IPL 2025: Majarekar Comments on Iyer's Dismissal Against RR as a Negative Sign in the Dressing Room

New Chandigarh, April 6 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar commented on the dismissal of the Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer during the match against Rajasthan Royals, highlighting its potential repercussions on the team's morale. He stated that the manner of Iyer's dismissal conveys a “wrong message in the dressing room”.

Chasing a target of 206, Iyer attempted a high-risk shot off Jofra Archer's delivery but completely misjudged it, leading to his wicket being taken for just 10 runs. This unfortunate incident left the visitors in a precarious position at 11-2 within the first over of their innings.

Iyer has shown exceptional form in the current IPL season, having scored an unbeaten 97 in the opening match against Gujarat Titans, followed by an unbeaten 52 against Lucknow Super Giants before his early exit against RR.

“Watching Shreyas Iyer get out in such a fashion was quite difficult for me. That shot was poorly executed—and it's not merely about the mode of dismissal. Such a wicket, especially of a captain who is performing well, conveys a negative message to the players. It may not demoralize them entirely, but it certainly does not boost their confidence regarding their own prospects. The impact of that wicket was more significant than just losing one player,” Manjrekar expressed on JioHotstar.

After opting to bat first, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag propelled the Rajasthan Royals to a formidable score of 205/4, marking it as the first instance of a 200+ score at this venue.

The Punjab Kings had a disastrous start in their chase, as Archer took down both Priyansh Arya (0) and Shreyas Iyer (10) in the opening over. Following this, Sandeep Sharma dismissed Marcus Stoinis for just one run, leaving Punjab in a dire situation at 26/3 within four overs.

Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell attempted a comeback with an 88-run partnership. Wadhera led the charge and reached his fifty, but their resistance was short-lived. Subsequently, Sandeep, Maheesh Theekshana, and Archer dismantled the lower order, resulting in Punjab's first defeat of the season.

“This Rajasthan Royals side—with Yashasvi Jaiswal in good form—is starting to look promising. They possess an intriguing bowling lineup, featuring Archer as a leading new-ball bowler, Sandeep Sharma as an exceptional death-over specialist, and players like Maheesh Theekshana excelling in the middle overs,” he added.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke also commented on Iyer’s dismissal and Punjab's overall strategy, stating, “I believe the Rajasthan Royals performed admirably to reach 200 runs, which was an impressive total. The Punjab Kings might feel disappointed with allowing that many runs. However, that first ball from Jofra Archer truly set the tone for the Rajasthan Royals. It was an absolute gem.

“Iyer followed that up with two incredible cover drives—up and over cover. But then, that rapid bounce may have placed him in a defensive position. The following ball, he stepped away—not a particularly attractive shot—and ended up losing his stumps.”

“Losing three wickets in the powerplay always complicates matters. The Rajasthan Royals started excellently with the ball. They batted well too, given the pitch conditions. There was no dew, and some wind earlier in the day likely helped keep it at bay. So even though Shreyas won the toss and chose to chase, anticipating dew, it never materialized,” he added.

The Punjab Kings will aim to learn from this defeat and focus on making a strong comeback when they face Chennai Super Kings on April 8.