Punjab Kings produced the biggest successful chase in IPL history, reaching 265 against Delhi Capitals in Delhi. Yet amid the celebration, Karun Nair\u2019s evening became a story of heartbreaking missed chances\u2014most notably two dropped catches from Shreyas Iyer within four deliveries, both of which swung momentum at critical moments. The first let-off arrived on the last ball of the 15th over, after Vipraj Nigam coaxed Iyer into a mistimed lofted shot toward long-off. Nair got under the ball comfortably, but the catch slipped away, drawing an immediate reaction from Nigam as he dropped to the ground in disbelief. The second escape followed just four balls later: on the second delivery of the 16th over, Kuldeep Yadav beat Iyer with a wrong\u2019un, the ball taking the top edge and flying toward long-on. Again Nair was set under it, but once more he couldn\u2019t hold on, and the game continued to slip away from Delhi.<\/p>\n
After the second missed chance, Nair appeared rattled\u2014visibly shaken and close to tears\u2014as Delhi allowed Punjab Kings to build momentum from reprieve after reprieve. With Iyer surviving those moments, the chase gained a new rhythm and intensity. Instead of ending the threat, Delhi\u2019s fielding errors handed Punjab Kings the platform they needed to press forward.<\/p>\n
Iyer made full use of those lifelines, turning the reprieves into a match-winning innings. He struck a knock of 71 off 36 balls and steered Punjab Kings home with seven balls to spare\u2014completing what would ultimately stand as a landmark chase in IPL history. The contrast was stark: for Nair, those two errors were moments he would have wanted to reclaim, while for Punjab Kings, they became turning points that kept the chase alive.<\/p>\n
Despite the costly fielding setbacks, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin offered support to Nair, suggesting that factors beyond simple skill can sometimes influence performances. Speaking on his YouTube channel \u201cAsh Ki Baat,\u201d Ashwin outlined how players who are not initially in the playing XI often manage their preparation differently\u2014possibly leading to mental and physical fatigue when they suddenly step into the match intensity.<\/p>\n
Punjab Kings produced the biggest successful chase in IPL history, reaching 265 against Delhi Capitals in Delhi. Yet amid the celebration, Karun Nair\u2019s evening became…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL News: Ashwin Backs Karun Nair After PBKS Chase","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ashwin backs Karun Nair after PBKS\u2019 historic 265 chase, despite missed chances and dropped catches that swung momentum in a thrilling Delhi clash.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n