IPL 2025: PBKS Captain Iyer Reflects on First Loss
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a post-match interview, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer reflected on his team's first defeat in IPL 2025, attributing it to a lack of partnerships during the chase. He expressed optimism, indicating that the loss could serve as a valuable learning experience for the team.
Key Takeaways
- Shreyas Iyer comments on the first defeat.
- Lack of partnerships hindered their performance.
- Positive outlook on learning from the loss.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag starred for Rajasthan Royals.
- Need for strategic reassessment moving forward.
New Chandigarh, April 6 (IANS) Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer acknowledged that the absence of partnerships during the run chase led to Rajasthan Royals delivering the home team its first defeat of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. However, he maintained a positive outlook, suggesting that this defeat could ultimately benefit his squad.
After Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag propelled the Rajasthan Royals to 205 runs in the first innings, Jofra Archer took two crucial early wickets, allowing his side to take control of the match and start the second innings with confidence.
“I felt we should have approached it more cautiously and focused on building partnerships. There are many lessons to learn from this game. We did not experience the dew we expected, but we must review the footage to identify where our bowling and batting fell short. Losing wickets in quick succession was not ideal, as it’s challenging for new batters to settle in,” he stated during the post-match presentation on Saturday.
“Nehal performed excellently under pressure. He took his time before attacking the bowlers and capitalized on the situation. Sometimes, a slight setback is necessary to invigorate you at the beginning of the tournament. Personally, I believe this loss will prove beneficial, and we will need to reassess our strategies,” Iyer noted in the post-match comments.
Despite the Rajasthan Royals dominating for most of the match, there was a moment in the second innings when Parag appeared to struggle with his batting. Nevertheless, a late surge left him unbeaten on 43, contributing significantly to his team's score with three sixes and four fours.
Iyer confessed that upon winning the toss, he hoped to limit the Royals to a total of 180-185, which he considered achievable.
“To be honest, I targeted around 180-185 runs. That would have been a reasonable target to chase here, but we failed to execute our game plan. I’m relieved that this setback occurred early in the tournament. The pitch was reasonable, with the ball gripping a bit, and we weren’t providing them with much pace,” he concluded.
