The Shifting Fortunes of Ravi Bishnoi
In the high-pressure environment of the Indian Premier League, momentum is everything. For Rajasthan Royals (RR) leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, the 2026 season has been a tale of two halves. After a blistering start that saw him claim nine wickets in his opening four matches, his form hit a significant plateau. In his subsequent four appearances, the figures tell a challenging story: just two wickets for 115 runs across 11 overs, equating to an economy rate of 10.45. This dip culminated in his omission from the starting XI for the crucial clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday.
A Tactical Gamble or a Harsh Call?
Rajasthan Royals opted to replace Bishnoi with 19-year-old leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja. The move raised eyebrows, particularly given that Punja had previously partnered with Bishnoi during a tough loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where Bishnoi finished with 1 for 41. While Punja justified the selection by becoming RR’s most successful bowler against PBKS—claiming 2 for 41 in a high-scoring thriller—the broader question of team continuity remains.
Former India batter Abhinav Mukund was vocal regarding the decision. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut programme, Mukund expressed his reservations: “I’m not too much in agreement with the Yash Raj call because I believe firmly that teams who have been successful over a period of time in the IPL have maintained a core of bowlers, or Indian players. And especially when Ravi Bishnoi has bowled well. If you’re going to drop him for another leggie, that’s going to dent his confidence massively.”
The Long Road to Form
Bishnoi’s journey to Rajasthan was marked by a difficult 2025 season with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he struggled to find his rhythm, taking nine wickets in 11 innings at an economy of 10.83. This was a stark contrast to his consistent output between 2020 and 2024, a period during which he established himself as a premier T20 spinner for India, featuring in 37 T20Is between 2022 and 2024 alone.
Reflecting on his struggles earlier this season, following a masterful 4 for 41 performance against the Gujarat Titans, Bishnoi spoke candidly about his preparation. “Last season was difficult. But I tried to stick to my processes,” he explained. “I had one weakness: if my length was wrong, then I was getting hit for fours and sixes. I played a whole season of domestic cricket and worked on perfecting my lengths. Mental, technical, and physical… I’ve been putting the work in.”
