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\u2019s top order\u2014Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head\u2014were comfortably dismantling the Punjab Kings bowling attack. It wasn\u2019t 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. \u201cAll of us came together, and Shashank approached me and said, \u2018give me an over\u2019. Ricky Ponting came and asked me, \u2018what\u2019s your thoughts? I said, \u2018I\u2019ll go with Shashank.\u2019 I needed someone to take the pace off,\u201d 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\u2014an impact that changed the rhythm of the innings and tightened the game at a crucial stage. \u201cHe 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\u2019ve got the skills. All we need is a strong mindset,\u201d Iyer added.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cThere\u2019s no two ways that we\u2019re missing Pat (Cummins),\u201d Aaron said, stressing the scale of the void left by the Australian quick. \u201cWe\u2019re obviously missing him because he is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He\u2019s been on top of his game for a while now. And he\u2019s somebody who can get us wickets with the new ball, in the middle, and even at the death.\u201d Aaron also expressed confidence about Cummins\u2019s return, adding, \u201cI\u2019m sure he is going to be back soon and join the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet the coach\u2019s assessment didn\u2019t stop at personnel. He also pointed to how Sunrisers\u2019 batting momentum cooled after an energetic start. \u201cThe way we started, we thought we would get a few more runs. There\u2019s no two ways about it that we were some runs short,\u201d Aaron admitted. He then underlined that the opposition played its part in that dip, noting that Punjab Kings didn\u2019t merely survive the early phase\u2014they improved through it. \u201cBut 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\u2019t make it easy for our batsmen.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"SRH vs PBKS: Iyer Backs Shashank Singh as Momentum Swings","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Shreyas Iyer backs Shashank Singh as SRH\u2019s momentum turns vs Punjab Kings, with key overs changing the game\u2019s rhythm at Mullanpur.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n