Shreyas Iyer managed to score just two runs in three balls. Despite losing the match, Punjab will get a chance to reach the final. They will now lock horns against the winner of the match between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians
Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer after his team lost the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Qualifier 1 cricket match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in New Chandigarh. Pic/PTI
In the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru came victorious by eight wickets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
Following the loss against RCB, Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer said, "We have lost the battle, but not the war". The right-hander managed to score just two runs in three balls.
Having needed to chase a target of 102 runs, RCB scored 106 runs in just 10 overs for the loss of two wickets. During the run chase, RCB's opening batsman Phil Salt stayed unbeaten on 56 runs. Facing just 27 balls, he scored six boundaries and three maximums. Shouldering him was skipper Rajat Patidar, who smashed 15 runs in eight deliveries, including a boundary and a maximum.
Despite losing the match, Punjab will get a chance to reach the final. They will now lock horns against the winner of the match between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians.
A lot of indiscreet shots off both RCB pacers and their leg-spinner Suyash Sharma brought about Punjab Kings' downfall but Shreyas didn't feel that his on-field decisions were wrong.
"I am not doubting my decisions to be honest. We got to work on our batting especially on this (kind of) wicket. In all the games, we have played here, there has been some variable bounce," said the 30-year-old.
"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," he added.
With just 48 hours in their hand, the Iyer-led Punjab will now gear up for Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
"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.
"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," the skipper concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)
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