Shreyas Iyer's maiden IPL ton helped PBKS beat LSG and stay alive in the playoffs race.
This exceptional captain's knock ended a brutal six-game losing streak, propelling PBKS back into fourth place with 15 points and keeping their IPL 2026 playoff qualification hopes alive.
Speaking after the game, Shreyas expressed delight that his maiden IPL hundred 'came at the right time when the team needed it.'
“I’m ecstatic to be honest. It’s my first hundred and came at the right time when the team needed it. We won eventually after six consecutive losses. It’s a great positive and just hoping to support MI tomorrow,” Iyer said at the post-match presentation after receiving the Player-of-the-Match award.
Chasing a target of 197, PBKS suffered early blows and found themselves reeling at 22/2. Shreyas Iyer then anchored the chase, building a massive 140-run stand with opener Prabhsimran Singh (69 off 39).
Iyer reached his century in spectacular style—hitting a match-winning flat six over cow corner off the final ball of the 18th over.
“It's a surreal feeling when you finish off the game and score a century. All the batsmen dream of that. Today was one of the days when I felt super. I was in a great mindspace. I knew what I wanted, knew how the wicket was playing. Kinda reading the situation and how the wicket was playing helped me to score my runs, and the partnership was crucial. That creates the momentum in the game, and just to win it from there, I'm elated,” he added.
Reflecting on his match-defining partnership with Prabhsimran, the PBKS skipper stated, “I know if I give myself some time in the middle and time the ball as much as possible rather than getting on top of the ball and trying to score off a good ball. I feel it's necessary for me to stay out there as much as possible because then the runs keep coming.
“Prabh - the way he took on the bowlers, it takes two to tango. He seriously showed us what he's capable of. He was temperamentally active, and the communication we had in the middle was sensational.”
Following a rough slump in form, Shreyas Iyer decided against stressful team meetings, opting to let the players stay relaxed by not dwelling on past losses.
“We didn't say anything, just kept it simple. Rather than having meetings, putting more pressure on the boys. You kinda get lost in the previous losses when you discuss a lot. It's important that you let them be. Free flow of mind is required in crucial matches.
“You don't want to make them overthink in pressure situations. Today I literally told Ricky, 'let's not do any team meetings. Let's just head to the ground and do our rituals, which we've been doing consistently, and we could see the result,” he remarked.
Iyer was effusive in praise of his bowlers for pulling the game back. “Elated by their performance. Even though we went 16 off the first over. Just to get the game back towards us, Azmat bowled brilliantly. The first over, which he bowled, got a wicket and saved those crucial runs.
“It’s all about momentum in this situation, and just to get the game back, especially Yuzi, the way he came back and restricted runs. He got the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant. Kudos to him; he leaked a lot of runs in the last game, but he showed his character.”
(With IANS Inputs)