MULLANPUR: In a match where boundaries came in waves and momentum swung quickly, the moment that truly mattered was also the quietest. Shreyas Iyer chose to trust a part-time option at exactly the right time, handing Shashank Singh an over when Sunrisers Hyderabad’s top order—Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head—were comfortably dismantling the Punjab Kings bowling attack. It wasn’t the most obvious tactical switch in a high-scoring game, but it revealed a captain prepared to back instinct, and a bowler willing to shoulder the responsibility. Looking back on that spell, Iyer explained how the decision was less about a pre-written plan and more about reading the flow of the contest. “All of us came together, and Shashank approached me and said, ‘give me an over’. Ricky Ponting came and asked me, ‘what’s your thoughts? I said, ‘I’ll go with Shashank.’ I needed someone to take the pace off,” Iyer said, describing the brief conversation that helped alter the direction of the match. The faith was rewarded almost immediately. Shashank struck back, dismissing both Sunrisers openers—an impact that changed the rhythm of the innings and tightened the game at a crucial stage. “He lived up to my expectations; he lived up to what he said, kudos to him. At the end of the day, we all know we’ve got the skills. All we need is a strong mindset,” Iyer added.
For Sunrisers, the story had two parallel threads. Varun Aaron, the bowling coach, reflected on the realities that shaped their performance against Punjab Kings: first, the absence of their regular captain and leading fast bowling presence, Pat Cummins; and second, an innings that began with promise but faded more than it ultimately delivered. “There’s no two ways that we’re missing Pat (Cummins),” Aaron said, stressing the scale of the void left by the Australian quick. “We’re obviously missing him because he is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He’s been on top of his game for a while now. And he’s somebody who can get us wickets with the new ball, in the middle, and even at the death.” Aaron also expressed confidence about Cummins’s return, adding, “I’m sure he is going to be back soon and join the team.”
Yet the coach’s assessment didn’t stop at personnel. He also pointed to how Sunrisers’ batting momentum cooled after an energetic start. “The way we started, we thought we would get a few more runs. There’s no two ways about it that we were some runs short,” Aaron admitted. He then underlined that the opposition played its part in that dip, noting that Punjab Kings didn’t merely survive the early phase—they improved through it. “But you have to understand that even the opponents have come to play. They bowled really well through that middle phase, hit their lengths well and didn’t make it easy for our batsmen.”
