Shreyas Iyer was candid after Punjab Kings’ loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, saying the match slipped from their grasp during the powerplay itself. On a demanding pitch in Dharamsala, RCB struck early and turned that momentum into control over the chase.
Quick facts
- Punjab Kings lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with Iyer saying the game was effectively lost in the powerplay.
- RCB started strongly, reaching 61/1 in the first six overs.
- Punjab Kings suffered three early breakthroughs for 49 runs, dismissing both openers and skipper Shreyas Iyer.
- The defeat was Punjab Kings’ sixth consecutive loss, hurting their playoff hopes.
- One match remains for PBKS against Lucknow Super Giants.
RCB set the pace with Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal taking the attack to the Punjab bowlers right from the outset. Their early numbers—61/1 within the first six overs—put Punjab on the back foot on a surface where timing and patience mattered.
In response, PBKS struggled to establish any rhythm in the same phase. RCB’s bowlers produced a sharp burst, taking three wickets in quick succession while conceding only 49 runs, which included the dismissals of the two openers and captain Iyer. With that kind of damage done so early, the chase was under pressure from the first overs.
The result extended Punjab Kings’ losing streak to six straight matches, a slide that has further complicated their path in the playoff race. Earlier in the season, the franchise had looked like a frontrunner, stringing together seven unbeaten outings that featured six wins and a draw—yet now, their tournament fate increasingly depends on other results even if they win their remaining games.
Iyer’s assessment was blunt: he pointed to RCB’s early charge and the way they carried it through after the powerplay to shape the contest. He also highlighted that, despite reaching 222, Punjab could not consistently find breakthroughs during the phase where wickets were most needed.
“Obviously they got off to a great start and then came at the bowlers right after the power play. I think getting to 222 was a commendable performance and we weren’t able to take wickets in the bowling that much. But yeah, I think the match was lost in the powerplay,” Iyer said to the broadcasters.
Powerplay wickets change the script
Punjab’s skipper also explained how the early loss of three wickets inside the first six overs—his own wicket included—disrupted their usual top-order flow. He noted that they missed the strong starts they had been getting from Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, and even though the middle order fought back, the chase still ended short.
He specifically credited RCB’s effort at crucial moments, with Josh Hazlewood playing a key role in keeping things tight. Iyer felt Punjab had been close to scoring at a high rate—“almost 10 in an over” at one stage—but RCB’s disciplined bowling prevented them from completing the job.
“We were three down (in powerplay) and majority of our run scorers were Prab and Priyansh. The start they used to give us in the power play, obviously we couldn’t get this time and also me coming in and getting out early. Really disappointed but you know, commendable performance by Shashank and Stoinis and also a few others in the middle. I think we were up there with almost 10 in an over, but fell short, tremendous bowling by Hazlewood,” he added.
Iyer later struck a more optimistic tone, stressing that he doesn’t dwell too long on what has already happened. With only one fixture left against Lucknow Super Giants, he said the focus is on moving forward with the right mindset rather than getting stuck in the disappointment.
“I’m always positive irrespective of the results. It doesn’t dictate how my personality is, and I always approach with a strong attitude, and 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 concluded.
