Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has explained how his side executed a clear tactical plan to turn the contest in IPL 2026, with Shashank Singh delivering a decisive burst of bowling against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After SRH raced through the powerplay, PBKS used timely wickets and pressure overs to claim a six-wicket victory, chasing 220 with 1.1 overs to spare.
Key takeaways
- PBKS ultimately won by six wickets after restricting SRH in the back end of the innings.
- SRH started aggressively, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head putting up 105 runs without loss in six overs.
- Shashank Singh’s spell in the seventh over disrupted the momentum and helped change the match’s direction.
- PBKS chased down 220, finishing on 223/4 in 18.5 overs.
- Top contributions in the chase came from Shreyas Iyer (69*), Priyansh Arya (57), and Prabhsimran Singh (51).
How the match swung after SRH’s flying start
At the start, SRH’s opening combination looked in control as Abhishek Sharma was smashing 66 off 22 balls and Travis Head was 31 off 15 deliveries. The pair’s intent carried them to 105/0 in just six overs, forcing PBKS to look for a breakthrough at the right time.
Iyer felt the need for a “trump card” and brought Shashank Singh into action for the seventh over. The move paid off immediately: the over stalled Head’s and Abhishek’s rhythm and, crucially, limited the damage as Shashank conceded only six runs.
Shashank struck again in the ninth over when SRH were still unbeaten at 120/0. He opened the over with a slower ball on a short length, aiming at the stumps. Head attempted to attack early but mistimed his shot, resulting in a straightforward catch for long-on.
With the set batter gone, Head departed for 38 off 23 balls, a knock that featured five fours and a maximum. Then came another key moment: on the third delivery of the over, Shashank removed Abhishek Sharma for 74 off 28 balls. Abhishek’s innings included five fours and eight sixes, and his dismissal came after he tried to loft a length ball wide of off over extra cover for six but lacked the required power, with the ball finding the fielder at deep extra cover.
Iyer’s explanation: timeout, trust in Shashank, and Ponting’s backing
Speaking on JioStar, Iyer described the decision-making process after the opening overs had gone SRH’s way. He said, “After six overs, I straightaway asked for a timeout. Shashank Singh was already running around at that time. You have to respect the attitude and characteristics he possesses, because when all the bowlers are being taken for runs, he comes to me directly and asks for an over—‘Give me an over, I think I can do something here.’”
He also outlined a conversation with PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting that shaped the call. Iyer added that he didn’t immediately respond when Shashank made his case, and when Ponting joined the discussion, the coach asked who Iyer planned to bowl next. Iyer replied that he wanted to go with Shashank. Ponting, in turn, gave him the freedom to make the selection, saying that Iyer could take his own call.
Iyer further recalled how Shashank’s early work helped build belief. He said Shashank’s first over went for only five or six runs even without taking a wicket, but the second over brought two back-to-back wickets—an outcome that transformed the overall situation for PBKS.
SRH’s total and PBKS’s chase
Sunrisers Hyderabad finished with 219/6 in their 20 overs. In response, Punjab Kings chased 220 and reached 223/4 in 18.5 overs, thanks to a composed finish from Shreyas Iyer (69*), along with strong knocks from Priyansh Arya (57) and Prabhsimran Singh (51).
