Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said his team “fell short” in execution even though they fought hard, after suffering a narrow four-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 on Sunday. Despite the back-to-back losses, he stressed that staying at the top of the points table still gives the squad a clearer perspective, while also pointing to what went wrong with both bat and ball on a tricky surface.
Key takeaways
- Punjab Kings lost by four wickets to Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 on Sunday, despite a strong push after an early collapse.
- Shreyas Iyer rated 163/9 as a “great score” given the movement the ball showed early, particularly with the new ball.
- Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis provided the key recovery after Punjab were 35/3 in the powerplay and 47/5 overall.
- Iyer credited Gujarat’s bowlers for using the pitch effectively and for targeting the stumps with consistent length and deck.
- On the bowling side, Punjab could not replicate Gujarat’s accuracy with the new ball, and Iyer said they also missed “hard lengths.”
- Even with the disappointment, Iyer insisted Punjab remain on top of the table and will take positives forward.
Iyer on Punjab’s batting recovery and the total
Speaking after the match, Iyer acknowledged that while Punjab tried to stick to their plans, they did not execute them as well as they needed to. He highlighted the difficult nature of the wicket and the importance of clawing back momentum following an early downturn.
Punjab managed 163 runs for the loss of nine wickets, and Iyer felt the defending value of that number should not be underestimated. He noted that on a track where the ball was behaving in the opening overs, especially during the first spell with the new ball, 163/9 was “a great score.”
He then explained why Gujarat’s bowlers had a clear advantage, pointing out that they made the best use of the conditions by striking the right lengths and benefiting from the way the ball came off the surface. In his view, their approach kept the pressure on from ball one, landing the ball close to the stumps and leaving Punjab with fewer opportunities to free their arms and score.
Punjab’s innings began poorly, sliding to 35/3 in the powerplay and then further to 47/5. The turning point, according to Iyer, was the counter-attacking partnership between Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis, which revived the innings and helped Punjab reach a competitive total.
Iyer underlined the magnitude of that recovery, saying that losing four wickets in the powerplay made the chase of 160 from that point a remarkable effort. That statement reflected how much the late acceleration mattered in keeping Punjab in the contest.
Iyer’s assessment of Gujarat’s bowling and Punjab’s execution
On the bowling front, Iyer admitted Punjab were unable to match Gujarat’s level of execution with the new ball. He said he expected Punjab to hit their intended line and length early and take wickets, but that plan did not come off as hoped.
Even so, he remained encouraged by the team’s fighting attitude until the end. He praised the mindset and approach, while also identifying specific tactical gaps that hurt them, including the inability to consistently hit the “hard lengths” that play a decisive role on such surfaces.
When asked about the challenge of batting on the wicket, Iyer elaborated that timing and shot selection were under pressure because of variable bounce. He suggested that strokes such as hitting over midwicket or going for a pull were not straightforward on that pitch, describing it as “not an apt wicket to bat on.”
He also pointed to execution lapses as a key reason for the result, summarising the theme with a simple admission that Punjab “fell a bit short” in execution.
Looking ahead: staying positive and learning from conditions
Despite the defeat, Iyer chose to focus on the positives. He emphasised that Punjab are still at the top of the points table and said the squad would take learning from the game rather than dwell on the outcome.
He also framed the conditions as a valuable challenge for the bowling unit. In his view, playing on pitches like this in the IPL helps shape bowlers’ attitude and can strengthen their confidence, provided they respond correctly to the demands of the surface.
While acknowledging disappointment—Punjab wanted to win but “it didn’t click”—Iyer reiterated that the mindset remains forward-looking. He spoke about being “excited for the opportunity” to get the next two points.
Before closing, Iyer stressed the importance of preparation and routine. He said the team has been working hard in training, and that strong character and the right attitude eventually translate into results. His final message was to stick to basics and match routines, without overthinking what comes next.
