Following an impeccable start to the IPL 2023 season with two wins from two matches, Punjab Kings are riding high under the leadership of their new captain, Shreyas Iyer. Their decision to secure Iyer’s services for INR 26.75 crore at last November’s mega auction seems to be paying dividends.
The team’s impressive run began with an 11-run victory against the Gujarat Titans and continued with a convincing eight-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Iyer’s stellar performances in both games, with an unbeaten 97 off 42 balls against Lucknow and a crucial 52 not out off 30 balls against Gujarat, have been nothing short of phenomenal.
Post-match, Punjab’s head coach, Ricky Ponting, lauded Iyer, dubbing him the team’s ‘Rolls Royce’. Ponting’s admiration for Iyer was evident as he remarked, “Skipper (Iyer) did it easy again. Rolls-Royce just stayed in third gear for most of the day. Didn’t have to go any harder than that. Just steers the ship home. You haven’t got an average yet,” reflecting on Iyer’s unbeaten streak.
Ponting, an Australian cricket legend, stressed the importance of continuous effort and unity throughout the demanding IPL season, which runs until the final on May 25. He urged the team to maintain their high standards, saying, “Let’s not take anything for granted with anything we’re doing. Our attitudes have been spot on. We’re just starting to scratch the surface. So let’s keep working hard together as a family, as one. And we’re going to get better every day.”
The Punjab Kings’ bowling attack played a pivotal role in the victory over LSG, with disciplined performances from the outset. Ponting highlighted the effectiveness of their bowlers, saying, “Bowling first today, Arshdeep’s (Singh) first over goes for three, Lockie (Ferguson) backs it up with an over, goes for four (runs). Two overs in the powerplay 1 for 7. We get through the powerplay, 3 for 35. Four of the overs in power play only went for 13 runs. So in the fifth over, Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) comes on and then on the back of that, Marco (Jansen). So, Marco bowls the sixth over. He absolutely means it. He ended up with the big wicket of David Miller.”
Ponting also praised the efforts of debutants and those stepping up, specifically mentioning Lockie Ferguson’s impact. He commended the resilience and adaptability within the squad, stating, “The pleasing thing for me about a lot of the things that are happening around the group, it’s when guys are coming in and playing their first game or getting their first opportunity; Lockie was the same today.”
The chase against LSG was ignited by opening batsman Prabhsimran Singh, who blazed his way to 69 runs off just 34 deliveries, including 9 fours and 3 sixes. His aggressive approach laid the groundwork for Iyer and Nehal Wadhera (43 not out off 25 balls) to guide the team to victory comfortably.
Ponting singled out Prabhsimran and Wadhera for their significant contributions, noting, “Prabhsimran, I think you have learned a lot about yourself this week as well. I think you’ve proved to everyone just what a class act you are,” and on Wadhera, he added, “We talk about players making an impact, right? You get an opportunity in a T20 game and it’s all about making an impact on the game and on the contest when you can. He (Wadhera) only packed one shirt in his bag because he didn’t think he was going to be taking much part in the game. He fields the last four overs and then I tap him on the shoulder. When I saw that they’d (LSG) made their impact sub as a left-arm off spinner, I said, ‘mate, you’re going in’.”