Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer remained composed and introspective after his side faltered in the Qualifier 1 of Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Speaking after the match, Iyer acknowledged the shortcomings of his team’s batting performance and stressed the need to regroup ahead of the next knockout match.
Put into bat first, PBKS crumbled to 101 all out in just 14.1 overs, undone by an incisive RCB bowling unit that did not allow any momentum to build at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday. Josh Hazlewood set the tone upfront, while Suyash Sharma’s three-wicket burst made it a night to forget for the Kings.
In response, RCB made light work of the chase. Phil Salt hammered unbeaten 56 runs off 27 deliveries, guiding his side to the final in just 10 overs with eight wickets in hand. The result sealed RCB’s passage to the IPL 2025 summit clash, while PBKS must now turn their attention to Qualifier 2, where they will face the winner of the Eliminator between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
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Shreyas Iyer Admits Batting Failure After PBKS' Humbling Defeat in Qualifier 1
After the match, Shreyas Iyer did not shy away from owning the defeat.
"Not a day to forget, but got to go back to the drawing board. We lost a lot of wickets (in the first innings). There's a lot to go back and study on," Iyer said as quoted in the post-match presentation.
Despite the loss, Iyer was adamant that the planning and strategy heading into the game had been solid. He pinpointed the batters for the side’s poor showing. Punjab’s campaign had been one of consistency and power-hitting. But on the night that mattered, their batting deserted them completely.
"I am not doubting my decisions, to be honest. Whatever we did in terms of planning—outside of the ground, whatever planning we did—I think it was on point. Just that we couldn't execute it on the field. Can't even blame the bowlers, as it was a low total to defend. We’ve got to work on our batting, especially on this wicket," he added.
The wicket at Mullanpur has drawn attention throughout the season for its inconsistent bounce. On this occasion, however, Iyer made it clear that as professionals, his team had to adapt better. Marcus Stoinis’ 26 runs off 17 balls was the highest score for PBKS on a pitch that offered some variable bounce but no justification for a collapse of this scale.
It is also the same venue where Punjab defended 111 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
"In all the games we have played here, there has been some variable bounce. We can't give such reasons because we are professionals at the end of the day, and we have to bat according to the situation, and we have to live up to it."
Despite the heavy loss, the PBKS captain ended his address on a defiant note:
"We have lost the battle, but not the war."
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Punjab Kings Still in Finale Race
The loss will sting, but Punjab Kings still have a shot at redemption. Their path to the final is not over. They now await their opponent for Qualifier 2 with a chance to regroup and strike back.
If they win that game, they will proceed to the final and face RCB, the same opponent that humiliated them in Mullanpur.
Also read: IPL 2025 - “Stop Mumbai” - Ravichandran Ashwin Picks RCB’s Ideal Final Foe
