'Variety is Spice of Life': Shreyas Iyer on PBKS -dominant victory over RCB

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]April 19 (Ani): Punjab Kings (PBKS) Captain Shreyas Iyer was happy after his team recorded a clinical victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rainburt collision in Bengaluru. With the match reduced to 14 overs per side, PBKS drove a target of 96 in 12.1 overs after RCB was limited to 95/9, thanks to a disciplined bumbing effort and an adult finish by Nehal Wadhera. In the post-match presentation, Iyer praised the unpredictability of T20 cricket, saying: “Variety is the spice of life, and we are here to experience all kinds of games here; this is a great challenge.” Iyer also opened his decisions on the field during the match and admits that they were largely instinctive. “There was no thinking to be honest, I just made instinctive moves. I just didn’t want new fighters to come in and sit down. Jansen got a lot of refusal, and he bowled deadly,” he added. Marco Jansen was indeed a game changer and produces excellent figures of 2/10 and uses the area’s refusal to his advantage. The PBKS captain also credited his bowlers as he quickly adapted to the conditions. “To be honest, we didn’t know how the wicket was going to feel, but the bowlers adapted to it. I talked to Arshdeep, and he said the hard length balls were difficult to hit. It was the chat in the middle, and they brilliantly executed,” he notes. Nehal Wadhera, who ended the match with an unbeaten 33 of 19 balls, earned special praise from Iyer. “His approach was wonderful today,” Iyer said. Iyer also talked a lot about veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who sustained a fine game of 2/11. “I personally talked to him and told him that you are a match winner and that you have to get us as many wickets as possible … He has the ability to bounce back, and he is one of the best bowlers in the IPL,” he notes. (Ani) first published: 19 Apr 2025, 04:01 AM IST