Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin publicly criticized the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for their strategy of splitting home games between two different venues (New Chandigarh and Dharamsala).
Ashwin pointed out that continuously changing locations and conditions disrupts team momentum, arguing that successful franchises like Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stick to one home ground to build their dominance.
PBKS looked like strong contenders for the IPL 2026 playoffs after an impressive seven-match unbeaten run. However, after the shift, the team hit a slump, losing five consecutive matches. Two of these defeats came at their second home venue in Dharamsala.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Ashwin highlighted the negative impact of the team shifting their base.
Drawing from his own stint as the former captain of the franchise, Ashwin recalled a similar situation where the team won matches in Mohali, changed venues, and subsequently got knocked out of the tournament.
"Let me ask you a question. KKR, CSK, and MI, the three teams that have won the highest number of trophies-3, 5, and 5-out of the 19 seasons, they have won 13 trophies in total. SRH has won two (Deccan Chargers and SRH). Take it as 15. Have these teams ever changed their home venue?" Ashwin said.
"Look, we can say from the outside that Punjab aren't doing well, but because I have personally been there, I know it is wrong. We won five matches in Mohali, then we changed venues and got knocked out of the tournament," he added.
Ashwin went on to suggest that the Dharamsala pitch is not favorable for batting first and isn't suiting the PBKS squad.
"So, I am saying that, sure, Punjab have suffered consecutive defeats, but they are not playing in Mullanpur; they are playing in Dharamsala, where the wicket is not that good to bat first on. The ball stays a little low in the first half, so it will take time for them to adapt.
"Their batting order is scoring 30-40 runs fewer, or 20 runs fewer, because they have to adapt. We can all say that Punjab are struggling and have suffered five consecutive defeats, or that 'this is what happens in Punjab'. No, they have played two of those games at a changed home venue," he remarked.
Punjab Kings find themselves in a tough spot where they need to win both of their remaining games to secure a top-four finish. While the Shreyas Iyer-led will host RCB in Dharamsala on May 17, they will face LSG in the last league fixture in Lucknow on May 23.
