Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer (PTI Image)
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was impressed after Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly produced a stunning batting display to lead their team to a 54-run win over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday. Arya, one of the country’s most talked-about T20 batting talents alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, smashed 93 off 37 balls, while Connolly, Australia’s highly rated next-generation batsman, hit 87 off 45 deliveries.
Their 182-run partnership off just 80 balls laid the foundation for PBKS as they scored a massive 254 for 7. In reply, LSG could only manage 200 for 5 despite a battling 43 from Rishabh Pant and 40 from
Mitchell Marsh
. Iyer was full of praise for the duo’s intentions and mentality. He described the performance as “extraordinary” and said, “Some of the shots were amazing,” highlighting the courage and composure shown at the crease. He also revealed a little challenge within the group, saying he was “just talking to Cooper and Priyansh” about who will hit the most sixes this season, adding that they are both “up for it”. The PBKS captain stressed that the team environment gives the young batsmen complete freedom. “When you allow them to go out and express themselves, they perform well,” he said, adding that he does not dictate to them how to structure their roles as they follow their own procedures and processes. Iyer also credited the support system around the team, citing Ricky Ponting’s involvement before matches as he shared inputs.
Regarding the bowling line-up, he said that PBKS has a largely international quality attack and pointed to its execution levels as key to the win, while admitting that the team gets “a lot of satisfaction” from reading and adjusting to the wicket. The win underscored PBKS’ growing confidence this season, built on aggressive intent and clarity in roles, as they continue to push for a stronger campaign following a runners-up finish in 2025.