Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer (ANI Image)
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer struck a defiant and philosophical tone after yet another agonizing defeat, insisting that belief and attitude have not changed even as Punjab Kings’ playoff hopes dip after a 23-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala.Reflecting on where the match ended, Eyre admitted the early loss was crucial. “They obviously got off to a great start and then started facing the bowlers right after the power play,” he said, acknowledging RCB’s dominance with the bat. He pointed out that the goal in itself is not unattainable in isolation, but implementing it in key stages has proven costly. “Getting to 222 was a commendable performance and we couldn’t take wickets bowling that much… I think the match was lost on the power play,” he added.
Punjab’s chase never fully recovered after early wickets left them under pressure. Iyer highlighted the lack of a strong foundation, noting: “We were three goals down and the majority of our scorers were Prabbhasimran and Priyansh. The starts they used to give us strength, obviously we couldn’t get it this time and I’m also in and out early.”He still acknowledged the resistance being seen in the middle order, saying: “The performance of Shashank and Stoinis is really disappointing, but it is commendable and so are a few others in the middle.
I think we got there by about 10 points, but yeah, we fell short. Phenomenal bowling by Bhuvi and Hazlewood.Even though Punjab Kings are now on a six-game losing streak, Iyer refused to let the results determine the mentality or momentum going forward. He said, “No, definitely. I am always positive regardless of the results. This does not dictate my personality and I always deal with a strong stance.”However, his most surprising insights highlighted his broader outlook amid the recession. He added: “I’m not someone who dwells too much in the past. This is over, this is over. Tomorrow again I will see the sunrise, and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”Even as the numbers continue to stack up against PBKS, Iyer’s words have shed light on a captain still searching for confidence in the middle of a crumbling campaign.