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    “Ensure he bowls that middle and off-stump plan” – Cheteshwar Pujara outlines key PBKS pacer vs Vaibhav Suryavanshi contest in IPL 2026 vs RR

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    Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara believes that Punjab Kings (PBKS) seamer Arshdeep Singh will need to bowl on middle and off, with the ball going away from Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The two sides will meet in Game 40 of IPL 2026 on Tuesday, April 28 in Mullanpur.

    The 15-year-old has been in fine touch, scoring 103 off 37 balls in the previous outing against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Speaking on Star Sports’ segment ‘Game Plan,’ Pujara stated that Arshdeep should look to bowl back of a length on middle and off, alongside trying to utilize slower balls and yorkers in between. He said:

    “Arshdeep, I think he, being a left-arm seamer, will come over the stumps for Vaibhav. He will have to ensure that he bowls that middle and off stump plan, where the ball is going away from him. We have seen that when Moshin was bowling against Vaibhav, he got that success against him. Arshdeep will have to do similar thing.

    “Try and bowl back of length on middle and off stump line. Try to keep hitting that channel more often and also try to utilize his slower deliveries because Arshdeep has very good slower deliveries. Try to use yorkers in between if needed. But early on, I think first four or five deliveries, just try and hit that back of length on middle and off stump,” he added.

    Against Arshdeep, Vaibhav has faced six deliveries, scoring 16 runs.

    “Hopefully, he will continue batting the same way” – Cheteshwar Pujara on RR opener

    During the same discussion, Cheteshwar Pujara expressed hope that Vaibhav Suryavanshi will continue his fine run and take on the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, along with Xavier Bartlett, who is not having the best of seasons, taking five wickets in seven games and conceding runs at an economy of 11.57. Pujara said:

    “I think Vaibhav, the way he batted in the last game, that was brilliant. He got a 100. So hopefully, he will continue batting the same way because, on a good pitch, he likes to take on the bowlers. We will have to do the same against Arshdeep and Marco Jansen as well. Bartlett didn’t bowl well in the last game. He conceded more than 50; I think it was close to 60 against Delhi. So he will be under a bit of pressure, so try and utilize that.”

    The southpaw has amassed 357 runs in eight games at an average of 44.62 and a strike rate of 234.86, including two fifties and one hundred.