Follow UsPunjab Kings (PBKS) began their campaign on a great note against the Gujarat Titans in their first game of the season and won it by 11 runs. Batting first, PBKS put up a huge total of 243/5 on the board, courtesy of a blistering 97* runs knock by skipper Shreyas Iyer in just 42 deliveries.
Priyansh Arya (47 off 23) and Shashank Singh (44* off 16) also played a great hand to help PBKS to that total. Eventually, GT fell short by 11 runs.
Speaking to Jio Hotstar after the game, New Zealand veteran batter Kane Williamson heaped huge praise on Iyer and his knock, calling it a “highlight reel from ball one.”
“It was a knock of the highest standard. From the very first ball, it was almost a highlight reel—he [Iyer] played the ball exactly where it was meant to be hit,” Williamson said.
“Anything outside off stump, he looked to access the offside, and he even struck sixes over cover against some of the best seamers in the world. Then, to take on Rashid Khan as well—that’s one of the toughest challenges in the game. As a leader, to step in at No. 3, set the tone, and take on the opposition’s biggest threats was remarkable. That innings was truly out of this world.”
Williamson pointed out the improvement Iyer has shown while playing the short ball, highlighting the technical adjustments that allowed the PBKS skipper to hit the ball so well in his innings.
“What stands out about Shreyas is how he continues to evolve his game,” Williamson said.
“For a period, teams targeted him with short balls, but now, he’s adjusting brilliantly— getting deeper in his crease, de-weighting his front leg, and dominating the short-pitched deliveries.
“What’s most impressive is his ability to shift his weight forward again, making it difficult for bowlers who try the ‘one-two’ approach—going short, then full. He’s now able to access all areas of the ground, which makes him such a formidable batter.”