Iyer could not tolerate third consecutive defeat, called everyone ‘class’ without naming names
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Shreyas Iyer Statement: After the defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shreyas Iyer admitted that Punjab Kings performed disappointingly in all three camps, due to which the team had to bear the brunt. After the third consecutive defeat, Iyer said, ‘We could not prove to be that effective on the field, neither in bowling nor in batting. I think he played excellent cricket in every aspect and showed us how to win matches.
What did Iyer say on the defeat from Sunrisers Hyderabad?
New Delhi. In the 49th match of IPL 2026 played in Hyderabad, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Punjab Kings by 33 runs. With this defeat, Punjab Kings also lost their number-1 position in the points table, which they had held for a long time. Punjab had won 6 out of their first 7 matches, but now they have lost 3 consecutive matches, which has put the team and management in tension. Iyer looked quite disappointed with the third consecutive defeat. After the match, he blamed the defeat on the team’s fielding, bowling and batting and said that Sunrisers showed how to win the match.
After the match, Iyer said, ‘I think we had a good start in the tournament and everyone was very positive. But if we continue this poor form, it will not help us any further. Punjab’s biggest problem was once again their poor fielding. Missed catches and missed opportunities cost the team dearly. Hyderabad batsmen, especially Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, took advantage of this and scored half-centuries. Apart from this, on the basis of innings of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, Hyderabad made a huge score of 235/4. Iyer admitted that due to initial mistakes the target became too big. He said, ‘The target was very high because we dropped catches in the beginning. If we had taken those catches, their score could have easily been reduced by 30-40 runs. Later the pitch also became slow. Hyderabad played brilliant cricket in every department and showed us how to win matches.
Regarding the upcoming matches, Iyer said, ‘I think it is very important for us to stick to our old thinking. It is very easy to get sidetracked by talking negatively about things. But we have to go back and look at the mistakes we have made in the last three matches, so that we can come back stronger in the next match.
Connolly praised
Despite the defeat, a big good news for Punjab Kings was Cooper Connolly’s unbeaten inning of 107 runs. Had he got the support of the rest of the batsmen, Punjab could have won this match. Shreyas Iyer praised him and said, ‘Connolly is really an amazing player. His way of thinking and his passion on the field are amazing. All players should learn a lot from him. He has a special skill of scoring big runs even under pressure.
About the Author
Shivam Upadhyay is an emerging sports journalist, who has been working as a sub editor in the country’s prestigious media organization Network 18 Group since November 2025. Cricket is the main area of expertise, but hockey and badminton are also…read more
