Punjab Kings in IPL Qualifier 1: When Shreyas Iyer and Co confused recklessness for resolve

“That is not a good shot. That is a nothing shot.” — Sunil Gavaskar’s voice cut through the tension like a razor as Shreyas Iyer — Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) talisman and linchpin of their batting lineup — charged recklessly at a spicy Mullanpur pitch. It was only the fourth over, but the pressure was already mounting like a storm cloud. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had struck twice, and then Josh Hazlewood, steaming in with venom, delivered a perfect, probing good-length ball outside off.

Iyer, who had amassed 513 runs in 14 innings this season coming into the game, swung wildly — a desperate, wild hoick that betrayed his nerves. The ball took a thick edge, slicing through the air straight to Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps, who snapped it up without hesitation.

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Gavaskar’s frustration echoed through the commentary box: “One can understand if you’re trying to play it over long-off, but this? This is just reckless — a wild swing when your team was already two wickets down in the fourth over.”

Shreyas Iyer Wicket Clip!.❤️‍🔥#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/1JnWgtEHMy

— Mk__Singhal (@Manojmeena2003) May 29, 2025

From 30 for 2, Punjab plummeted to 30 for 3 after losing a crucial toss and being put into bat. From there, their innings unravelled like a house of cards in a storm.

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What followed was nothing short of a procession. The batters, seemingly fuelled by false bravado, threw caution to the wind — and their wickets along with it. In just 14.1 overs, PBKS were shot out for 101 — the lowest first-innings score in IPL playoff history. A humiliating collapse and an even more humiliating defeat in what was their most important match of the season so far.

Aggression or arrogance?

The pitch at Mullanpur had a fair bit of spice — a green tinge, bounce and a hint of seam. The kind you respect, not bully. Yet, Punjab’s batters appeared intent on playing fire with fire, with no regard for scoreboard, conditions or game situation. It seemed like a cricketing machismo without cricketing sense.

The RCB front-line pacers — Hazlewood, Yash Dayal and the evergreen Bhuvneshwar Kumar — hit hard lengths, exploiting every inch of the surface. Then came young leggie Suyash Sharma, and suddenly it looked like none of the PBKS batters had faced a googly in their lives. Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Musheer Khan — all fell to a mix of misreads and blind slogging.

These weren’t calculated risks. These were jailbreak shots — desperate, directionless and devoid of application.

Suyash CLUTCH Sharma! 🥶

3/17 in Qualifier 1 - just what #RCB needed from their frontline spinner in their quest to Final! 💪

LIVE NOW ➡ https://t.co/B4bnHnppgJ #IPLPlayoffs | #Qualifier1 👉 #PBKSvRCB on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar!#RCBvPBKS pic.twitter.com/ivUNZOMe5C

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 29, 2025

Did that CSK game cloud their judgment?

Perhaps, in the back of their minds, they were chasing the ghost of an earlier miracle at this very ground. Against Chennai Super Kings mid-season, PBKS were reeling at 83 for 5 in the eighth over. What followed was a sensational turnaround — Priyansh Arya blasted a remarkable 103, and the lower-middle order came good, lifting them to 219 for 6. That night, Punjab went on to defend the total by 18 runs.

There were other memories, too. They defended 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders on this ground. They knew this pitch could surprise you.

But the mistake in the Qualifier was trying to manufacture another miracle, rather than build one. There was no platform. There was no Arya special. There was no calculation — only chaos.

Over-reliance on individual brilliance?

Punjab Kings entered the playoffs still leaning — if not heavily reliant — on moments of individual brilliance to steady their innings. Time and again this season, their batting fortunes hinged on flashes from one or two players, rather than consistent contributions across the board. That approach is a ticking time bomb in high-stakes games.

Throughout the league stage, PBKS’s top-order trio — Arya, Iyer, and Prabhsimran Singh — ensured there was usually at least one anchor to build around. Whether it was Arya’s counterattacking flair, Iyer’s composure in the middle overs, or Prabhsimran’s early bursts, someone always put their hand up to steady the innings.

But in Mullanpur, the top three crumbled inside the powerplay, and the middle order was left to fend for itself — exposed, directionless, and unprepared. There was no anchor, no calm amidst the storm. Instead of rebuilding, PBKS unravelled. It became a procession of panic.

A chance at redemption — if they learn

PBKS aren’t done yet. They’ll have one more shot at reaching the final — in the second qualifier. But if they want to stay alive, the approach must change.

There’s a fine line between intent and impulse. On Thursday, Punjab Kings bulldozed that line. High-pressure matches are won with brain, not just brawn. A total of 150-160 on a pitch like this could have been golden. Instead, they gifted the opposition a training run.

“We’ve lost the battle, not the war,” said Iyer after the defeat. That might be true. But unless PBKS learn the art of controlled aggression — and fast — the war will be lost before it’s even properly fought.