(Image source from: Instagram.com/shreyasiyer96)
Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Punjab Kings, has once again demonstrated that his previous Indian Premier League (IPL) championship win with Kolkata Knight Riders was not just a stroke of luck. During his tenure with KKR, Iyer was instrumental in guiding the team to last season’s title, although much of the acclaim was directed towards the support team’s efforts. By steering PBKS into the playoffs, he showcased his exceptional leadership abilities, effectively countering the skepticism surrounding his coaching acumen. The recent match against Delhi Capitals on Sunday, which secured Punjab Kings’ playoff spot, also marked a significant milestone for Iyer, making him the first ever captain in IPL's history to lead three different teams, including Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, to the playoffs.
Iyer expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly their resilience when faced with aggressive batting from Rajasthan Royals' top order. His team managed to score 219 runs for five wickets, a challenging total that seemed under threat when RR's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi quickly amassed 76 runs in only 4.5 overs. However, Harpreet Brar broke the partnership by dismissing both openers, allowing Punjab Kings to regain control. Iyer remarked, "The team was highly motivated. We displayed the determination to win regardless of the circumstances. When the opposition plays well, it can affect morale, but Brar has shown remarkable consistency in practice. He came through for us today with an outstanding performance and attitude."
The Punjab captain also mentioned that he had sustained a "finger injury," though he was unsure of its severity. "I'm not quite sure what happened. I got hit during practice yesterday, and I’ll need to assess it," he explained. On the other side, Sanju Samson, the captain of the home team, lamented that they failed to maintain the momentum gained during the powerplay. "We should have been able to chase that target given the conditions of the pitch and outfield. With our batting lineup and power hitters, we believed it was achievable. We need to focus on completing our innings," he stated. "With our experienced players, we are doing our best, but luck hasn’t been on our side. Winning the match is our top priority, and we may explore some options with next year in mind."
Marco Jansen, the pacer for Punjab Kings, contributed significantly during the latter stages of the match. He shared, "The ball was flying in every direction, and our focus was simply on staying engaged in the game. We needed two, three, or four solid overs to reduce their run rate, and we executed that well, finishing strongly in the end."
