New Chandigarh, April 11 (NationPress) Captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS), Shreyas Iyer, is determined to break the team's 19-year trophy drought after leading his squad to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 17th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

“This year, we are focused on clinching the trophy. It will demand significant effort,” said Iyer, who was awarded Player of the Match for his unbeaten score of 69.

In pursuit of a daunting target of 220, PBKS started with an explosive performance, with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh aggressively challenging the SRH bowlers. The pair propelled the team to an impressive 93/0 during the Power-play, putting the opposition under considerable pressure.

Coming in after the loss of wickets, Iyer managed his innings effectively. He took a moment to find his rhythm before accelerating at crucial points to keep the chase alive. “We had a fantastic start. It was a joy to watch, featuring excellent cricketing shots,” he commented.

Even with a solid foundation, Iyer recognized the challenging conditions that required patience. “It wasn't straightforward. I needed to take my time, and fortunately, it paid off,” he added.

Although PBKS faced a temporary dip in momentum during the middle overs, Iyer formed a vital partnership with Nehal Wadhera before completing the chase alongside Shashank Singh. The team successfully reached the target with seven balls remaining.

Commending Shashank's outstanding bowling, which included dismissing Abhishek and Head, Iyer remarked, “We all united, and Shashank approached me. I required someone who could bowl at 120, and he met my expectations. Kudos to him for his mindset.”

Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad set a total of 219 after a solid opening from Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. However, the PBKS bowlers managed to tighten the game in the later stages, keeping the target achievable.

Iyer emphasized the necessity of maintaining their approach moving forward. “We aim to sustain the same rhythm. Everyone knows we possess the skills. Our openers should play freely without holding back. We’ve been exceptional with our work ethic. I am very pleased. It’s essential to stay focused on the present. Ricky places great emphasis on this,” he stated.

With this win, PBKS remains undefeated this season, accumulating seven points from four matches, with one match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) called off due to rain. The 2025 runners-up will next compete against the Mumbai Indians on April 16 at the legendary Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.