IPL 2025: PBKS Captain Iyer Urges Middle Order to Seize Opportunities
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Synopsis
Punjab Kings' captain Iyer urges his middle order to step up after a seven-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, emphasizing the need for players to take charge and adapt to the pitch conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Punjab Kings faced a seven-wicket loss against RCB.
- Middle order batters need to capitalize on good starts.
- Virat Kohli played a crucial role with an unbeaten 73.
- Iyer emphasizes the need for adaptability to pitch conditions.
- Importance of freedom in batting highlighted by Iyer.
New Chandigarh, April 20 (NationPress) The captain of Punjab Kings, Iyer, has called upon his middle order batters to rise to the occasion, urging them to take the bull by the horns following a disappointing seven-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His team struggled to set a substantial score, finishing at 157/6 despite a promising start from openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya.
“If you observe the majority of our batsmen, they prefer to attack from the first ball. We are not capitalizing on our good starts. The pitch is deteriorating, making it challenging. We thought we could dominate during the middle overs,” Iyer stated in the post-match interview.
“Kudos to Virat and his team. We consistently emphasize the importance of adjusting to the pitch conditions. Some of our middle-order players must step up and take the bull by the horns,” he added.
With a target of 158 runs, who better to lead the charge than chasemaster Virat Kohli? The seasoned batsman played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 73 off 54 balls, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 61 off 35 balls, ensuring the visitors clinched victory.
Iyer has struggled to surpass the 10-run mark in all four matches at their home ground, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, and he acknowledged the necessity of playing with more freedom.
"I’m in a great mindset. I just need to exceed ten runs. It's essential for me to be free-flowing. With a six-day break ahead, it’s crucial we reassess our strategies and our physical condition," he concluded.
