We didn't execute bowling skills needed in last five overs: Bahutule

Four games, four losses. Punjab Kings can't seem to catch a break after dominating the first half of the tournament, even as they continue to be in contention for the Playoffs. Their latest loss to Delhi Capitals on Monday has complicated their scenario, but they haven't dropped out of the top-four yet.

Sairaj Bahutule, their spin bowling coach, conceded that the team is "disappointed" but is not looking to "overthink or overanalyse" as they continue to pursue a Playoffs spot. Captain Shreyas Iyer earlier admitted that the team was "short on planning".

At Dharamsala, PBKS seemingly had the game when David Miller fell in the 17th over during DC's chase of 211. By the end of that over, DC needed a stiff 36 in 18 balls but still managed to clinch it with cameos from Ashutosh Sharma, Madhav Tiwari and Auqib Nabi.

Bahutule admitted PBKS had the game, but "didn't execute their skills" in the last five overs, letting Delhi off the hook and through to a three-wicket win.

"I've said this before also, there are going to be lots of ups and downs," Bahutule said. "There are going to be times where you've almost won the game and you lose, like today, we had almost had the game with us, but we didn't execute the skills needed in the last five overs. So all we need to do is just keep this aside and move ahead and play the next three games to the best of our ability."

Specifying on the areas that could have been better, Bahutule said the team could have got 15-20 runs extra in the last over, which would have pushed the total past 240, given the start they got.

Speaking after the game, captain Shreyas Iyer had a conflicting theory though, saying 210 was "30 runs more on the wicket" considering how the ball was seaming with variable bounce.

Bahutule added that it was unfortunate the team dropped a few catches again at a crucial time.

"If we had caught two catches, I don't think they would have maybe reached the target, but it would have been very difficult for them and maybe won the game by 20 runs."

In a first for the IPL, both teams did not use any spin at all, relying on quicks to make an impact on a seaming wicket. When asked if he would have slipped in an over of spin, Iyer said he considered giving Yuzvendra Chahal a go at one point.

"There was absolutely a thought in my mind," Iyer said, "but the way the ball was seaming and the way it was helping seamers, I think if we would have executed our line and length precisely, we could have been able to extract wickets, but unfortunately again, we didn't."

Bahutule later supported the theory, saying the conditions were suitable to continue with pace.

"Definitely there was a thought during the time-out, but I think the ball was seaming and the conditions were suitable for the fast bowlers. So I think the decision was very spontaneous to continue with the fast bowlers and see how we can get those wickets, which we did early on."

Iyer also backed his bowlers for their tactic to bowl into the surface in the final overs, rather than bowl yorkers and stifle the batters for room. "I always say that hard length, short of hard length is the best ball, especially when a new batsman is coming in. It's not easy to hit because if you keep repeating those balls, at least one, there's one ball, there's a chance of mis-hitting and you can get a wicket. We've been short on planning."

When asked about the decision to keep out Xavier Bartlett, who did well in the first half, to bring in Ben Dwarshuis for the first time, Bahutule said they wanted to bring another left-arm seamer into the mix on a seaming wicket.

"With Lockie Ferguson not available for this game, we thought of giving Ben that opportunity. He's also been bowling really well in the nets, performing well besides the games, so I think it was very important that we give that opportunity to a left-arm seamer who was doing well in the nets and constantly working with the group, and I think he did reasonably. Yes, it's not like Bartlett hasn't been doing well for us, but I think we thought of the combination which would suit us on this particular pitch."

PBKS's next three games are against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants, two of which are eliminated and bottom of the table.