Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer acknowledged that his side was clearly “befuddled” by the nature of the pitch after suffering an eight-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1. Despite the dismal show with the bat, where they managed just 101 runs in 14.1 overs, Iyer remained optimistic, stating, “We have lost the battle, but not the war.”
He emphasised that the team would now focus on the next opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians. The defeat, though heavy, hasn’t deterred his belief in the squad’s potential to bounce back and make it to the final.
Batting Collapse and Tactical Decisions
A slew of poor shot selections against RCB pacers and spinner Suyash Sharma led to Punjab’s downfall. However, Iyer stood by his in-game choices and clarified, “I am not doubting my decisions to be honest. We’ve got to work on our batting, especially on this (kind of) wicket.” He acknowledged the pitch had some inconsistent bounce, but refused to offer excuses for the loss.
“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.” With only two days before their next match at the Motera, Iyer emphasised the need to return to the basics and rework their batting approach. “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.”
RCB’s Calm Approach and Key Performers
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar remained composed after securing a place in the franchise’s fourth IPL final, praising his teammates for executing the plan. “Suyash chipped in well. He bowls in line of the stumps, which is his strength. I don’t give him a lot of ideas, don’t want to confuse him,” he said.
Patidar also lauded opener Phil Salt for his consistent performances, saying, “The way he is batting in every match, the way he is giving us starts, it is a treat. I am a big fan of him.” He thanked RCB fans for their unwavering support, adding, “One more game, let’s celebrate together.” Meanwhile, Player of the Match Suyash Sharma credited his simple approach and said, “My role is to hit the stumps – be it with the googly or leg-spin or flipper… We will celebrate on the 3rd [June].
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