with one ball remaining, powered by Tilak Varma\u2019s unbeaten 75 off 33 deliveries. Will Jacks also played a key finishing role with a rapid 25 off just 10 balls, helping MI seal victory in a tense encounter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chawla praised the composure shown by Tilak and Jacks during the pressure chase, emphasising the importance of sticking to fundamentals in high-pressure moments, as he said, \u201cIn pressure situations, going back to your basics becomes extremely important because those are the habits you\u2019ve built over years of playing cricket. Tilak Varma and Will Jacks did that really well, they focused on holding their shape and trusting their technique rather than trying to overhit.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also highlighted how the batting pair adapted smartly to the conditions in Dharamshala, where the altitude often assists stroke-makers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn conditions like Dharamshala, where the ball travels quickly because of the altitude, timing the ball properly is often enough to clear the boundary. Their communication in the middle was also crucial. They understood that as long as they maintained their shape against those variations, the pace on the ball would help them score freely. That clarity and composure made a big difference in the chase,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also highlighted how the batting pair adapted smartly to the conditions in Dharamshala, where the altitude often assists stroke-makers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the playoff race tightening, PBKS now face the challenge of quickly regrouping and rediscovering the consistency that marked the early part of their campaign.<\/p>\r\n\r\n