Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his frustration over Punjab Kings' decision to split their home matches between two venues, suggesting the move has played a major role in the team's recent slump in 2026 Indian Premier League.
The former Chennai Super Kings player has admitted that he feels for Punjab Kings, especially after their dramatic change in fortunes this season. PBKS began their campaign strongly, remaining unbeaten in seven consecutive matches, but their momentum faded quickly as they suffered five straight defeats. Ashwin also represented Punjab Kings in 2018 and 2019 seasons of the IPL.
Two of those losses came at Dharamsala, Punjab's secondary home venue, and Ashwin believes the shift away from their primary base disrupted the team's rhythm.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin questioned why Punjab Kings continue to divide their home games across multiple venues when the most successful IPL franchises stick to a single home ground throughout the season.
“KKR, CSK and MI have won the most trophies in IPL history, while SRH have also enjoyed success. Have any of these teams changed their home venue regularly?” Ashwin asked.
Interestingly, former Indian cricketer turned commentator Akash Chopra also raised similar concern in a video that he posted across his social media accounts.
Drawing from his own experience with the franchise, he argued that constant venue changes negatively affect a team's consistency.
“People from the outside may say Punjab aren't performing well, but having been part of the setup, I know the issue runs deeper. We won several games in Mohali and then shifted venues, after which our campaign fell apart,” he explained.
The Shreyas Iyer-led side now face a must-win situation in their final two league matches to secure a playoff spot, with one of those fixtures scheduled in Dharamsala. According to Ashwin, adapting to the conditions there has hurt the batting unit significantly.
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He pointed out that the Dharamsala pitch behaves differently compared to Mullanpur, particularly during the first innings when the ball tends to stay low.
“They are not playing in Mullanpur anymore. In Dharamsala, batting first becomes tougher because the pitch behaves differently. The players need time to adjust, and that affects scoring rates,” Ashwin said.
He added that Punjab's batting lineup has consistently ended up 20–40 runs short because of the need to adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions.
Ashwin also pushed back against criticism directed at the franchise, insisting the losing streak cannot simply be dismissed as another Punjab Kings collapse.
“Everyone says Punjab are struggling and losing games, but no one talks about the fact that two of those defeats came after shifting to a completely different home venue,” he remarked.
Although the IPL 2026 schedule cannot be changed now, Ashwin raised a direct question for the tournament organisers, asking why Punjab Kings are required to shuffle between venues while other major franchises enjoy the stability of playing all their home matches at one stadium.
Along with Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the two other teams who have had to play their "home" games at multiple venues. While Rajasthan played its first three "home" matches in Guwahati, Royal Challengers Bengaluru played its last two "home" matches in Raipur.
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