Punjab Kings’ journey to the IPL 2025 final suffered a massive blow after a disappointing batting collapse against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 on Thursday in Mullanpur. At the heart of the collapse was captain Shreyas Iyer’s early and ill-fated aggression, which drew strong criticism from former coach Tom Moody.
With openers Priyansh Arya (7) and Prabhsimran Singh (18) back in the dugout within the third over, Punjab looked to their skipper to steady the innings. Shreyas had been the team’s crisis man all season, but his decision to attack from the outset against a swinging ball from Josh Hazlewood backfired spectacularly.
Facing his first delivery, Iyer swung hard and missed, misjudging the line. He attempted to unsettle Hazlewood by playing across the seam movement, but on just his third ball, he edged to the keeper for a mere two runs.
“The first ball he played and missed – the perfect line that you’d expect Hazlewood to bowl,” said Tom Moody on ESPNcricinfo’s Time-Out. “He sort of played at it, but didn’t really want to play at it. And then, that third ball he got out. To me, he totally misread the game situation and his own situation.”
Iyer’s early dismissal triggered a chain reaction, with PBKS slumping to 60/7 within nine overs. Only a late cameo from Marcus Stoinis, who scored 26 off 17 balls, saved them from complete embarrassment, pushing the total past the 100-run mark.
Despite hopes of defending the low total, similar to their miraculous win against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the league stage, RCB’s batters dismantled the target in just 10 overs, sealing a resounding victory.
Moody was blunt in his analysis of Iyer’s approach. “At times, you need to put your ego in your pocket and just move forward. That was the perfect example of not reading the situation – trying to overcome something that has been a darkness in the past instead of just swallowing your pride and accumulating,” he said. “You only had to see Hazlewood out. It was a simple thing – see him out and look to dissect the rest of their attack.”
Hazlewood ended with three wickets, including key scalps of Iyer and Josh Inglis, taking his season tally to 21. Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma further tightened the noose with figures of 3 for 17.
Punjab Kings now await the winner of the Eliminator between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, with a last shot at redemption in Qualifier 2 scheduled for June 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
