IPL 2025: Was it Shreyas Iyer's decision to promote Inglis to No.3 against LSG?

Dharamsala, May 4 (NationPress) Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting praised captain Shreyas Iyer for his tactical decision to promote Josh Inglis to the no.3 spot, a choice that proved beneficial as the Australian, alongside Prabhsimran Singh, established a strong foundation for PBKS against Lucknow Super Giants.

After PBKS lost Priyansh Arya for just one run, the pair forged a 48-run partnership off 22 balls for the second wicket before Inglis was dismissed. In his innings of 30 runs, Inglis launched three sixes and a four off Mayank Yadav.

"This was actually a move proposed by the captain, and Shreyas believed that on that kind of pitch, against that bowling unit, it was the right decision to send Inglis in if an early wicket fell. We anticipated that Mayank would bowl early, and given his bowling style, which tends to be short, that plays to one of Inglis' strengths. As you witnessed tonight, his pull shots were remarkable right from the start.

"That was indeed the captain's strategy. It also permits us to have Iyer, Wadera, and Shashank handle the middle overs, which we deemed crucial for tonight's match. It likely surprised LSG to see him come out, and it worked out well for us this evening," Ponting shared during the post-match press conference.

Punjab amassed a total of 236/5, led by an explosive 91 from Prabhsimran, who narrowly missed his first IPL century by just nine runs. Iyer and Shashank Singh also contributed with dynamic performances to boost the run rate in the latter stages of the innings.

"Once we started off strong, I think we had over 70 runs by the end of the power play, and all the momentum was with us. With our batting depth, having someone like Azmatullah at number nine allows our top order to play freely, and they certainly did that tonight," he noted.

The Australian coach commended Prabhsimran for his efforts, stating, "He has performed excellently throughout the tournament. Priyansh and Prabhsimran have been consistent starters. Prior to tonight, both had scored 350 runs each. I challenged both openers to secure a century in this match. Unfortunately, Prabhsimran fell just short."

"He's an exceptionally talented young player eager to bring success to this team, as evidenced by his performance tonight," added Ponting.

In response, LSG's chase struggled from the outset, finding themselves at 73/4 by the 10th over. Arshdeep Singh dismantled their top order with a fierce opening, concluding with figures of 3-16 that shattered the opposition’s batting line-up. The visitors were ultimately dismissed well below the target, granting PBKS a comfortable win and their second victory over LSG this season.

Ponting further lauded Arshdeep for his bowling display, noting that the pacer is growing in confidence as the tournament progresses.

"Arshdeep has improved with each game. He's gaining confidence and starting to claim those powerplay wickets that we know he can with the new ball. His first over tonight set the tone for our bowling performance. He's a star, and we're fortunate to have him on our team," he remarked.

This win elevates PBKS to second place in the points table, bringing them closer to a playoff spot.

For LSG, winning all three remaining matches is essential, along with needing favorable results in other games to secure a playoff position.