That master stroke of Shreyas Iyer which turned the tables, secret revealed after the victory
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Shreyas Iyer on giving over to shashank singh: Punjab Kings’ rhythm had deteriorated a bit in the middle overs, but Iyer made an important partnership with Nehal Vadhera, and then with Shashank Singh, the team reached the target with seven balls remaining. Praising the brilliant bowling of Abhishek and Shashank, who took the wickets of Head, Iyer said, “We all came together and Shashank came to me. I needed a bowler who could bowl at a speed of 120. He performed as per expectations. Salute to Shashank and his thinking.”
What did Iyer say on the bowling of Shashank Singh?
New Delhi. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has laid the foundation to end the 19-year trophy drought by leading a 6-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 17th match of IPL 2026 at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium. Shreyas Iyer was chosen ‘Player of the Match’ for his powerful innings of 69 runs played in 33 balls. After the match he said, “This is the year when we have our sights set on the trophy. It will take a lot of hard work.” Chasing the target of 220 runs set by SRH, Punjab Kings got a great start from Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya and added 99 runs for the first wicket. Priyansh-Prabhasimran played an important role in the victory of Punjab Kings.
Captain Shreyas Iyer, who came to the crease after the fall of two wickets, took time to set his eyes on the crease. However, after being set, Iyer increased the pace of runs and returned after giving victory to Punjab Kings. He said, “We got a tremendous start. It was fantastic to see. These were perfect cricketing shots.” Despite getting a strong foundation, Iyer admitted that the circumstances were not easy and it required patience. He further added, “It was not easy. I had to give myself some time, and thankfully it worked.”
What did Iyer say on the bowling of Shashank Singh?
This decision of Iyer proved to be a ‘master stroke’.
Punjab Kings’ rhythm had deteriorated a bit in the middle overs, but Iyer formed an important partnership with Nehal Wadhera, and then with Shashank Singh, the team reached the target with seven balls remaining. Praising the brilliant bowling of Abhishek and Shashank, who took the wickets of Head, Iyer said, “We all came together and Shashank came to me. I needed a bowler who could bowl at a speed of 120. He performed as per expectations. Salute to Shashank and his thinking.”
Earlier, thanks to a strong start from Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, Sunrisers Hyderabad had scored 219 runs on the board. However, the Punjab Kings bowlers made a comeback in the second half of the innings and kept the target within reach. Iyer stressed the importance of maintaining the same approach in the future also. “We want to maintain this momentum going forward as well. We all know that we have the skill. The openers do not need to stop their natural playing style. It is easy for us. Our dedication to work has been tremendous. I am very happy. You should always be in the present. Ricky Ponting also gives great importance to this.”
Punjab’s next match with Mumbai
With the win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings remain unbeaten so far this season. Punjab Kings have 7 points from 4 matches, in which one match against Kolkata Knight Riders was canceled due to rain. The 2025 runner-up team will now face Mumbai Indians on April 16 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
