Shreyas Iyer sounded defiant and philosophical after another setback for Punjab Kings, insisting that belief and approach will not change even as their playoff chances faded further. The PBKS captain reflected following a 23-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Dharamsala, a loss that extended Punjab’s losing run and left them searching for momentum in the middle of a tough campaign.
Defeat in Dharamsala: “The match was lost in the powerplay”
When asked where the contest slipped away, Iyer admitted that the early phase was the turning point. He acknowledged that RCB set the tone immediately and then kept attacking the bowling after the powerplay, making it difficult for Punjab to regain control.
“Obviously, they got off to a great start and then started taking on the bowlers right after the powerplay,” Iyer said, pointing to the batters’ dominance during the crucial early overs. He also suggested that while the target itself was achievable in isolation, the way the innings was handled in key moments proved costly.
Iyer added that Punjab’s bowling couldn’t quite deliver the breakthroughs required at the right time. “Getting to 222 was a commendable performance and we weren’t able to take wickets in the bowling that much… I think the match was lost in the powerplay,” he said.
Punjab’s chase: early wickets and a fragile foundation
Iyer said the pursuit never truly gathered pace after early damage. With wickets falling at the start, Punjab struggled to establish the base they needed to build a serious challenge.
He explained the batting situation clearly: “We were three down and the majority of our run scorers were Prabhsimran and Priyansh.” Iyer also highlighted that Punjab had been unable to replicate the kind of powerplay starts that had previously helped them, adding that his own dismissal further compounded the pressure.
“The starts they used to give us in the powerplay, obviously we couldn’t get this time and also me coming in and getting out early,” he remarked.
Middle-order resistance and praise for key contributors
Despite the disappointment of the result, Iyer pointed to the effort shown in the middle overs, where Punjab tried to claw their way back. He singled out Shashank and Stoinis for particular credit, while also noting contributions from other batters in the phase.
- Iyer said he was “really disappointed,” but stressed that the middle-order showed fight.
- He praised Shashank and Stoinis as standouts, along with “a few others in the middle.”
- He felt Punjab were close to maintaining the run-rate target at times, adding that they were “up there with almost 10 an over.”
- He also credited Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hazlewood for “tremendous bowling,” which helped RCB keep Punjab under control.
Captain’s mindset: positivity, moving on, and “sunrise” optimism
With Punjab Kings now facing six successive defeats, Iyer refused to let the scoreline define his mindset or the team’s future approach. He stressed that results should not dictate attitude or personality.
“No, definitely. I’m always positive irrespective of the results. It doesn’t dictate how my personality is and I always approach with a strong attitude,” he said.
His most memorable reflection, though, focused on the need to look forward rather than get trapped by setbacks. “I’m not someone who dwells too much in the past. This is over, this is gone. Tomorrow again I’m going to see the sunrise and there’s always light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.
Even as the numbers continue to turn against PBKS, Iyer’s comments framed a captain trying to hold onto belief—searching for the right mindset to steady the ship despite a campaign that has been unraveling match after match.
