Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara applauded Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer for his batting and the way he has been leading the team as well. He will play again on Tuesday, April 28, when PBKS play against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Mullanpur as well. However, Punjab are at the top of the points table with 13 points from 7 matches so far and are unbeaten.
Speaking during a discussion on Star Sports’ segment ‘Game Plan,’ Pujara said: “He’s (Shreyas Iyer) in his prime form, the way he’s been batting. He’s leading from the front. I think Shreyas Iyer is setting the example for the rest of the batters to follow. So for RR, I think it’s important that they try and pick up his wicket early on when he walks into bat, and RR will have to ensure that they create that opportunity in the first 10-15 deliveries which Shreyas faces because once he is set, he’s almost unstoppable.”
“So maybe try and use Jofra Archer early on if you can; if he has a couple of overs left, also try and use Ravi Bishnoi whenever possible. And we have seen that Shreyas is a good player of spin, but still you need to utilize your wicket-taking options, and Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi both are the ones whom Riyan Parag should go to,” he again shared.
Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara also said that RR skipper Riyan Parag will have to use his spinners well – Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja, in a better way and show confidence in them as well.
Pujara said: “I definitely agree that he will have to utilize his spinner in a better way because as we saw in the last game Ravindra Jadeja just bowled one over. Even Ravi Bishnoi just bowled one over. So I think when you are defending a big total, you need your spinners to pick up wickets, and you need to utilize your spinners in a way where they are giving you good overs, at the same time they are picking wickets for you.”
“You need to show a little bit of confidence in your spinners, and that’s where I think Riyan Parag will have to ensure that he’s showing that faith in their spinners, especially Ravi Bishnoi; he has been having a fantastic season. Try and utilize this quota of overs,” he concluded.
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